Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-12-22
Over Forty-One Million Feed
from 100000
Acres.
Interesting Facts Concerning Ag-
riculture on a Diminu-
tive Scale.

OU0,OOO must be fed. 1t is unnecessary
to add that the farms are small. The
average firm is but one to three acres,
and 4 ten-acre plot is considered u
large farm. So many things are done
en- the diminuive scale in japan.
Space utilizing and territory saving
have been reduced to fine art. After
surveying the Japanese fields and gar
dens it is easy to understand how
dwarfing horticulture originated ages
ago in this country.
The method, so long regarded by
other nations as q secret, was rcSOrted
to as n matter of eXpediency, if not of
necessity, for the limited space would
not otherwise have permitted a variety
of grOwths. If the physical aspect of
a country affects the intellectual life
of the people, then the neaness of
view Of everything in Japan may be
one influencing element that tends to
eradicate the range Of perspective in
the mental vision. At any rate, we
find in Japan a people who particular
iZe rather than generalize, and who
dwell with infinite nicely upon the de-
tails and minutiae of everythin. they
contemplate or undertake, from the
writing of 4 poem To the planting of
field. That extreme cleverneSS and
manual skill are the expression Of GER
tain intellectual traits that fall In the
same category and help to prove the
theory.
Farming is not regarded by the Jap
anese in the light of science, subject
to the t1uctuating notifications of new
improvements. but as an art whose
scope was measured and whose limita-
tons were conceded long ago. The
methods of cultivation, the succession
of crops, and even the kind Of machin-
cry used, are the same as they were
nearly 1000 years ago. In spite of the
agricultural limitations, no country i'll
the world produces so much per acre
as Japan The limit of cultivation was
reached long ago. but by judicious use
of fertilizers, and a skill in farming
that amounts to a genius, the same
average yield is obtained year after
year.
The land is well suited to irrigation.
and the water, which is regarded as
impure by fastidious Europeans, is
abundant. Most of the land is made up
of plains. whose surface is well drained,
being washed by the water falling up-
On the hills and ranges from the back.
The numerous rivers and water cOurse rs
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 overf1Ows the
land in channels.
In April the crops are In Il flourish
ing condition, and wheat, barley, rape
and. corn form the principal part. All
the fields are planted with mathema-
teal precision, for the element OF ac-
mer. and the fields must be plea sing in
appearance. The cereals are astonish-
ingly regular 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 clusters 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 scattered broad
cast. Four or five grains of corn are
planted together upon ridges equal dis
tances apart, and generally in rows.
The intervening space Is utilized for
growing beans. which are so planted
that they can get space and light with
out injury to the other crops.
Land Is SO valuable that no space Is
allowed for grass-piots, and 1t 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 little 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, humid atmosphere are par
ticularly favorable to the growth of
rust and other parasitic forms, but they
have also entirely disappeared from the
fields of Japan. A few narrow paths
are made iE the fields where absolutely
necessary, but there are no roads. and
consequently no room for wheeled We
ficles or machines. Almost all the
work of cultivation Is done by hand,
and the toolsl are simple. The tool
nsed for cutting barley or wheat con-
sists Of a sharp blade placed at right
angles to the shaft, which is about
two feet long. The corn is cut very
so that the adjoining plants
are not injured.
Thrashing, too, Is a tedious process !
There is no room in the fields for dry
ing sheaves, for the ground must be
used Immediately after harvest for
other crops. The corn sheaves are tied
up in punches and securely fastened
to houses, fences and trees. The ears
are always placed downward, so that .
the rain may run off. During the har-
vest season the caves and verandas 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 a pole, placed
few feet above the ground, and the
grain falls urCn the mats placed be-
low to receive it. The cereals are put
through a sort of primitive winnower,
OF thrown up for the wind to carry
away the husks. BuI,ches Of corn or
rice straw are drawn through hackles