Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1889-02-07
RICE In JAPAN.
An Interesting Description of its
Growth and Treatment.

An interesting Description OF It's
Growth and Treatment.
A report, recently received at the
State department from MIR. John M.
Birch, United States consul at Nagasalsi,
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, aud in such quanti-
ties that it is becoming leading article
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
ripened grain is harvested in October or
November.
The water so 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. Tho
sides OF the numerous hills surrounding
this city are laid out in terraces and into
the levels which are intended for rice,
tho water collected on the higher
grounds is led by conduits, the quantity
being regulated Ivy means of dams FRO
vided 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. Thopump in universal use re-
resembles water-wheel, or 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 DO pre-
pared for rice sowing. In digging the
ground the farmer uses for the purpose
o mattock shaped agricultural imple-
ment universally used in Japan. This
implement is used rs our laborers use
the mattock, or the blade may be fast
enod TO wooden beam, thus forming
pillow, which is drawn by horse or an
OK. The broken ground is then thor
oughly saturated with n liquid manure,
consisting OF MI 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 up and flooded with water to the
depth oil 3 inches Through the slush
is drawn an agricultural implement
somewhat resembling harrow, for the
purpose of disintegrating the soil and
thoroughly mixing the manure with it.
Tho 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 Nav, they are transplanted into tho
prepared fields rs shallowy as possible
1.-The number depending on the quality
OF the ground), in tufts Of several
plants, about inches apart, and ar
ranged in such way that oil the roots
are of the same length. The work is
done by all the members who are able
To vale about in the water. The rice
sprouts thus planted require great deal
Of manuring and cultlvating before they
put forth the ripened ear. 1t is estl-
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
mn 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,
consisting of a mixture Of everything
which is supposed to possess fertilizing
qualities, but of which night-soil is tue
principal ingredient
In September the fields are permitted
to beccme dry, and in October and No
yembsr, when the ears present a yellow
color, the grain is cut Ivy an agricultural
implement +, sembling a sickle, dried on
the fields as our farmers cure the newly
cut grain, made into bundles, and taken
10 Ihe 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. hulled
or thrashed by spreading them on mat
and beating them with fail, and sep
arated from the chaff by running the
thrashed grain through machine made
of two bamboo baskets, placed one npon
the other and full OF cnt bamboos placed
on end, which form the cleaner. The
fool rice is aso further cleaned by
rounding it with a pestle, in mortar
SHAPED vessel, aud where a number OF
pestles are used in as many mortars they
are set in motion by wat T or steam