Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-01-11
RICE IN JAPAN.
An Interesting Description of its Growth
and Treatment.

An Interesting Description of its Growth
and Treatment.
A report, recently received at the State de-
partment from Mr.. Jno. NJ. Birch, United States
consul at Nagasaki, Japan, dated October %,
1SSS. contains some instructive information rel
alive to the production and consumption of
rice in Japan He says: The staple food of
Japan is rice. and it is grown throughout the
empire. not only wherever irrigation is posi-
bic, but the species known as upland rice is
grown on high. dry ground needing no irriga-
tion, just wheat is grown in America. In
this consular district the lowland variety of
rice and the best rice in Japan is grown. and in
such quantities that it is becoming leading
article of export. The fields in which it is
grown in this district small-the largest
seldom being over one-fOurth of an acre in
area-and lies almost entirely under water
from the time the seedlings planted in MAY or
June until the ripened grain is harvested in
October or November.
IRRIGATION.
The water so necessary is conducted to the
fields. which have raised borders by means of
conduits from numerous streams. or in times
Of drought, from basins which have been con-
structed to retain the contents of these streams
Hooded during the rainy season. The sides of
the numerous hills surrounding this city are
laid out in terraces and into the levels which
are intended for rice. the water collected on
the higher grounds is led by conduits the
quantity being regulated by means of dams
provided with hood-gates, so as to be let on or
shut OF at pleasure. On the level plains in the
interior of the Island of Keirshin irrigation
however, Is not SO easy, the farmers being
compelled to pump the water to the higher
level OF their fields from the streams or reser-
Voirs. The pump in universal use resembles a
water-wheel, or a steamers paddle-wheel and
= made to revolve by a man ascending the
foat-boards.
IN THE SPRING,
about the month of March, the fields. which
have been left without cultivation during the
winter season, are dug up and begin to be pre-
pared for rice sowing. In digging the ground
the farmer uses for the purpose a mattock-
shaped agricultural implement universally used
In Japan This implement is used as our la
boreTs use the mattock, or the blade may be
fastened to wooden beam, thus forming a
Plow, which is drawn bya horse or an OK. The
broken ground is then thoroughly saturated
with liquid manure. consisting of all sorts of
fefuse such as night soil mixed with bathing
water. rotten grass. bamboo leaves. and when
dried by the sun the ground is again dug up
and Hooded with water TO the depth of 3inches.
Through the slush is drawn an agricultural i'm
PIGMENT somewhat resembling "a harrow, for
the purpose of disintegrating the soil and
thoroughly mixing the manure with it, The
SOL Is now ready to receive the seedlings,
which have been grown from the seed rice.
HOW RICE Is sowED.
The seed rice being soaked until ready to
sprout Is sOwn in very heavily MANFRED patches
OF ground, covered with water during the
hight, and drained off during the day; and
when the sprouts are inches high, which is in
The month of May. they are transpanted into
the prepared helds as shallowly as possible (the
number depending on the quality of the
ground). in tufts of several plants about
inches apart and arranged in such a way that
all the roots are of the same length. The work
is done by all the members who are able to
wade about in the water. The rice sprouts thus
Planted require great deal of manuring and
cuitivating before they put forth the ripened
ear. Ii Is estimated that from the planting
nrne until the harvest. in November the fields
are hoed once every two weeks in order that
they may be kept free from weeds. water
pants, &c When the ear is about TO burst
forth the earth must be drawn up to the roots.
and at the same time the plants must be heavily
manured. which is done by the farmer pouring
on the roots of each tuft liquid manure con-
sisung Of a mixture OF everything which is sup
posed TO possess fertilizing qualities, but of
which night-soil is the principal ingredient.
THE HARVEST:
In September the fields are permitted to be-
come dry, and in October and November. when
Vie ears present yellow color. the grain is
cut by an agricultural implement resembling
sekle, dried on the fields as our farmers cure
the newly-cut grain. made into bundles and
Gken TO the farm yards. The heads are then
pulled from the straw by drawing the bundles
through comb-ike arrangement of wooden
az iron Teeth, hulled or thrashed by spreading
them on mat and beating them with a fail
and separated from the chat by running the
thrashed grain through machine made of two
Damoo0 baskets, placed one upon the other
anu fuil OF cut bamboos placed on end. which
fOrm the cleaner. The food rice is also further
cleaned by pounding IT with a pestle, in a NOR
tar-shaped vessel, and where a number of pes
Hes are used IN as many mortars they are set
IL motion by water or steam power
~. ne amount OF rice grown in Nagasaki
O,sZ9,45O bushels). A koku is a grain
measure equal to 5.13 bushels. The Weld
Per ton ~ acre. of land in an average
year IA l-s5 koku (9.49 bushels) The cost
oi euitiyaton per ton in an average year is
SI.5O. The average annual consumption in a
japanese family Is estimated at 334 koku
OILS bushels)- During the past wear rice has
peen alta lower price than at any time during
NE pa.t twenty-five years, and an immense
Quantity has been shipped from this port to
Sermany, England, Holland, France and the
United States. A considerable ouantity of
polished rice has also been shipped to Aus
Galia, Europe, British Columbia and the
United States quantity Of cleaned rice has
also been shipped to Wladiwostock. the
neighboring Russian military post in Siberia.
Rice has been selling during the past wear at
$50 and IS. Is per koku. the price varying ac-
eording to the quality and place reproduction. I"
ILLEGAL OYSTER DRKDeERs CAprunrp.-The
noops Mary s. Cummins, Capt. Nellie E. Cam
non- and Lena, Capt. Frank Cannon were can
fured Tuesday by Deputy Commander Loker,
Tor illegal dredging in Choptank river They
we're turned over to the Dorchester authori-