Page 138 - Changing Living Spaces

Taro Takemoto

Table 2 Forest Condition of Two CILs on the River Midai
Vegetation Area (cho) Rate
36-Hamlet CIL
Grassy mountain 1.128,52 0,28
Deciduous broadleaf forest 2.627,92 0,64
Native coniferous forest 263,01 0,06
Newly planted area 84,00 0,02
Total 4.103,45 1,00
Ashikura CIL
Coniferous forest in natural condition 214,57 0,18
Coniferous forest on the verge of devastation 155,69 0,13
Newly planted coniferous foerst 55,32 0,05
Coppiced broadleaf forest (Karitate-rin) 74,50 0,06
Broadleaf forest on the verge of devastation 566,28 0,48
Glassy or bare mountain 117,97 0,10
Total 1.184,33 1,00
Source Yamanashi (1903c, 25, 91).

trees were retained at a ratio of about one plant/tsubo, which is equiva-
lent to 3.3 square meters, and the rest was mowed along with the grass.
In the second year, the superior trees left behind were mowed, leaving
two or three sprouts if they were chestnuts, and five or six sprouts if
they were miscellaneous trees. In the third year, one or two chestnuts
and three or four miscellaneous trees were also left, and no maintenance
was required after the fourth year. The ‘coppiced broadleaf forest’ (kari-
tate-rin) significantly reduced the amount of karishiki, but increased the
amount of branches used as firewood, so the number of villagers who
demanded this method gradually increased, and it was used on a larger
scale from the following year onwards. In this way, the area grew to 74
cho and 5 tan within four years from 1899 (Meiji 32). The Survey Report
highly recommended this method. The forest condition of Ashikura CIL
was rated as much better than that of the 36-hamlet CIL, which was at-
tributed to the fact that it was common only for one hamlet and not for
several hamlets.

Bie Income From the Sale of Firewood, Karishiki,
and Grass to Local Residents

BIe income was revealed: the 36-hamlet CIL had 209 shakujime of lum-
ber and 66 tana of firewood, for a total of 605 shakujime (100 tana), with
a selling price of 59.1 yen/year (average for 1895–1902, excluding 1898).
Likewise, it had 5,696 soku of twigs and 39,871 soku of grass, for a selling

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