106 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE [Jan. 



On the other hand, twenty-one per cent in value of the 

 food supply of England is of the flesh of domestic animals, 

 poultry and game, of which articles Japan consumes less 

 than one-half of one per cent. 



Alcoholic drinks constitute eight per cent of the total value 

 of the food consumption of Great Britain, — one of the great- 

 est consumers of intoxicating beverages among civilized 

 countries, — and twelve per cent of that of Japan. 



Regarding the subject of alcoholic intemperance in Japan, 

 it ought to be said that drinking is chiefly indulged in within 

 their own houses, where during intoxication they usually 

 remain ; hence it is that disturbances of the peace and the 

 ordinary signs of intemperance are comparatively rare. 



To the higher nutritive value of the nitrogenous and phos- 

 phatic foods of Western nations is closely allied, not only its 

 higher commercial value, but also the greater energy and 

 efficiency of the races of men raised thereon, — of the brain 

 and brawn so nourished. 



Said General Kuroda, then colonial secretary, now prime 

 minister, " You must not expect too much of the Japanese ; 

 it takes six of them to do as much as one foreigner." 



In the construction of public works I found that the labor 

 of Japanese coolies, at twenty-five cents each, was no 

 cheaper than that of Americans at a dollar and a half per day. 

 Improved tools and machinery did not account for the differ- 

 ence. The construction of extensive earthworks was more 

 cheaply performed by carrying the material in sacks slung 

 upon poles, than by wheeling it in barrows or carts. For 

 several years. General Capron said, it cost as much at govern- 

 ment mills to saw lumber by steam and water-power, using 

 the best American machinery, as by the hand labor of natives. 



The annual income or production of wealth in Japan in 

 1874 was only $12.50 per capita, of which they ate nearly 

 eighty per cent in value ; while in Enghmd and America it 

 was nearly twelve times as much, of which the people ate 

 only forty per cent in value. 



The annual increase of wealth in Japan is therefore 

 exceedingly small. * Clothing and taxes exhaust most of 



* The government levies a tax of two and one-half per cent upon the full value of 

 the land for general purposes, and one-half of one per cent in addition for local 

 purposes. 



