News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1889-01-31
RICE IN JAPAN.
An Interesting Description of it's
Growth and Treatment.

A report, recently received at the
State department from Mr.. John M.
Birch, United States consul at Nagasaki,
Japan, contains some instructive infor-
nation relative 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 possible, but
the species known as upland rice is
grown on high dry ground, needing no
irrigation, just as 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 qnanti-
ties that it is becoming leading artic' e
of export. The fields in which it is
grown in this district are small-the
largest seldom being over one-fourth of
an acre in area-and lies almost entirely
under water from the time the Seeding
is planted in May or June until the
rlpened grain is harvested in October or
November.
The water 80 necessary is conducted
to the fields, which have raised borders,
by means of conduits from different
streams, or IN times of drought, from
basins, which have been constructed to
retain the contents of these streams
flooded 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 pro
vlded with wOod-gates, so as to be left
on or shut Off 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 re-
resembles q water-wheel, or n steamers
paddle-wheel, and is made to revolve by
q man ascending the float 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
mattock- shaped agricultural imple-
ment universally used i'll Japan. This
implement is used as our laborers use
the mattock, or the blade may be fast
oned to wooden beam, thus forming a
plow, which is drawn by horse or an
OK. The broken ground is then thor
Oughly saturated with liquid manure,
consisting of all sorts of refuse, such as
night soil mixed with bathing water,
rotten grass, bamboo leaves, and when
dried by the sun the ground is again
dug mp and flooded with water to the
depth OF inches. Through the slush
is drawn an agricultural implement
somewhat resembling a harrow, for the
purpose of disintegrating the soil and
lhorouegly mixing the manure with it.
The soil is now ready to receive the
seedlings, which have been grown from
the seed rice.
The seed rice being soaked until ready |
to sprout is sown in very heavily man.
ured patches of ground, covered with
water during the night, and drained off
during the day; and when the sprouts
are 6 inchos high, which is in the month
of May, they are transplanted into the
fields as shallowy as possible
(the number depending on the quality
of the ground), in tufts of several
plants, about 6 inches apart, and AZ
ranged in such n 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 cultivating before they |
put forth the ripened ear 1t is esti-
mated that from the planting time until
the harvest, in November, the fields are
hoed once every two weeks, in order |
that they may be kept free from weeds,
water plants, etc. When tie ear is about |
10 burst forth the earth must be drawn
up to the roots, and at the same time !
the plants must be heavily measured, |
which is done by the farmer pouring on
the roots of each tuft liquid manure,
of a mixture of everything
which is supposed to possess fertilizing
qualities, but of which night-soil is the
principal ingredient.
In September the fields are permitted
to become dry, and in October and No
vember, when the ears present yellow
color, the grain is cut by an agricultural
implement resembling sickle, dried on
the fields as our farmers cure the newly
cut grain, made into bundles, and taken +
TO the farm yasds. The heads are then
pulled from the straw by drawing the
bundles through a comb-like arrange
ment Of wooden or iron teeth, huiled
Dr. thrashed by spreading them on a mat
and beating them with fail, and sep
,rated from the chaff by running the
hrashed grain through machine made
Of two bamboo baskets, placed one upon
5he other and full of cut bamhoos placed
IN end, which form the cleaner. The
'ood rice is aso further cleaned by
it with pestle, in a mortar
shaped vessel, and where a number of
1estles are used in as many mortars they
ire set in motion by water or steam
oower.- Washington STIR.