Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
With the planting completed, the fields have now their most characteristic appearance,
covered in water reflecting the sky and dotted by the green of the young rice plants. These
grow steadily until the all-over color is a light green, and the water is hidden by the plants
and a film of waterweeds. Frogs breed in the fields, and the air is full of their croaking.
Hoeingbetween therowsmustbedonetokeeptheweedsincheck,theembankments need
attention to prevent them crumbling, and the water-level has to be maintained. This is the
time when disputes about water would arise, especially if rainfall was below normal. One
farmer might divert water into his own field, or open up a channel from a higher field than
his own, and such actions would lead to bitter recriminations.
Generally speaking, during the time from planting to harvesting, rice does not require
a great deal of attention. There were years, however, in which insect damage was heavy,
heavy enough virtually to destroy the crop in some regions. Round about the end of July
was the time when the infestations were likely to build up, and this was an anxious time.
Various remedies were available, some using fumigation and catching by hand the winged
formofthepest.OneveryeffectivetreatmentwasapparentlydiscoveredinKyūshū,which
avertedtheworstravages;itconsistedofheatingtogetherwhaleoilandvinegar,andspray-
ing the growing plants. It was found that whale oil could be replaced by other oils, and the
practice spread to the whole of Japan. The liquid was scattered over the plants with straw
brooms. Another treatment depended upon quite other principles, those of magic. Straw
