Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 184, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 August 1914 — Page 2

RICE PLANTING IN JAPAN

4 N THE early spring, when the ■ cold winds are still sweeping m! over the rice fields in Japan, H there Is an aspect of lifelessI ness and desolation about ■= To the European eyes accustomed to dry-cultivated soil, or green grass meadows with feed'XZt ing cattle in them, the sight of so much mud and water in the ■■MMMiiHeMb landscape appears depressing, and there is a great absence of human habitations and people as well; but the character of the crops under cultivation makes ' it necessary that the peasants should be housed In settlements or villages away from the large wet areas given up to the growing of rice and other crops. These rice areas are divided up into fields or plots of all shapes and sizes by small grass-grown ridges a few inches in height, and averaging about a foot in breadth, thus enclosing the soft mud in which the rice is planted. The preparation of these fields is extremely arouous work, involving much hoeing and careful construction of these mud dams, and it includes a whole system of terracing, whereby the water necessary for irrigation is led gradually down fronf field to field, for all high-class rice requires flooding. The little streams and rivulets which provide the water for these terraced hills and wide valleys are very often shaded by bamboo plants, and these streams feed the ditches cut for water channels; narrow tracks or footpaths are also made through the rice fields. But if these fields look desolate at springtime, there is no lack of life in them when the planting season begins in June, for then they are filled with men and women busily engaged in transplanting the young rice plants; and, fortunately for this industry,. Japan possesses a large supply of cheap labor. The seeds of the rice are first thickly sown in the small wet fields, or nursery '"beds, in the early spring (April), and when the young plants have attained the height of four inches or thereabouts, they are very carefully transplanted to the larger fields, at wider intervals, in rows, and, as may be imagined, this is an exceedingly laborious kind of work. When one looks at the Innumerable little plants in the nurseries, with their vivid green shoots and delicate-looking roots, the removing of them by hand to the larger fields and planting singly seems an almost impossible task, and with European labor it might be so; but the peasantry of Japan have been accustomed to this tedious method of agriculture through many centuries and, from habit, it is taken as a matter of course, - and the men and women, standing kneedeep in the mud and water and stooping over their toilsome work, spare no pains in the planting out of the young rice in the soft inud. The value of the harvest is probably in their minds as the reward for all this labor. The eastern agricultural laborer must be seen to be fully realized. Japanese backs are supple! but the sight of so much stooping and bending Is enough to make a European feel the pains of lumbago in hts back from the mere contemplation of it. When the rice is growing up then the fields sbow a very brilliant green, and they are kept under a few inches of water all the time the young crops are growing, which is only drained away Just before the harvesting of the rice. The rice plant blooms early in September, and the crpps are reaped in October, and hung up to dry on short poles. The threshing is done with flails or heckles, a kind of comb. Various methods of fertilization are used by the Japanese farmer, some of them most unsavory to thq European nose; in fact, the “smMls” that emanate from the ground in the agricultural districts In Japan often destroy one’s sense of appreciation of their fine cultivation when inspecting it closely, and the Japanese people must either have less keen noses than ours or else do not mind the odors, for they appear in.no way to affect them as they da our■>ean takes a walk in the rice fids," as he calls them, during is sure to get severely bitten for Europeans living near the eats are a great trial during have stated that Japan pro- "

duces two crops of rice yearly, but this is an erroneous idea, speaking generally. The winter prevents the growing of more than one crop yearly, but there is a part of Japan that does, produce two crops, viz.; the Tosa province, in one of the southern islands, but this is owing to the difference of climate there, caused by. the Kuro-shio, or “black current,” which, flowing northward from the direction of Formosa and the Philippine islands, warms

the southern and southeastern coasts of Japan, very much the same way as the Gulf stream warms the coasts of western Europe; and partly on account of her position geographically, with her long stretch of country from north to south, and the influence of winds and ocean currents, Japan has a large variety of temperature throughout the whole empire. Rice is very largely grown in the southern islands as well as in the southern part of the main island, where one sees very extensive rice fields, but not in the north. There is a kind of dry rice grown, but this is not of good quality. The rice grown in Japan is reckoned among the best in the world, and she takes third place among the rice-producing countries, and exports very large quantities. She imports rice as well, and this may sound strange in a rice-growlrife' country; but the quality of her home-grown rice being so very fine, she exports all she."can and imports' cheaper rice for her home consumption from Korea and China and India that is of inferior quality to her own; but mixed with Japanese rice it is used freely among the poorer classes. Although it is the staple food, other kinds of grain are used as well—millet, barley and wheat are cultivated, and have bee# grown for food during past centuries in the country. Crops of these are grown during the time when the rice fields lie fallow. Two kinds of potatoes are grown as well for consumption.

