Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-11-29
Misfellansuus.
CHINESE AGRICULTURE.

IHe NuiDeSe are very ecOUOullcdi III TIT.
use of the necessaries of life, in order that
they may make them 60 as far as possible.
Nothing interests me more than to observe
their industry in agriculture and modes OF
perfecting their crops. All Europeans
agree that the Chinese are equal to their
brethren, and some say they are more
than equal, and some nominate them the
best husbandmen in the world. They are
more particularly active. raising two crops
of rice from the ground every year, ex-
tending their cultivation in every direction.
bringing the most unpromising spots into
use, in order that nothing may be lost
They know perfectly well the seasons and
soil adapted for certain productions, and
they are sensible of the importance of ma
nuring the ground. You will be struck
with this on first setting your feet on the
soil Of China. Every farmer is provided
with a basket and rake, and every even
ing brings home n certain quantity to add
to their stock. Having but few sheep and
cattle, they are obliged to make use of the
stercorate of men and swine. This is
carefully collected and sold at SO much
per pound. Every other substance, as de-
cayed animal and vegetable matter, the
sweepings of streets. burnt bones, lime,
and even the human hair, shaven from
the millions of people, and every SUBJ
stance they can secure, likely to answer
the purpose. are industriously gathered up
by the inhabitants, who heed very little
their olfactory nerves, and sold for ma
nure throughout the Empire. Sometimes,
when the matter is scarce, the price is
very high. Some are said to make their
fortune in the trade. 1t is well known
that rice will not thrive unless there is
supply of water at hand. In this irriga-
ton of their land the Chinese are very
skillful. They keep the water at a depth
to suit the age and height of the plant.
Beside two crops OF rice in a year they
raise crop of cotton between the rice
crops, thus making three crops altogether.
This is why the heathen Chinese are pc
culiar Notwithstanding all this diligence
and care, yet the people in most Of the
provinces find great difficulty in pro-
curing the necessaries OF life. Many die
from actual want; many more are obliged
to emigrate. They live on very little ami
NAL meat, having no inclosed pastures or
substantial land, they cannot breed many
sheep or cattle, which they think might
destroy their rice, corn, and sugar-cane
more than they are worth, hence mutton
and beef are very scarce. Against the
eating of beef they have a strong preju-
dice, perhaps you may agree with them;
they argue that not on account of religion,
but because oxen are used in husbandry,
and they think it shame after poor ami
NAL has oeen laboring all his life in their
service, to cut him to pieces at last and
feed upon his flesh and make shoes out of
his hide. This is not thoughtless speech,
SO instead of beet and mutton they re-
course to dogs and cats, the flesh of
which is equal to the price of pork There
is q dog cat meat-market near our house
and are worth seeing. In default of these
they would have no objection to make
dish of rats, snakes and cockroaches. In
short the Chinese have tie most unscrupul-
Gus stomachs imaginab4, vegetables from
leaves to roots are made available for sup
port of life. The government are giving
every encouragement that can possibly be
given. 1t is said that the emperor has set
example to his people by personally and
publicaly holding the plow once a year,
while the empress does the same with re-
gard to the loom. In arranging the va
rious classes of people the Chinese place
the literate in the foremost rank, but i'm
mediately after the learned, the husband
men take the precedence of all others be-
cause they.raise the necessares of life they
are more important than the mechanic,
who only merely changes the forms of
matter, and the merchant who originates
nothing, only changes the commodities
for the sake of gain. This encouragement
is designed to support the overstocked in
habiants. The population of China is
estimated at the present time as over AGO.
100000. but alas, this increase will not be
long. as ii war will not sufficiently check,
the opium will do its works. was quite
often asked during the time / was in
America if the Chinese smoke opium. and
make their faces as haters to opium and
the smokers, yet they are ignorant that
their sister or mother nations are respon-
sible for the Chinese they resisted the in
PRODUCTION to the bitter end and at last
they are compelled to legalize the trade
OF opium. The Chinese paid 80.000,000
amnesty for this poisonous drug, and about
3 millions habtually smoke it these
represent the welfare and happiness of at
least 10 million. l saw in newspaper a
few days ago that the exports of all goods
exceed the import by two million dollars,
now think of how many thousand individ-
uas engaged in tea and silk and at last
exchange for opium, which is most de-
structive to the body and mind. The East
India Company are responsible for all
these, in fact, as remarked by one of the
missionary, THAT it is dark spot in the
nineteenth century,"