"H381 TotmanSilviculture.pdf" from his book,The Green Archipelago, 116-129

Conrad Totman discovered a wide range of literature put out there during the Tokugawa Period by jikatasho or nosho, i.e., agricultural treatises or farm manuals written by farmers, village headman, itenerant scholars, etc. It says something about the rather amazing literacy rates that prevailed even in the countryside. During the 17th century, before so many farm manuals appeared, some Daimyo or feudal leaders, dispensed advice for maintaining forest stability. What kinds of things did they talk about? (p. 117)

 

 

Miyazaki Antei developed a treatise in 1697 on agriculture and he developed four major themes about woodlands (118). Let's look at these and discuss them.

1. Forests are valuable for both farmers and the realm: Good for construction, fuel and food.

2. Sound forestry requires planning.

3. Optimal forest planting is related to soil: if soil quality is not maintained, trees will not flourish.

4. Land is best employed growing the " four trees": mulberry, paper mulberry, lacquer and tea.

 

 

What advice did writers have about "seedling culture"?

 

Select the seeds, prepare the bed: sunlight, moisture and fertile soil.

Rectangular beds 3 feet wide X 30-1000 feet long. Soak seeds first. Use cover for seed bed as necessary. Plant in rows with spacing.

 

What about "slip culture"? To what does this term refer and what suggestions did experts offer?

Cut from young, healthy trees

 

 

Once there is a field of trees in planted, what was recommended in terms of "aftercare" (te-iri)?

Protect seedlings from competing growth that could shade, break or strangle them.

 

 

 

What do you think of all this literature being disseminated around the Tokugawa countryside? What does it tell you about the times?

 

There was widespread interest by both rulers and ruled in maintaining productive forests. All the literature confirms that the writings were valued and appreciated