Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1909-03-18

OOnD FOR 1OSA48s VVk1Os
Notsonfyis Japan. encouraging agrt-
culture through the engineery Of
model farm experimental stations,
lectures and what not, but likewise It
is Attempting to improve the lot OF
the Agrtcu1turist. There is going on
in Japan to-day a big work Of uplift-
ing, to employ our sorely tried Amer
lean phrase.
Foremost in this movement is a-so-
ciety known as the Hotokukwa1.
which magssbe translated as the 0
ciety for moral and economic adj
vancement. It's main. strength is be-
ing put forth in improving rural con-
ditions and in makingy life in the
rural communities more worth the
living through the extension o
amusements, charities, education, So
cial features Of one kind and another
and by the development Of agricul-
tural enterprises.
It has organized the young people
| everywhere and started branches IN
| about 100000 of the smaller hamlets
and villages of Japan. The Hotokuk-
wal is assisted in its laudable Efforts
by the Government Of Japan, which
| gives it money from time to time;
by the heads of the various prefec-
lures and by the villages themselves.
It has built up an agricultural society
ineevery prefectural district, separate
ones In the larger towns, and put over
! all Of these a central agricultural
o-@o1%l 10 TS~1y{0 Va oid ond dir0nf
them. If any Of the members OF the
numerous branches choose to visit
one of the big cities they are con-
Quoted by a representative Of the or
g~anization through it's schools, fac
tories and workshops and shown it's
most interesting sights. The society
likewise issues aN1umber Of period
icals and. papers for the instruction
and intellectual awakening of it's
members. The Agricultural ssocfa-
ton of Motosu district recognized the
advantage of using the influence of
Buddhist priests for improvement in
agriculture. So in August, 1900, sew
enty Buddhist priests of various sects
were called together and instructed
how to cultivate rice, barley and veg
etables and how to hunt the injurious
insects. The attempts proved sue
cessful and the results were remark
ably good.
To foster the spirit of industry and
economy and to encourage it's auxil-
larry work among farmers the manu-
facture Of wicker lunch baskets was
started among common school stu
dents Of Namazu village. The wages
were to be either used for school
expenses or deposited as postal saw
ings. The material being waste pieces
discarded in the making of wicker
trunks, this work is proving very
profitable and hopeful. Z.
: Shimo-Nakajima village abounds il
deep, muddy rice fields, which art
suitable for the growth of leeohes
Taking advantage of this, the stu
dents of the -common school were
made to gather teaches for the pur
pose of encouraging the spirit of in
dustry and economy among them
The work was started in June, 1904
: and in that year almost 5000 leeche
( were caught and sold, about fftee1
5 yen ($7.50) being made. In 100!
about 5000 were caught and NOR
? than thirty yen ($15) was made
u Each time the money was deposite
/ as a joint saving. In 1906 more tina,
10000 1eeches were gathered. Tn
children expect a greater income a
we'll as a larger demand, and ar
much interested. - Chicago Dali
J. News.
II +.