The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-04-04

and attend also to the experimental farming carried on at the public ex- pense.
 Japan has now more than 200 experi- mental stations, and there are other ex- perimental stations established by the farmers themselves. The first of these stations were organized by men from our agricultural department. and there have been many American professors In the colleges. Among the experimental sta tions is one for the study of the tea plant and of all modes of curing the leaves and preparing them for the market. There is also an imperial silk farm and imperial cattle and horse breeding establishments.
 Stock Farming.
 Within the past few years Japan has done a great deal to improve its live stock It had practically none of much value at the time that Commodore Perry came here It has now 100000 cattle and 100000 horses, and one can buy good beef at all of the ports. When first came to Japan 1t was impossible to get anything else but timed butter. There are now numerous dairies. and fresh butter, unsalted, Is sold in most of the cities. The masses of the people use neither butter nor meat. They live upon fish. rice and vegetables, which they eat with a sauce called soy.
 The most of the soldiers who went from the farms to Manchuria to fight the Rus sians there made their first acquaintance with beef In the consumption of canned meats from America, and 1t is probable from this that demand for meat may spring up.
 As to cattle, the government now has an imperial breeding farm which is sup piled with animals purchased by experts who were sent abroad for the purpose. The favorite cattle are Ayrshires and Simmenthals, a number of each being kept
 Japanese Horses.
 The Japanese are doing all they can to improve their horses. The emperor has a number of studs and horse farms, and his men are importing animals for their improvement each year. He has Arabs, trotters, thoroughbreus and hackneys. all together numbering about BOO stallions and mares. There is now a horse admin istration bureau. which is under the con- trol of the cabinet. with minister of state as its chief. The business of this is to improve the Japanese stock, with the especial object of furnishing better animals for the army. I under stand that 1b00 stallions of foreign breed are to be purchased and distributed to the chief breeding centers, where they are to be paired with native mares The
 
 years.
 At present most of the horses here are stocky ponies of Mongolian breed. They have been somewhat crossed with Per cherons, and as a result they are very strong and hardy see some of them hauling enormous loads on carts through the streets of the cities. They are all ways hitched up sinRly and the driver invariably walks. leading the horse.
 As to imported horses, number were brought here from America in 1872 and after the war with China systematic in troduction of foreign stallions began At present there are 1274 such animals in the various government depots and studs
 New Agricultural Societies.
 am surprised at the interest that the farmers are taking in improved agricul- ture. They have something like 1900 different societies and new methods are being discussed in every town, village and farming district They are alive to the use of artificial fertilizers, and of late have been importing vast quantity of sulphate of ammonia They understand the use of manures better than we do, and by applying them directly to the plants are able to get better results Every bit of stable manure is saved and, withstandins the comparatively small number of animals. that now used in year is valued at $25,000.c coo. Another fertilizer which is largely purchased is fish guano. This is made by boiling down herring for their oil the refuse be- ing sold to the farmers. Such manure brings in millions of dollars a year. and just now great deal Is coming from Saghalien. the lower part of which island Japan got from Russ--