Hitherto the rice consumers in Japan have been mostly the people living in the towns, the peasantry looking upon it as somewhat of a luxury. But the classes of consumers have been widening out and the standard of living is growing higher in Japan, and more rice is being consumed in the country than formerly, and this, in addition to the fact that the population is rapidly increasing, means that the question of the production of the food supplies in the country in the future is one that has to be seriously considered, and for these reasons the Japanese government has considered the question of the increasing demand for food supply very carefully. Many years ago the institutes for agricultural experiments were established, and these are doing their work well. Much has been carried out; for the rearrangement of the farm fields, in the partitions, and in the'irrigation systems of furrows and canals; works of this kind carried out in sufficient extent will enlarge the farm areas Very considerably and lessen the necessity' for opening Up any new land for cultivation. It is by following these methods that Japan is preparing herself to meet the increasing demand for food. Failure of crop and consequent famine have to be met by larger imports, but necessarily cause great distress among the people. , Times and seasons are scrupulously regarded by the peasantry for all their agricultural operations. The terrible storms in the typhpon season are very much dreaded early lu September. When

THE EVENING REPUBLICAN, RENSSELAER, IND.

employ men for public work, is the rule of good ancient law. Winter is a time of leisure, but during the season between spring and autumn in which they are employed on their farms ... it is not expedient to take men from their work, or interfere with them in their efforts to supply food.” —Extract from translation of the Laws of Shotoku Taishi, in “Dai Nikon (A. D. 572-622).”

Quelled Klondike Bullies

On my return to Dawson in the evening I strolled into the "M. & N.” saloon, where from the rather disturbed atmosphere of the place I noticed something was amiss. One man was just picking himself up from the ground, while most of tire attention was concentrated upon a drunken miner sitting on a billiard table. On inquiring what the trouble was, I was informed that the miner had “buffaloed” the saloon —in other words, he defied the crowd or any of the bartenders (the man whom I had observed picking himself up was one of the latter) to put him outside. No one accepted the invitation, till the door opened and a trooper of the R. N. W. M. police in his red coat strolled in. Another trooper quietly followed. Neither in any way appeared to notice anything was particularly wrong. The first trooper strolled up to the table and, looking steadily at the drunken miner, quietly ordered him to put on his coat and get out. The miner started to swear and bluster; but at the repeated order, ■* this time in rather sharper tones, he put his coat on and walked out like a lamb. The two troopers followed. They did not even trouble to arrest him, the occurrence being no unusual one. This little incident made me realize what an influence this small body of men had gained in that wild stretch of country. During the great rush the troops of this corps—one of the finest that ever ruled the king’s dominions —did their work in the icy north on their wage of $1 a day, when the lowest wage for ordinary skilled labor was seldom under S2O. During that mad rush into Klondike not a single murder was committed in British territory.—From "A Wanderer’s Trail,” by A. Loton Ridger.

FISH RETORTS.

Redd—lt is said that more than 300 species of fish are possessed of voices that are audible to human ears. Greene —Perhaps; but you have to do more than drop them a line to get an answer.

IT CERTAINLY DOES.

