The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-04-26

the open air fencing bout, with long
lances of bamboo. The face and up
per part of the body during these con-
tests are protected, the head by a long,
flowing hood, the front being supplied
with a metal screen, shielding the
wearers face from the thrust OF his
opponents lance DexterOusly to
knock the lance from the grasp Of the
other, and at the same time to finish
the feat by throwing him to the
ground-which requires a light wrest-
ling match and exercise of muscular
strengths the desired goal of the
fence These and all other contests
are entered into with an equanimity of
temper and a pleasant manner, which
are kept up to the end and are i'm
portant elements in developing the ma
tional character.
The rice farmer has always been the
necessary and leading factor in Jap
ans economic life. One of the most
characteristic sights I'm Japan is this
tiller OF the soil blowing knee deep
with his shaggy pony in his water-cOv-
cred rice field. This plant viii not
thrive unless It is flooded to six inches
or more with water. when the roots
will sprout out In various directions
and a full crop Will be produced.
His farm is cut I'D into several in
undated patches, which are irrigated
by water pumped out Of bitches by
a treadmiu arrangement These small
patches TO the eye seem perfectly level.
but there is just sufficient slope to
allow the water to drain slowly
through the burrows until the first
field is covered. The others are ar
ranged in terraces. one a few inches
below the other. and the water is al
lowed to drain from one field to the
next, and in this way is used over and
over again.
Fish and rice are the two staple
articles of diet. The army now in the
Geld chiefly depends on the former for
its main foodstuf- Fortunately Jap
an has an almost inexhaustible sup
ply of fish, more so than any other
country in the world. In her waters
some twenty-one hundred different
forms of marine life abound. The fish
ermen are now. by government orders,
unusually busy at their nets and pre-
pairing their catch for immediate ship
ment to the front. A picturesque and
quaint scene which is Of daily occur
renee is groups Of two or more
coast maidens seen Wading out on the
beach gathering tiny oysters and edi-
BILE mollusks in bags and baskets.
These choice delfcacies are likewise
sent to the troops.
The United States government has re-
Gently thanked Japan for practically Civ
ing new industry-that OF rice cultiva-
tlOn-to this country. especially Texas. In
the past this plant was only grown to 4
limited extent in South Carolina. Georgia
and louisiana but not sufficiently to
meet the demand for it, A few years ago
ia pan and introduced into Texas TTnFer
improved methods and cultivation and r.
riga ton. It was found that arid lands
hitherto idle and unprOductive, had a fine
rice producing capacity. In Texas +he
acreage for the present year is estimated
at ZS5,000- As result of the rice culture
in louisiana and Texas the increase /
value OF the land alone In these states
where 1t has been demonstrated that rice
can be probably grown. will aggrega te
Slc.Co0.O00. while the annual increase IA
money from the harvest viii exceed b.
0J0.000 On the Pacific coast from 80 mill
lion to 40 million pounds are annually inn
ported for the Chinese and Japanese who
reside IN that locality, who viii not use
the rice grown there To further the in
PRODUCTION of japanese rice large expert
ment farm has been esta blished by che
government in Texas for the purpose OF
actually determining the best varieties and
the best methods Of growth for this coun-
try.-NeW York Tribune.