The author has been engaged in the analytical study of agricultural differetiation in response to the penetration of capitalism into backward regions. In Iwate Prefecture, 11% of farming households are raising tobacco. It is the main theme of this paper to analyse the factors which caused this concentration and differentiation of tobacco culture in this district.
The development of the tobacco raising till World War II can be divided into 4 stages. 1) the culture of tobacco in the Ohazama and Higashi-Iwai areas in the feudal age, 2) the stage of free competition at the beginning of Meiji era, 3) the early stage after the enforcement of the tobacco monopoly law, and 4) the period under the full influence of the Monopoly Bureau.
(1) In the 4th stage, the growing area is concentrated in the Ohazama and Higashi-Iwai districts where the tobacco of native kinds has been cultured traditionally. This is quite different from the development in second and third stages, when the area spread all over the prefecture. (2) As to the change in acreages of cropped area, the acreage in the Ohazama area is small, while Higashi-Iwai area participates in the major part of the change. The general trend of the changes is same as that which took place in the country as a whole, suggesting that the tobacco growing farmers in these areas responded to the governmental policy and the changes of agricultural economy in the similar ways as those of the Japanese farmers as a whole. (3) The acreage of cropped area in Iwate Pref., has increased until 1914, decreased in 1915-1918, and became stable since 20's. The increase shows that the tobacco raising in the traditional areas was secure under the protection of the monopoly law. The decrease that followed reveals that the profit of tobacco raising was cut owing to the high wages caused by the growth of industries in response to the World War I, as well as the scarcity of labour which was attracted to other cash crops. The last stage of stability may be explained by the enforcement of mainten ance policies, and the fact that tobacco regained its relative value in this period of economic depression. (4) The decrease in tobacco production just before World War II, and wartime increase of demand for tobacco stimulated the study for the cold-proof variety. A new area of tobacco growing was realized by “Barley” variety in the northern part of the prefecture, greatly changing the distribution of the growing areas in Iwate Prefecture. (5) Thus, the tobacco growing areas in the prefecture can roughly be divided into the traditional Ohazama and Higashi-Iwai areas and newly born northern Iwate areas. It can be pointed out that the change in farm economy in response to the depression was a factor in forming such distribution. The most important factor, however, is the change of the government policy of the Tobacco Monopoly, and this also characterizes the development of tobacco growing in Japan as a whole.

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The forests in Northeastern Japan occupy 13.8% of the national acreage of wooded land, but in accumulation they show as high a percentage as 17.8%. In spite of such abundant holdings, their exploitation is not advanced, the amount of timber production being only 12.5% of the nation. Main reasons are (1) their inaccessibility, (2) in-convenient transportation, (3) remoteness from markets and (4) lack of local capital to exploit. Another and the major reason, however, is the fact that the forests are mainly of broad-leaved trees of low economic value. Therefore it has been encouraged to increase the forestation of coniferous trees of higher economic value. Present writer wants to add another reason to explain undevelopment of forestry in Northeastern Japan. In the feudal age, some of the more important forest areas such as that of Cryptomeria japouica in the northern part of Akita Pref., and that of Chamaecyparis obtusa in Tsugaru Peninsula had been carefully saved from the view point of resource maintenance, and the same policy has been adopted since they were annexed to the national forest in the Meiji era. As the result, cutting has been limited to an amount low enough to maintain them. In Northeastern Japan, national forests cover half of the total acreage of the region. The percentage is higher than that in any other region and this fact contributes greatly to maintain the forest resources. Viewed from economic exploitation, however, far more rational management is expected. The forests of broad-leaved trees are distributed in almost every part, but more important ones are the national forests in the interior such as Tadami and Kurikoma wood-lands. However, these resources have been regarded as valueless because most of them are superannuated. After World War II, however, they regained their economic importance as Japan lost her coniferous forest resources in her former territories, and at the same time manufacturing technique was greatly improved for the utilization of hardwoods. There is an inceasing demand for them as materials for the pulp and fiber board manufacturing industries. One cannot forget, however, that the forests in the interior are of much value not only as the sources of raw materials, but also as protection for the prevention of soil erosion and floods, and at the same time they are indispensable as the protector of water resources for hydroelectricity. Therefore, it is desirable to consider the exploitation of forest resources from many angles. Tadami and Kurikoma areas are included in the Government's multipurpose development areas, and much is expected from their exploitation.

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Since the end of the World War II, there is a rapidly growing demand for flower production in Japan, in response to which new floriculture areas have developed in the districts favoured by climatic conditions in addition to those old ones in the suburbs of cities. Of the flowers shipped to Sendai, 55% are from its distant environs, the rest being from its outskirts. Some differences can be observed between the products from these two areas in their kinds, prices and seasons in which to be transported. The object of the present study is to analyze the flower producing areas on the outskirts of Sendai from the standpoint of their location factors and farm management.
The floriculture in these areas show various types from intensive green-house culture which needs much labour, capital and skill, to rather extensive culture on open-air-farms, The former covers 3, 689 tsubo, and the latter 249 tan, including the acreage of ordinary fields where flowers are grown as a part of crop rotation. To these types can be added the collection of wild-flower for sale. The agricultural households in the suburbs engaged in the floriculture are either those who want to increase cashincome by using surplus labour in winter, or those whose farms are small and are trying hard to earn more income per unit acreage by adopting floriculture. The suburban floricultural areas can be classified into the following 4 types based on the conditions of floricultural location, the process of development, the ways of management and kinds of flowers cultured.
Area A : It is a producing area within the city where the culture has been carried on since the pre-war period and its products are potted plants, early-blooming flowers and ornamental trees, Intensive culture on small-scale farms aiming increased income per unit area is characteristic of this area.
Area B : It is located in a dry-field area, where in rotation with ordinary crops are cultured flowers with shorter growing period and growable in the open-air fields. They can be encashed in a rather brief time. The flowers are mainly those which are offered before the graves and family alters, and the demand for them is comparatively stable. The raising of ornamental trees which is carried on on the slopes, also prevalent in the area.
Area C : It is a green house culture area which appeared recently, and has developed in the area of vegetables. By the technical aid of the forerunners in the area stress is laid at present on the production of cut-flowers. The distinctive feature of the culture in this area is the use of surplus in winter.
Area D : This area, where greem-houses with artificial heating are used for growing, is the oldest of such floricultural management in Tohoku. The most advanced management is carried on here in its combination with rice growing. A shift of production can lately be observed from cut-flowers to potted plants which require more intensive care.

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