Bacon —I see a youth was arrested at Calcutta and fined SIOO for having climbed up a water pipe 120 feet long, in order to hold converse with his sweetheart. Egbert—That sesms a good deal to sty for a water-spout. '

the rice is in flower they are very devastating in character when they come, and the ,rice crop is sure to be injured by them at this period. The wide, cultivated valleys and the terraced hillsides of Japan are a standing testimony to the patience and industry of the inhabitants throughout the country, and the care and culture that have been bestowed upon them for long years are plainly apparent even to a casual observer. A.quotation from a Japanese translation will show the spirit in which agricultural pursuits have been carried on from old times in the country, and the importance attached to them: “To select a convenient season in which to

Laura Jean Libbey's Talks on Heart Topics

[CopTnght, 19M, by ti» McOuieNcvnpapcr Srncficitel

JUST TO BUIT THE GIRLB. •Without our hopes, without our fears, Without the home that plighted love endears, Without the. smile from partial beauty won. Oh! what were m&n7 A world without a sun."

Where there are a houseful of girls many a father may declare with truth that he does not

quickly, “This place has done very well up to the present.” “As long as it suits us and has suited us from the day I brought you here a bride, I refuse to budge an inch —just because it? would please the girls .to make jt-change,”. declares Ihe. father.

“We owe it to our daughters to do the best we can by them,” urges the wife. ‘*We must find a place by May moving day. I have already signified that we don’t want this house any longer. The landlord has rented it and new tenants move in May 1.” Despite father's explosive language he has to scurry about to find a new home. There’s two of the girls in the market. That means a double parlor. There must be a porch as well, for summer sparking, a well-appointed dining room on the first floor, for the general run of young men include dining time with courting time. Before father gets through with his calculating, he finds that the new domicile requires a couple of servants. The old-fashioned furniture which did duty while the girls were growing must go to the second-hand shop. Mother declares she won’t have a stick of it about the house to shame the girls. Pa makes an eloquent, manly plea to save the carpet around which so many fond memories cluster. It was the first thing they saved up money for when they went to housekeeping. He is quickly frowned down. Ma declares the parlors must have hardwood floors and handsome rugs, which can be rolled up and put aside when fashionable dances are held at the house. "The girls must entertain, no matter how we pinch and save for It,” she says. Pa sighs and wishes they were all boys. But when the girls run up to him, fling their soft arms about him, press their sweet young lips to his, he wouldn’t exchange those girls for sons if each one of them was a crowned king. One glance into the girls' happy eyes and he feels that he could make any sacrifice to suit them. The birdlings are not in the home nest for long. Why remain In a house that don’t please the daughters? There’ll be a great deal of May flitting, but change of scenes, sight of new faces, will be exhilarating as new wine to the old folks. For the girls it will bring new romances—another blithing by the next May.

DOWNHEARTED WITHOUT VACATIONS.

Love In a but, with water and a crust, la—Love forgive us!—cinders, ashes, dust; Love in a palace is perhaps at last More grievous torment than a hermit's faft. It has been said that some women are born for pleasure, to feast on the cake of life; others live a life of care and are fed with crumbs. Some worn* en look forward to the coming of summer with the greatest of joy. If they are young and fail-, are the daughters of the well-to-do, visions of seashore and mountain, strolling and flirting, dance through their happy dreams. $ Daughters of the poor read the glowing advertisements of the seaside resorts and laugh Impatiently at the thoughts which find lodgment In their breast for one little moment that they might go there. If it is a hard pull for the family to meet expenses as it is, a girl but addß to their worry when she shows that she Is downhearted because she must stay at home. She doesn't see the need of fixing over her white dresses or fixing over her last year’s hat, declaring there will be no one In town to see them. As the warm days roll around, she is amazed to see how many young men she knows have not gone, but are tacking way at business Just ap though the thermometer didn’t register 90 in the shade. Summertime is a revelation to the girl who has never yet been able to attract a beau. She finds that young man whom she had been introduced to in the wintertime,. and whom she had pot seen since, were just beginning to call upon her to see 1C they could find at least

know where he is at. The modest little cottage on the side street was good enough for the growing family for years. But ’ with the graduation of the first daughter everything changes. “We must move into a better n e i g h b o rhood” the mother declares emphatically. Before the head of the house can raise a protest his wife adds

