183 



the Japanese in this respect being much in advance of Americans. 

 Along the sand dunes of the coast Mr. Harrington observed the ex- 

 tensive planting of pines, showing specimens from a few inches upward, 

 while older forests showed by the regularity of the trees that they were 

 planted by man. Farming lands proper occupy 15% of the country, 

 and are classed as Ta and Hata, the rice fields and the dry fields. To 

 these may be added 5% of land under other forms of cultivation, such 

 as fruit and nut trees, etc., making in all 20%, or one filth of the land 

 devoted to agriculture of all kinds. 



From this area, careful and systematic tillage furnishes food for the 

 large population of 40 000,000, besides a considerable quantity for ex- 

 port. Wherever water can be obtained, rice is the staple crop, and the 

 plains and valleys are carefully levelled and irrigated, so that they may 

 be kept wet during the growth of the rice. When Mr. Harrington 

 arrived, the young rice covered the plams with a beautiful verdure, and 

 before his departure the harvesting was well advanced. The annual 

 yield in favourable years is about 200,000,000 bushels. No fences are 

 needed, and as the farmers chiefly live in villages on the edges of the 

 rice plams, these present a wide expanse of vegetation. 



Along the ridges which bound the rice plats are generally planted 

 beans, which are also extensively grown in the dry-fields, and form a 

 large element of the food. They are generally known as Soy-beans, 

 because certain varieties are used in making the sauce of that name 

 (Shoyu), so much used as a relish. Of other crops, the mulberry was 

 described as largely grown in some districts where the silk worms are 

 bred, an industry employing a large part of the populntion. In other 

 districts, tea was a chief product, and the plantations of these shrubs 

 wee described as being very attractive in appearance. The cotton 

 which in some districts is very largely grown, and for the spinning of 

 which several large mills were seen, is a smaller plant apparently than 

 that cultivated in America. 



Mr. Harrington regretted that his knowledge of geology was not 

 sufficient for the full appreciation of the phenomena which, in a land 

 where the forces of nature are so actively in operation, must be of a 

 most instructive character. The Hakone district exhibits both well 

 wooded hills, and others covered with a very vigorous tall grass, a 



