Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1892-03-04
MINIATURE FARMS
HOW JAPAN'S TEEMING MIL
LIONS ARE FED.
A Ten Acre Plot is Considered a
Large Farm-Carefui Methods of
Planting and Raising Crops
The Principal Food.

are small. The average farm is frof
one to three acres, and ten-acre plot x
considered a large farm. So many things
are done on the dimiuutive scale in
Japan. Space utilizing aud territory
saving has been reduced to fine art.
After surveying the japanese fields and
gardens it is easy to understand how
dwarfhg in horticulture originated ages
ago in this country. the method so
long regarded by other nations as a
secret, was resorted to as matter of cx-
pediency, if not of necessity, for the
limited space would not otherwise have
permitted variety of growths.
The methods of cultivation, the sue.
cession Of crops, and even the kind of
machinery used, are the same as they
were nearly 1000 years ago. In spite Of
the agricultural limitations, no country
in the world produces so much per acre
as Japan. The limit of cultivation wa:
reached long ago, but by judicious USE
of fertilizers, and skill IN farming that
amounts almost to genius, the same
average yield is obtsinsblc year after
year.
The land is we'll suited to irrigation,
and the water, which is regarded as i'm.
pure by fastidious Europeans, is abundant.
Most of the land is made up of plains,
whose surface is we'll drained, being
washed by the water falling upon the
hills and ranges from the back. The
numerous rivers and water courses which
cross the plains on their way to the sea
are utilized for purposes of irrigation.
The water is drawn to high elevations
from which it overfows the land in
channels.
In April the crops are in 6ourishing
condition, and wheat, barley. rape and
corn form the principal part. All the
fields are planted with mathematical
precision, for the element of accuracy
enters into every act OF the farmer, aud
the fields must be pleasing in appear
ance. The cereals are astonishingly regu-
lar in position and growth And even
the ears of corn appear in line as they
come out. The cereals, whether planted
in single or double rows, grow in clus-
ters Of several stems, each cluster being
exactly in line; so that the eye detects
no irregularities whatever. Seed is too
valuable to waste and only rice is scat
tered broadcast. Four or five grains Of
corn are planted together upon ridges
equal distances apart, and generally in
rows. The intervening space is utilized
for growing beans, which are so planted
that they can get space and light without
injury TO the other crops. Land is so
valuable that no space is allowed for
grass plots, and it is curious Thing that
no weeds are to be seen in any Of the
cultivated plots in Japan. Every inch
of ground must be put to the most
profitable use, and a seed borne by the
current or dropped by bird stands lit
tie show of growing to maturity. So
thoroughly have the japanese got the
mastery Of these pests that the soil
is entirely free from every trace Of
them. The climate and the warm, hu-
mid atmosphere are particularly favora-
bic to the growth of rusts and other
parasite forms, but they have also en-
tirely disappeared from the fields OF ia
pan. A few barrow paths are made il
the fields where absolutely necessary, but
there are no roads, and consequently no
room for wheeled vehicles or machines.
Almost all the work Of cultivation il
done by hand, and the tools are models
of simplicity. The tool used for cut
ting barley or wheat consists of SHARP
blade placed at right angles to the shaft,
which is about two feet long. The corr
is cut very carefully, so that the adjoin
ing plants are not injured. Threshing
too, is tedious process. There is nc
room in the fields for drying shea YES, fol
the ground must be used Immediately
after harvest for other c:ops. The corn
sheaves are tied up in punches and Sc
curely fastened to houses, fences and
trees. The ears are always downwnward,
so that the rain may run off. During the
harvest season the caves and verandahs
OF every village house are stacked about
with neat bundles of grain that will be
beaten out as soon as dry. The ears are
knocked against pole, placed few feet
above the ground, aud the grain falli
upon the mats placed below to receive it,
The cereals are put through sort of
primitive winnower, or thrown up for
the wind to carry away the husks.
Bunches of corn or rice straw are drawn
through hackles and gathered upon mats.
The rice straw is used 10 the manufac
ture OF tough paper that has great
sale In Japan.
In July the fields are made ready for
the rice, after being properly banked up
aud irrigated. Rice is staple, but is
regarded as luxury among the farmers,
being used only on holidays or in case o
Illness. IL patient Is in critical con.
dition ho is permitted to have iice
"what, so i'll that he must have riccl'
is asked in sympathy, and the patient