Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-10-17
Jap Rice Farmers.
The japanese rice farmers in thi

The Japanese rice farmers in this
country are more successful pro-
ducers of rice than the Americans
engaged in that branch of agricul-
ture, according to the Lake Charles
Ua) Press which says: Lake
Charles had distinguished Japan
ese visitor here Monday afternoon
in the person of Hon. X. Ohashi,
formerly a member of the faculty of
the Royal Agricultural College of
Japan, situated at Toxic, now ex-
pert adviser to the japanese colony
Of rice growers scattered through
Southwestern Louisiana and South
eastern Texas. Mr.. Ohashi was here
for the purpose of buying three
threshing machines to aid in the
harvesting of the crops of the colony
He is personal friend of DR.. S. A.
Knapp of the Bureau of Plant In
dustry of the United States Depart
ment of Agriculture, who met him
in Toxic Mr.. Ohashi belongs 70
the Samuri caste. the highest type
of the Japanese race, caste which
has for generations produced the
soldiers and scholars of the little
empire.
Mr.. Ohashi has been in this coun-
try four years. The first year was
spent at the Agricultural College of
California, the second in charge of
one Of the Japanese exhibits at the
Words Fair in st. Louis and trav-
cling over the country. Then he
studied in the Agricultural Depart
ment of Louisiana State University
and the Agricultural and Mechani-
cal College of Texas. He is now en-
ployed in the capacity of general ex-
pert adviser to the japanese farm
ers who are raising rice. Under
Mr.. Ohashi's direct control are about
5000 acres Of rice land, 1000 of
which are at Gueydan and the rest
in Texas.
1t has been a matter of wonder to
the rice men how it was that the
Japanese have managed to raise SO
much better average crops than the
American farmers. 1t is now ex-
planned when it is learned that they
have the advantage of the most
scientific methods for preparing the
ground and nuturing the crops.
Among those who have made no.
ticable success in this country as
rice farmers is the Hon. S. Sahara,
a former member of the Imperial
Parliament from one OF the most
cultured of the japanese commune
ties, that of Kioto, and one of the
trustees of a leading University iii
that Country. Mr.. Sahara came to
this country and bought 800 acres
near Webster, Texas. The first year
he planted l2O acres and made the
banner record for a rice crop, 80
barrels to the acre. The next year
he planted POO acres and made over
% barrels per acre. In these two
years he paid for his farm and had
$4,000 clear profit. He now owns
1000 acres, about 600 Of which are
in cultivation, and Mr.. Ohashi says
the crop is much better than last
years. He thinks it will average
over 25 barrels to the acre.
While he was here, DR.. Knapp
asked concerning young fellow
named Kanabi, son of a learned pro-
lessor in the Imperial Industrial
Institute at Toxic. This Kanabi
came to Houston about two years ago
with letter of introduction to DR..
Knapp and a $1,000 draft with the
intention Of going into the rice grow
ing business. He was the scion of
a wealthy family and had the ad-
vantages OF the most cultured in
auences Of his country. Yet for the
first year he worked as renter on
a rice farm, learned the business
and now owns, with two others, a
farm of l,50O acres on the Sheldon
Canal.
DIR. Knapp states that the Japs
prosper in this country because they
are progressive and energetic The
$50 composing the colony in this
part of the country are many of them
sons of the nobility, but they work
and are not afriad of overalls."