JAPAN. 33 



As regards the quality of the butter made from buffaloes' milk, I 

 can only judge from its general use in tin 4 Bombay presidency that 

 it is in no way really objectionable, though its white color is not so 

 attractive nor its aroma so full as that of Danish butter. 



The introduction of these good milch breeds of cattle and buffa- 

 loes would add-materially to the comfort of tho white people in the 

 Philippines, and deserves the serious attention of the Department of 

 Agriculture. 



agriculture in japan. 



Steamship Hongkong, 

 En route to San Francisco, 



August 22, 1902. 



The most startling fact about Japan is the small area of cultivation 

 that almost completely supplies the wants of a large population. 

 According to statistics supplied by the Government, out of the less 

 than 147,000 square miles in Japan proper not more than 19,000 square 

 miles are cultivated, which means that an agricultural area one-third 

 the size of Illinois comfortably supports some 42,000,000 people, and 

 this means that every square mile of cultivation supports on the aver- 

 age about 2,200 person^ 



This becomes still more interesting from the other fact that the 

 agriculture which supports these millions is one in which animal hus- 

 bandry is almost totally lacking. 



To the Occidental an agriculture without farm food animals of any 

 kind is hard to imagine, but to Orientals, who do not know the taste 

 of dairy products nor relish the most delicate beefsteaks or mutton 

 chops, the care of live stock seems a disagreeable and even degrading 

 business. 



No considerable herds of cattle are said to exist in the islands, and 

 sheep, hogs, and goats are nowhere bred to any extent. A few work 

 bulls and cows are kept in stalls, and from these the foreigners get 

 their supply of beef, which is of very good quality. Small quantities 

 of these animals are exported from Kobe to Manila and China. This 

 lack of domestic animals and the resulting absence in the country of 

 stable manure or crops grown for fodder give to the farming of Japan 

 a peculiar feature. 



That this one-sided agriculture is a mistake, the most progressive of 

 Japanese agriculturists frankly admit. It necessitates, or at least has 

 brought about, a rotation in many sections of the country of barley 

 and rice. Such a rotation, and a still simpler one of rice followed by 

 a season of fallow must have gradually decreased the fertility of the 

 soil had not the system of collection and distribution of night soil been 

 so extensively developed. 



7376— No. 27—02 3 