one girl at home who was as lonely as .themselves. - r r-V ‘o*?. She has her pick of the beaux. There’s always three or four on her! steps of an evening. They vie with.’ each other in inviting her to the nearby resorts, trolffey rides or strolls. When she is doubtful about ' goingabout with this one or that one who had been paying attention for months past to girls she knew, her aunt routs her hesitation. “If -he finds the girl at home more attractive it is she to whom he will propose.” ThereTs more than a grain of truth.: in such reasoning. It Isn’t alwayß love; and lovers which make np the duty ofj a girl’s life. She may be able to minister to the comforts of those at home this season. Perhaps they may be taken from her tlte next year, rs there’s only one, who can be spared for* a fortnight’s change of air and scene in the country, it should be the tired,, overworked mother of a family who should be persuaded to go Instead ofj the pretty, young daughter, who has life before her. It is wrong for a woman to feel downhearted over what cannot be helped. Always make the best! of a season at home. Hidden bless-> ings often come to us in disguise.

A little nonsense now and then la relished by the wisest men.

No matter how staid and Bedate a man may be, he wouldn’t be human if he didn’t have a foolish, romantic streak somewhere in his heart. Ho inherited It from his parents, who looked and loved, else he would not have been here to make reality of his own day dreams. 1 The stern man may say all that ho likes about the frivolity of women; that the woman is not yet born who could cause him one extravagant heart throb. With much bravado, ho assures you that he is perfectly satisfled with his life. But when the spring comes on he begins to feel kind o’ lonely. Not but that there are plenty of women turning toward him With beguiling smiles, yet the time is cot ripe for his heart to respond. As the weather grows warmer and the long, sweet clover-scented evenings begin to work their influence, his icy nature undergoes a change. The woman whom he frowned at in her furs and costly wraps he now looks at from out of the side of his eyes. He thinks how much better she looks in her plain, inexpensive summer garb, and he would not be averse to an introduction. He is agreeably surprised to see her on the porch of a hotel where he has gone to spend his two weeks’ vacar tion. They come to know each other, through mutual friends. He finds her bright, vivacious, Jolly good company to pass the morning with on the piazza or strolling with a merry party. She Is quite a different person, however, when they are out alone together for a moonlight walk. Even a very plain woman looks her best under the silvery moon and gleam of the shining stars. Her voice drops to a musical, more tender key. The* very touch of her finger, clinging lightly to his arm, is like a caress. Her presence is magnetic. The glance of her bright eyes is alluring. What wonder that the man strolling by her — side forgets the vows he has made a hundred times to live and die a bachelor.

He succumbs to the witchery of the time, the place and the girl, and in a romantic moment proffers her his heart and hand. No wonder it has been said that moonlight works mad* ness in his brain. Most men can keep firm control over their hearts though the sun shines ever so brightly. Yet nine times out of ten, they have been; known to yearn for love and to be; loved, under the influence of the lover’s moon. But what difference is it as to how it happened so long as they follow nature's plan and marry at last. Every man’s heart Is to bei won, but it takes the right woman toil touch the tender chord. Even she; 1 must wait until the psychological moment, . that foolish, delicious moment! . when love overflows his heart

Natural Query.

A young married man living in Lake-! wood has a camera which he is fond! of. He takes snapshots of his bride,! and his bride takes snapshots of him, and then they have the films developed] and/’printed and stuck in a book andj show them to all callers. Once they ! prevailed upon a complacent friend tot take a picture of the two of them to- f gether. The young husband Just loved; this picture—it showed his wife andi himself in an extremely affectionate, attitude. He carried a print of it round! in his pocket. The other day he was showing the picture to a friend. "I’m proud of this one, old mah,” he explained. *1 wouldn't part with it for apy amount of money. What do you think of it?" "H’m, it’s very good of your wife. Who Is the man?”—Cleveland Plain Dealer.

The Way to Unlock.

The red-headed office boy was whis-* tling a late popular air, but he didn’tT carry the tune very well. You will break into song occasions ally, will you,” remarked his enH ployer. “Sometimes,” answered the attbufaH haired youth. ‘lf you’d get the key you wouldn’t need to break in," retorted the boss.—< National Monthly.

Has to Stretch It

When ts man with a feeble reput* tkm tries to extend it from the Atlan* tie to the Pacific, it grows thin in spots. ' 1