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concentrated form, but fresh from the privies. 

 Caravans of packhorses, which often have brought 

 manufactured articles (silk, oil, lacquered goods, 

 &c.) a distance of 200 to 300 miles from the inte- 

 rior to the capital, are also returned with baskets 

 or buckets of manure. In such cases, however, 

 care is taken to select solid excrement. 



Thus in Japanese agriculture we have before us 

 the representation of a perfect circulation of the 

 forces of nature ; no link in the chain is ever lost ; 

 one is always interlaced with the other. 



I cannot here refrain from drawing a comparison 

 in this respect between the Japanese and our sys- 

 tem. In our large farms we sell a portion of the 

 productive power of our soil in the shape' of corn, 

 turnips, or potatoes ; but the carts conveying the 

 products to the town or factory bring back no 

 compensation. One of the links of the chain is 

 thus lost. Another portion of our produce is 

 devoted to the feeding of large herds of cattle, of 

 which a considerable amount is sent forth in the 

 form of fat cattle, milk, butter, or wool ; this also is 

 never returned, and a second link of the chain is 

 lost. Another small portion we and our labourers 

 consume. This last.; portion at least might be 

 turned to proper account, if we only saved and 

 used it as carefully and wisely as the Japanese 

 do. Will any one venture to assert that the privy 

 manure of our farms is of the least real importance ? 



