FORESTRY OF JAPAN. 85 



CHAPTER. VII. 



SYLVICULTURE AND TRANSPORTATION 

 OF FOREST PRODUCTS. 



Section I. Sylviculture. 



The political revolution in the beginning of the Meiji Era 

 (1868) produced a disastrous effect upon the preservation of the 

 forests. The forests throughout the country were mercilessly 

 cut down so that there appeared in all quarters of Japan hills 

 and mountains deprived of trees. The consequence was that 

 not only was the forests economy jeoperdized but the 

 economic order of the people at large was deranged, dealing 

 heavy blows upon the productive industry of the people by 

 giving rise to annual inundations which devastated many parts 

 of the country. This state of affairs was noticeable in the 

 forest districts with granite strata, particularly in the province 

 of Omi, Mino and those portions of the Chu-goku facing the 

 inland sea. The adjustment and improvement of these un- 

 wooded lands called forth the immediate attention of the 

 Government, so that in 1875 tne Regulations for the Pro- 

 visionary Investigation of the State forests were published. 

 The extent of the nude land was thus investigated. In the 

 year 1877, at Nishiga-hara, Tokyo, the Forest Experiment 

 Station was established for the purpose of making experiments 

 regarding the cultivation of trees and the kindred subjects. 

 In 1878, the Regulations for the percentage system of forests 

 were issued by which the authorities encouraged the people 



