368 APPENDIX G. 



It may be that this Japanese system of manuring cannot as yet 

 be introduced into Europe in its integrity. But with such excel- 

 lent results to show for their proceedings, we might surely take a 

 few lessons from these old practical men, and employ them with 

 such modifications as our social relations require. At all events 

 we might adopt in principle the following : 



1. The greatest possible concentration of manures, which must 

 necessarily lead also to a material reduction of cost. When I 

 stated that the Japanese does not trouble himself about the azo- 

 tised matters in his manures, and that his land is, notwithstanding, 

 in a most flourishing state of culture, this is no proof, however, 

 that it might not even le better, perhaps, to endeavour to fix the 

 nitrogen too. If a more practical system can be devised, of which 

 however I have my doubts, combining the advantage of both, so 

 much the better! But till something better is discovered, we 

 might surely adopt that which experience has proved to be good. 



2. Top-dressing, which is of course necessarily connected with 

 cultivation in drills or furrows. 



3. Liquid manuring : not to the extravagant extent, however, 

 in which it was sought to be carried out in England, but in accord- 

 ance with the present condition of German agriculture. 



4. Manuring with every crop. 



The Japanese never cultivates a crop without manuring it, but 

 he gives each crop or seed exactly as much and no more manure 

 than is required for its full developement. He does not care about 

 enriching the soil for future crops. What he demands is simply a 

 full crop in return for each sowing. How often do we hear our 

 farmers talk about this manure being preferable to that manure on 

 account of its fertilising action being ' more lasting;' yet with all 

 our wise provision for the future, how far are we now behind the 

 Japanese, who seem to look always to the next harvest only! As 

 they manure for each fresh crop, and the term ' fallow ' in our ac- 

 ceptation is entirely unknown to them, they are forced to distrib- 

 ute their yearly production of manure equally over the entire area 

 of their land, which can be accomplished only by sowing in drills 

 or furrows, and by top-dressing. 



The contrast between this rational system and the profuse ap- 

 plication of our long straw manure over the whole surface of the 

 field is truly glaring. 



I may also add here that the manure in the Japanese towns is 

 never artificially turned into guano or poudrette, but is sent every 

 night and morning in its natural form into the country around, to 

 return again after a time in the shape of beans or turnips. Thousands 

 of boats may be seen early each morning laden with high heaps of 

 buckets full of the precious stuff, which they carry from the canals 

 in the cities to the country. These boats come and go with the 

 regularity of the post ; it must be admitted, however, that it is a 

 species of martyrdom to be the conductor of a mailboat of this 



