菊池寛の『日本競馬読本』は、馬の血統、記録を研究する大切さを語ることで競馬を「ばくち打」の所業と峻別する一方、「情報信ずべし、然も亦信ずべからず」との名言をもって、勝ち負けを不可知的な領域に置いた。『日本競馬読本』刊行と同じ昭和一一年に結成された日本競馬会は、政府の言論統制を受ける形で一六年に機関誌「優駿」を創刊。多くの文学者の言説が競馬の文化的・不可知的側面を補完するようになった時期、中河與一「愛戀無限」や片岡鉄兵「朱と緑」においては、競馬の偶然性が物語の進行を円滑にすすめるための経済的原理として導入されていた。

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This study is undertaken to shed light on the development of National Fertilizer Commission Co., Ltd. (nationwide fertilizer distributor) and to discuss its historical implications from the perspective of measures taken to counter the use of illicit fertilizers in modern Japan. Fertilizers are productive inputs in agriculture, but the asymmetry of information about them makes it very difficult to judge whether they are illicit or not. The use of illicit fertilizers was widespread in early 20th-century Japan, and countermeasures to prevent their use were pursued periodically. This study focuses on the National Fertilizer Commission Co., Ltd., which was established to distribute appropriate fertilizers to farm-owners at reasonable prices. National Fertilizer Commission Co., Ltd. was founded in 1900, to undertake consignment sales and purchases of fertilizers. Although its primary purpose at its founding was the sale and purchase of fertilizers consigned by agricultural associations and farm owners, it gradually moved into fertilizer production and sales operations. It was characteristic that National Fertilizer Commission Co., Ltd. handled fertilizers through joint purchases with agricultural associations. The fertilizers' contents were assessed and guaranteed by the company's analysis service station. In other words, illicit fertilizers were excluded by supplying fertilizers with guaranteed contents to farm owners through joint purchases by the agricultural association. National Fertilizer Commission Co., Ltd. greatly expanded its business. until it was handling almost half of all fertilizers purchased jointly by agricultural associations. It served as an important promoter of measures against illicit fertilizers in modern Japan and also as promoter of fertilizer joint-purchase projects by agricultural associations. Although functioning properly for the elimination of illicit fertilizers, projects by National Fertilizer Commission Co., Ltd. were terminated because of the Great Depression following World War I, for two principal reasons. First, the company failed to finance farm owners and agricultural associations that had difficulties paying for the fertilizers. Secondly, fertilizer quality assurance, which was a distinct feature of the company's offerings, became commonplace because of tightened national surveillance of fertilizer inputs. The National Fertilizer Commission Co., Ltd. was thus reaching the end of its historical mission by the end of World War I.

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