北海道七重官園における明治初期農畜産業施設の土地利用の特徴

本稿では，北海道道南地方における農畜産業の原点であり歴史的意義を有している七重官園を研究対象とし，歴史的経緯とともに土地利用の変遷について考察している．七重園は日本における最初期の農事試験場として，欧米動植物の導入や内外品種の改良の面で幾多の試みを実施し，日本農業の技術的進歩に基礎的貢献を果たしたといえる．1873(明治6)年末の地籍調査結果と1881(明治14)年の地籍調査結果を比較すると，短期間における顕著な土地利用の変遷がみてとれる．特に牧場用地の増大が顕著であり，開設当初の多角経営から次第に畜産主体になっていったことが伺える．また敷地規模の拡大に合わせて生産施設も増加し，事務所棟が設置され開設当初からの中心地であった七重試験場第1，第2大区周辺から生産施設が増加・拡散していったと考えられる．当時の七重官園の存在を証明する生産施設は現存していないが，2019(令和元)年現在の道路配置や線形，土地区画形状に七重官園の区画形態の痕跡が残されている．

In this paper, we focus on Nanae Kanen, which has a historical significance as theorigin of the agricultural and livestock industry in the southern region of Hokkaido. We also discuss its historical background and modifications in land use. Nanae Kanen was one of the first agricultural test sites in Japan, wherein numerous attempts were made to introduce Western animals and plants, and to improve domestic and foreign varieties in agriculture and livestock. It made a fundamental contribution to technological progress in Japanese agriculture. Comparing the results of the land registry surveys conducted in 1873 (Meiji 6) and 1881 (Meiji 14), we could observe significant changes in land use in this short duration of time. There is a remarkable increase in grazing land, suggesting that the land went from mixed management ( when the facility was first established ) to being used primarily for livestock. The number of production facilities also increased as the site scale expanded. It is believed that the production facilities started to expand from Areas 1 and 2 of the Nanae testsite. At the time of the establishment of the facility, these formed the central areas where the office building was located. The current production facilities cannot prove the existence of Nanae Kanen at the time, but traces of its layout can be found in the road layout and linear and land divisions in the present landscape.