126 JAPAN - MISCELI.ANEOUS 



As we see from these figures, the increase in production was consider- 

 able, especially in the period between 1893 and 1898. It was more than 

 10,000,000 koku, or more than 18,000,000 hectoHtres, giving an annual aver- 

 age of 2,000,000 koku or 3,600,000 hi. This increase is only partly due to 

 the increase in the area of the rice fields, which was 42,391 cho in those five 

 years. But it is due largely to the improved methods of cultivation, which 

 have allowed of the average production per hectare being raised from 24 

 hi. 12 to 30 hi. 24. Yet as we are considering the progress of agricultural 

 production, that is to say of a production subject to many influences, in- 

 dependent of the area cultivated and the systems of cultivation, it will be 

 well to give here the averages for the five years' periods, in which accid- 

 ental differences in the harvests will at least partly be made up. 



Five Years Periods Area Cultivated Average Production Average Annual 



— Cho Koku Production in 



— — hectolitres per ha. 



1882-1886 2,599,104 31,812,659 27.96 



I889-189I 2,712,118 38,574,312 25.56 



1892-1896 2,769,914 39.351.458 25.56 



I897-I9OI 2,824,038 41,701,215 26.64 



I902-I906 2,874,477 43,862,175 27.54 



I9O7-I9II 2,937,821 50353.886 30.85 



I9I2 3,003,082 50,227,132 30.11 



These averages clearly show an appreciable and constant increase of 

 production, due largely to the united efforts of the Government and the pro- 

 ducers. We shall now examine the point of second importance in relation 

 to the rice market : 



(b) Consumption. — It is natural that the consumption of rice should 

 have increased and should tend continually to increase, as a consequence 

 of the rapid growth of the population. This is partly also a consequence 

 of the improved manner of living of the population generally and in partic- 

 ular of that of the large inhabited centres. The figures we reproduce below 

 for the years 1887-1906, are the averages per year for each period of five 

 years. For the later years the figures represent the actual amounts. 



Years Population 



or five years' of the 



periods Empire 



I887-189I 39,984,217 



I892-I896 .... 41,811,306 



1897-I9OI 44,207,720 



I902-I906 47,162,964 



1907 ... . . 48.819,630 



1908 49,588,804 



1909 50,254,471 



1910 50,984,844 



