Evening star., 1924-05-11

mosa, about 100000 acres of land
available for tillage, and that of this
total about two and half million
acres may theoretically be converted
into rice paddles Taking the aver
age yield per acre in rice at 43 koku
cone koku is approximately five
bushels), the reclamation of so much
land would increase the rice produc-
ton annually by about 175,000,000
bushels, or approximately SO per cent
However, as has already been pointed
out, the agricultural forces are di-
mln1sh1ng instead of increasing, and
realization of this new source of the
nations staple food is not likely.
Still Short of Her Needs.
With the utmost capacity produc-
ton, however. Japan is still short of
her needs. While the total area of
Japan proper is about $4,000 square
miles, or less than one-twentieth of
the area of the United States. it is
necessary to support over $4,000, 900
people, approximately half the popu-
latfon of the United States. The 15,-
100000 acres of land under cultiva-
ton, when divided among the $780,
600 farmers, makes the average farm
only three acres, with each acre re-
quired to feed about &pur people.
While intensive cultivation results in
unusually good crops, the smallness
of the farms makes the use of modern
implements, such as the tractor or
harvester, impossible. Under such
conditions it is easy to see Japan's
agricultural predicament
A large portion of Japan is noun
famous or hilly, rendering large areas
untillable. The thrifty farmer culti-
Yates every available hillside. the
success in this regard amazing for
eign travellers. However, these sur
faces too steep for cultivation are
not allowed to go unused, for trees
will grow there. According to sta
roughly 43 per cent of the total area
compared to SO per cent in Sweden,
the best wooded country in Europe.
Tip Available on Forests.
The United States and many other
countries with large resources may
take a lesson from Japan in regard
to forests. More than 1000 species
are represented in the four zones of
Japan proper, ranging from tropical
to frigid The forests are divided into
three classes: ]. protection forests:
2. utilization forests. and 3, percent
age forests, the. last named being
state forests which are under the
control of villages or towns, which
are allowed a certain percentage of
the produce.
AS one travels through the forest
zones he is struck by the uniform
appearance Of the growths on the
hillsides. the trees seemingly grow
ing in rows, like corn. Such is the
case, for reforestation is diligently
practiced in Japan. Since the state
forestry program was launched in
1899 more than 60.O00,000 yen ($3O.-
0OO-000) has been expended in survey
ing. planting, Improvement of soil
and other work. The extent of refor-
estation is shown in the fact that
among the state forests alone over
200, 900 acres represent artificial af-
forestation in comparison to less than
so. 900 acres of natural forests. Each
year sees the program enlarged, un-
Ill some day Japan will most likely
be able to supply practically all the
lumber she requires.
Considerable Mineral Wealth.
Japan possesses considerable min
eral wealth in her rocky and noun
famous sections. Historical records
show that the mining industry in ia
pan was fairly we'll developed in the
sixth century, when large quantities
of copper. iron and other metals were
exported. 1t is recorded that from
1414 Japan began to export annually