Flower Bulb Cultivation in Niigata Prefecture.

Abstract

Bulb culture in the coast of the Sea of Japan has developed rapidly after World War II. In particular, the expansion of tulip bulb culture is remarkable. The object of this study is to analyze the tulip bulb producing area in Niigata Prefecture from the standpoints of their location factors and farm management.1) Since 1918, commercial tulp bulib culture has been developed in the lower valley of the River Shinano, Niigara prefecture. Such development of the tulip bulb cultivation in the coast of the Sea of Japan was mainly brought about by favorable climatic condition. Especially, the snowfall in winter is favorable for the tulip bulb culture.2) The tulip bulb producing area of Niigata prefecture consists of two areas, that is, the alluvial land along the river and the coastal sand dunes. In 1943, the alluvial land area occupied 93% (7.8 ha) of the whole, but decreased to 32% (85.8 ha) lately, and has been predominated by dune area.3) There are several reasons for the stagnation of the tulip cultivation, which remains only a subsidiary occupation. a) Need for large capital for the cultivation. Particularly, the cost for the purchase of the tap-bulbs is high. b) Need for plentiful man power. The high season of paddy field work falls on that of the tulip works. c) A necessity of high degree techniques. d) Slow rotation of the captial. It takes three years to recover the funds. e) The tulip cannot be successively cultivated in the same land. It restricts the area for cultivation per a house hold.Especially, it is significant of the need for the larger capital, that the tulip cultivation is mostly adopted by the farmers with more than 1 ha of paddy field.4) the development of bulb farming is stagnant in the alluvial area of the River Shinano, because there the suitable land has already been exhausted. In Konashiba village, which is a typical example of the trend, several changes of the land use have taken place.a) As the result of the shortage of arable land, and extremely intensive land use and rotation of crops are carried on, and at places even the successive cultivation in the same land is practiced. b) Sometimes, the tulips are cultivated in residential areas, where it competes with the other subsistence crops. c) Sometimes, the villagers put the tulip cultivation in the custody of farmers in other villages. d) Oftentimes, tulips are raised in the fields rented by the farmers of other villages (Dezukuri).