Distribution of Hasa-gi in Hckuroku District

Abstract

It is prevailing rural landscape that Hasagi (trees on which the rice harvest is hanged to dry) spread over on low land in Hokuroku district. In Etigo, Hasagi are distributed all over the main delta plains composed of Agano, Sinano, and Ara-kawa. The plains of Toyama, Kaga, and Hukui that are compound alluvial fans, are dot-ted with regions of Hasagi, throughout all of which regions Hasagi are planted along creeks and foot pathes in a marshy rice field of swampy delta or margine of alluvial fan.
No Hasagi are found in mountaineous regions and upper part of alluvial fan. As Hasagi shades the sunshine, there distribute artificial Hasa built after harvest, in the former, where materials for it are obtained near by. In the latter regions, rice crop is layed down to dry directly on the field drained when harvest is finished.
Rainy season always visit Hokuroku in September or October as soon as the rice harvest is finished. On this reason how to dry is the most important concern to the farmers in this district. And Hasa is the best. method for this purpose. At marshy land of delta and margine of alluvial fan, alders and ashes are planted as Hasa-gi, for there are no materials to built artificial Hasa.
Explanation of figures: Fig. 1 Distribution of dialects meaning Hasa ; Hasa, Haza, Hase, and Haze. Fig. 2 Diffusion of Hasa-gi in Kaitu plain, NE part of Niigata prefecture. Fig. 3 Damaged district by the flood of Oct. 1st, 1917. Fig. 4-7 Diffusion of Hasagi at plains of Kubiki, Toyama, Kaga, and Hukui respectively. Every figures except 1, shades show the density of Hasagi.