St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1911-10-04
JAPAN OF TODAY
1t is the Great Britain of the
Orient. is a Poor Country.

Japan is known as the s'land of
the rising sum-" by reason of its
being the first land in the Asiatic
belt upon which the rays of the
morning sun fall; also as the par
adise of the East and the Great
Britain of the Orient from it's oc-
cupying geographically a similar
position in the east to that which
Britain fills in the west. 1t is about
the area of our own state of Cali
fornia, with a coast line of $4,000
miles, affording many fine inlets and
harbors, embracing 1000 islands and
extending from typical Formosa in
the south of the Kurile isles in
the frigid north. A range of hills
and mountains extend the length of
the main land. Within the empire
are great mountains, broad rivers,
beautiful lakes and cascades, grand
and picturesque scenery, numerous
cities, large and magnificent tenn
pies. The population is nearly fifty
million. By reason of the warm
waves from Formosa the east side
of Japan is much warmer than the
west side which is washed by the
cold surrents of the north In the
interior the climate in the main is
delightful; rich soil with sufficient
rain produces luxurient vegetation.
The Inland Sea, with its thousand
islands extending from Kobe to
Mage saki, is one of the most delight
full sails anywhere to be found.
Earthquakes, typhoons and conf1a-
grations are of frequent occurrence
and are most destructive to property
and life, while epidemics like chol-
era, small pox and the plague often
prove quite fatal to the natives, but
seldom affect the foreign popu-
ton.
Depends Upon Its Farms.
Japan is a poor country and it's
prosperity depends largely upon the
products of the farm. TWo-thirdS
of the taxes of the empire are paid
by the farmer. Rice culture is the
principal production of the country
and fields of this plant are as nu-
merous as fields of grass in our own
| land. It is usually seen growing
in small plats of ground, the soil
being banked to hold the water in
which it is grown. 1t is a handsome
crop seen growing in the field, very
much like oats only not quite so
tall. 1t is harvested and threshed
as we were formerly accustomed to
gather grain in New England. The
mulberry tree is very prominent and
the sale of raw and manufactured
silk abroad is a source of great rev.
enue to the farming population. The
cultivation of tea is another source
| of large income, and the smaller
! farmers are much given to enclosing
their land or garden with a hedge
of tea plants, which does away with
| fencing and enables them to raise
their favorite beverage without ex-
ira tax upon their pocket book.
Much attention is given to garden
ing, and where wealth prevails large
sums are expended in adjoining and
| identifying grounds. Tobacco is a
staple product and is in almost uni
versal use by the natives. Irish and
sweet potatoes are common. Quite
a large radish is grown and seems a
great favorite. Barley, wheat,
maize, mil1et, peas, beans, beets,
| turnips, carrots, melons, egg plant,
buckwheat and onions are also rails
led. Peaches are raised on trellises
as we raise grapes. The other fruits
and berries grown are pears, or
anges, figs, persimmons, plums,
grapes, apricots, bananas, straw
berries and apples. Peanuts and
chestnuts are also raised. The birds
found in Japan are numerous and
some are good singers, while very
few are noted for beautiful plum
age. The bear, badger, boar. fox,
hare, and the monkey are numbered
among the wild animals; the OK,
COW, dog and horse, among the do
nestle animals are numerous, but
smaller than in our country The
trees common to Japan are the pine,
cedar, oak, camelia, bamboo, plum
and peach. The camphor tree of For
mosa, is controlled by an English
syndicate, and is a source of much
profit, producing as it does more
than one-half the worlds supply.
The cherry and maple are grown
principally for their flowers. Cop
per and coal, as we'll as kerosene
are found in great abundance, while
gold, silver and anthony are to be
found in small quantities,
japanese Houses.
The japanese house is seldom o.
more than one-story and is made O.
wood, slightly raised from thu
ground and is usually of three
rooms. 1t has deep veranda il
front with sliding door and win
dows. For window lights paper i
used in place of glass. The room
are covered with a heavy straw o.
: cocoa mating, and the size of tn
e room is governed by the multiple o
K mats six feet by three used in fur
' nishing it. A low table and bra
n zier to hold the coal used to warn
: the occupant, with the head rest an
n rugs used to cover the sleeper a
: night, embrace the house furnish
: ings of the laboring class. In en-
: tering the house you remove you
9 shoes and don straw slippers to b
4 found on the veranda. A peculia
], 1xrOodor shea clog lie WORN III