REPORT 



UPON 



THE AGRICULTURE OF JAPA 



BY DANIEL S. GREEN, SURGEON U. S. N. 



The aspect of Japan is mountainous. In the portions visited by the squadron, at least three- 

 fourths, perhaps seven-eighths, of the surface may be occupied by mountains or very steep hills. 

 None of these seem to be cultivated — that is, in grain or food crops — at least, to any extent; on 

 the other hand, the intervales or bottoms are in constant cultivation, and produce two crops 

 annually — one of winter and one of summer grain. The bottoms are naturally level plains, or 

 are made so artificially. They are very rich, and their fertility is aided by irrigation ; facilities 

 for which are afforded by streams from every vale. The more accessible parts of the sides of 

 hills, as they recede from the plains, are also graded, often levelled; and, when water cannot 

 be procured, are planted with such grain or vegetables as require no more moisture than that 

 supplied by rains alone. But, whenever irrigation can be secured, there rice is also planted. 



On looking over the western shore of the bay of Yedo, in the months of February and March, 

 from the deck of a ship, one will notice a range of high hills or bluffs rising directly from the 

 water's edge, and scarcely interrupted by even small and narrow vales. Beyond these is a 

 rolling upland, more or less broken, bounded by a range of not very elevated mountains ; and 

 still beyond these, covered with a glistening canopy of snow, rises, in solitary grandeur, the 

 cone of Mount Fusi, to the altitude of some 12,000 feet. This is a most conspicuous and 

 beautiful object from almost every point, for sixty or eighty miles around. 



At this early season, the margin of the bay is clothed with verdure ; and the camellia japonica, 

 here twenty or thirty feet in height, and the apricot or plum, are robed in blossom. 



The face of the hills, except some gentle slopes, is mostly planted in pine. The plantations 

 however, are not nearly equal to some at the Cape of Good Hope, nor such as we may imagine 

 in- the highlands of Scotland. They are arranged in slips of various widths, running up and 

 down the hill, as if in possession of different proprietors. The trees are seen in all stages of 

 age and growth, are not preserved in any good order, but are obviously set out in rows, and 

 appear to be cut systematically for timber or fuel. And here it may be observed, that a very 

 large portion of the labor of the country must be employed in these plantations, in cutting and 

 preparing the lumber and fuel, and in transporting them to supply the wants of the numerous 

 cities and towns or villages throughout the laud. The necessity for timber is very great, as the 

 vast majority of houses are constructed of wood. The people profess to be able to build them 

 of stone, if they wished; but they prefer wood, as being more secure during the earthquakes, 

 lis 



