The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1892-03-18
A LAND OF TINY FARMS.
HOW THE MILLIONS OF JAPAN ARF
FED AND CLOTHED.

Farming Crops by Irri-
gation-Absence OF wssds-Ilow Rice
IL Grown.
Japan is so cut up by mountain ranges
and almost impossible cliffs that only one
eighth of the whole area is suitable for
cultivation. The country is 80 small and
the population so great that the wonder
is that the people have managed to exist
at all. But to the fact that they have
lived and thrvcd their enormous num-
bers bear testimony. The high cultiva.
ton of the land, the vegetarian diet Of
the people, together with the remarkable
Staying power" of the race, have made
the matter of existence comparatively
easy in ages past. But Notwithstanding
the power OF resistance which is charac-
teristic of the people, there must be
limit to their endurance. The rapid in
crease Of population together with the
drain upon the resources of the country,
would surely in few years have resulted
in nothing less than contest with scar
city, If not an actual fight against famine.
But for the present, at least, the caam-
ity has been averted by the emigration
Of thousands of Japanese to the Hawai-
ian and other islands of the Pacific and
they are steadily seeking their way into
the west coast ports of the two Amer
icas.
The land under cultivation in Japan is
about Is, 200, 900 acres, upon the product
OF which al 900, 900 must be fed 1t is
unnecessary to add that the farms are
crnaII Tho orara oya e. r,,, 10 rror, o,,o -
three acres, and ten-acre plot is consid-
cred a large farm. The methods of cult
walton, the succession 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 cultiva-
ton was reached long ago, but by judi
cious use Of fertilizers and skill in farm
ing that amounts almost to q genius, the
same average yield is obtainable year
after year.
The land is we'll suited to irrigation and
the water is abundant Most Of the land
is made up of plains. The numerous riv-
ers 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
overtlows the land in channels 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 cul-
tivated plots in Japan. Every inch of
ground must be put to the most profitable
use A few narrow paths are made in
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 is done
by hand, and the tools are models of sim.
plicity. There is no room in the fields for
drying 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, 30 that the rain may
run of.
In July the first crops are all harvested
and removed, and the fields are made
ready for rice. After the surface Of the
ground is carefully smoothed, it is COW
cred for depth Of six inches with water
The water is conducted into the field of
the highest elevation in the neighbor-
hood, which it overflows, and then is
carried to the next field, few inches
lower. and on through the whole series
OF felds to the lowest. II by chance any
OF the fields can not be watered in this
way, another method is used. Water
is thrown up to the required level by
means Of treadwheels, placed in the
channels built for that purpose. The
weight of the men who tread the wheels
is sufficient to throw the water up to a
considerable height The rice plants
are pulled out Of their seed beds and
several stems are punched together and
pressed into the mud. The plants are
irregularly placed to allow as abundant
growth as possible. The men and wom-
en- who plant this aquatic grain stand
in the mud and water halfway up to
their knees all day long while the blister
ing rays of the sun pour down upon their
bare heads. After a few weeks the
plants are ready to be puddled. The
mud must be pressed around each bunch
Of plants, and weeks are spent by the
8ioWei5 III the biusny ueius again. Lie
water is gradually stopped and by the
time the rice corn is ready to be cut the
fields are fairly dry. Each bunch is cut
with hand sickle after the manner of
barley or wheat, and the rice corns are
knocked of by hand. The grain is
bundled and carried from the fields by
the men and women, OF strapped on the
back and sides of a pony. Carts or other
conveniences are not used for the reasons
already given. The rice produced
amounts TO about 40, 900, 900 bushels per
year, or about four and one-half bushels
per capita. 1t is second in quality only
to that grown in Java or the Carolinas,
and, next to silk, is the principal export
Of Japan. The Japanese raise barley,
wheat, millet, rye, beans, rape-seed, egg
plant, lilies and diakons for local use, and
silk, tea aud rice for expectation.
The Zest Of Hunting.