EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



Vol. X. No. 2. 



A recent communication from Mr. S. Machida, of Japan, contains some 

 interesting information in relation to the status of the experiment station 

 enterprise in his country. Mr. Machida was formerly connected with 

 the station at Tokyo, but is now director of the recently established 

 Tokai station, situated in Aichi. 



The experiment stations in Japan are an outgrowth of the investiga- 

 tions and held experiments carried on in connection with the Imperial 

 College of Agriculture at Tokyo. Their service to agriculture was recog- 

 nized by Japanese agriculturists and created an int rest in agricultural 

 experimentation, resulting in the establishment of agricultural institu- 

 tions at Yokaichi and Kioto. In April, 1S93, a bill passed the Japanese 

 Parliament providing for the establishment of seven experiment stations 

 under the control of the department of agriculture and commerce. 

 These consist of a central station at Tokyo and six branch stations 

 located by the minister of agriculture and commerce. These branch 

 stations were located at Osaka, Miyagi, Ishikawa, Hiroshima, Toku- 

 shima, and Kumamoto. The work of these stations consists of tests of 

 varieties of agricultural plants, selection of seed, tillage and cultuie, 

 the use of fertilizers, soil investigations, harvesting and curing crops, 

 agricultural technology, plant diseases and injurious insects, the pro- 

 tection of beneficial insects, feeding of farm animals, addressing farm- 

 ers' meetings, distribution of seeds and plants, and analyses of miscella- 

 neous materials sent in by farmers. The stations also answer questions 

 propounded by farmers, make investigations of the present condition 

 of Japanese agriculture, and publish records of the results of their 

 work. 



In 1896 three new stations were established on a much larger scale 

 than the branch stations established in 1893. The locations of these 

 stations are Aichi, Akita, and Shimane. 



All of the stations, both old and new, are carrying out their work in 

 accordance with the same general regulations and under the control of 

 the central station, which is in charge of Mr. J. Sawano. 



The Tokai station, located in Aichi, is a typical representative of the 

 Japanese stations. It has a field of about 3.48 hectares (8f acres), 

 regular in form, with an irrigation ditch running through the center. 



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