i9io.] 



Miscellaneous Notes. 



i55 



horse breeding by maintaining two stud farms at Hiroshima and 

 I shikari. For stocking these farms they import thoroughbreds for 

 breeding purposes, and distribute their colts throughout the country. 

 Some of the Prefectural Governments also have farms on a smaller 

 scale for the same purpose. In addition there are extensive farms owned 

 by private individuals where the improvement of the breeding not only 

 of horses, but also of other live stock, is carried on. The largest of 

 these is the Koiwoi farm, situated near Morioka, and owned by Baron 

 Iwasaki. 



Before the Russian war, Japan consumed very little meat. During 

 the campaign, however, the soldiers were supplied with meat, and 

 since then its use has become more general among the Japanese. As 

 pasturage in Japan is limited, most of the hills being covered with 

 bamboo grass, cattle raising is confined to certain localities. Most of 

 the cattle in Japan are in the Settsu district, but as the northern part 

 of the mainland and Hokkaido have good pasturage, several large 

 farms have been started there with success. The Government recognise 

 that it pays to have the best stock, and are importing thoroughbred 

 bulls and cows from different parts of the world. The calves are 

 distributed throughout the country. About 42 per cent, of the total 

 imports are used for breeding purposes, the remainder being consumed 

 as food. 



Experimental Farms in Northern Italy. — The Foreign Office Report 

 on the Trade of Venice for 1908-9 (A r o. 4406, Annual Series) gives some 

 information as to the experimental farms in the provinces of Venetia. 

 Every school of agriculture in these provinces, it is stated, has wisely 

 adopted the plan of having a large experimental farm for practical 

 agricultural instruction in their respective districts. There is one at 

 Gambarare in the province of Venice consisting of 50 fields, equivalent 

 to about 47 acres ; 37 fields were given to farmers for cultivation on 

 condition of their yielding half the produce to the school, and 13 

 fields were allowed to be kept by the old tenants on the same rent they 

 were paying to the former owners. The metayers have to follow the 

 directions of the school with respect to the cultivation of maize, wheat, 

 grass, beet, potatoes, &c. There are also vines and some mulberry 

 trees. The capital required for purchasing the necessary cattle was 

 collected among the local agriculturists by shares of 100 lire (^4), to 

 be gradually reimbursed from the income of the land, so that the school 

 will eventually remain sole owner of the cattle. At the end of the 

 past two years the metayers were in a prosperous condition and the 

 school, after having paid the rent of the farm and having put aside a 

 reserve fund, paid off about 20 shares. The farm is supplied with 

 an equipment of agricultural machines. Agriculturists have free access 

 to the farm and the right to inspect the books relative to its adminis- 

 tration. 



The Sciwla Pat em a also maintains a small model farm at the Lido 

 chiefly for the cultivation of horticultural produce and fruit. There is 

 an experimental farm at Brusegana in the province of Padua, one at 

 Quinto di Valpantena in the province of Verona, one at Conegliano 

 in the province of Treviso, one at Sant Osvaldo and one at Pozzuolo in 

 the province of Udine. The Count of Asarta has a large model estate 

 at Fraforeano, in the last named province, which is provided with 



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