Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1876-06-13
Agruultural.
Chinese Farming.

We extract the article given below on
the subject of farming in China. from the
work Of Robert Fortune, Esq, published
in London. Mr.. Fortune was employed
BY the East India Company TO procure
tea plants seeds, etc, for the plantations
of the Government in the HimalayaS.
He was for fourteen years Botanical Col
lector in the Celestial Empire for the
Horticultural Society:
The farmers in China, as a class, are
highly respectable; tut, a. their farms
are all small, they are probably less
wealthy than ours. Each farmhouse Is
a little colony. consisting Of some three
generations namely, the grandfather, hrs
children, and his chiidren's children.
There they live in peace and harmony
together; all who are able, work on the
farm, aud if more labor Is required. the
stranger Is hired TO assist them. They
live well, dress plainly, and are industrl-
Gus. without being in any way oppressed
| doubt if there Is a happier race any
where than the Chinese farmer and peas-
antry. Being well known in this part Of
the country, and having always made il
point to treat the people well, | was
welcomed wherever | went. began TO
fee quite at home in the farmers houses.
Here the temsle members Of the family
have much more liberty than those Of a
higher rank. They have small feet as
usual, but they are not 30 confined 10 the
house, or prevented from looking ON and
speaking 10 strangers, a the higher
classes are. II 4 stranger enters the
court Of the house Unexpectedly, he will
see a number Of ladies, both old and
young, sitting in the yerandah, all indus
triOusy employed on some work-Some
spinning, some sewing or embroidering,
and one probably engaged in culinary OPP
eratious; and If the stranger be an I'M
known foreigner, the whole will rise hur-
riedly, and disappear like eovey of part
ridges, Oyerturning wheels, stools, and
anything else that NAV be in their way.
This was a frequent scene in my earlier
visits, but 1t gradually wore off when il
was found | was a civilized being like
themselves. These same ladies after
wards would often ask me 10 sit down.
and even set a chair for me, and bring
me a cup of tea with their own fair
haLds; and while | drank my tea, they
would 90 on with their work, laughing
and chatting as freely as if had been a
thousand miles away
A market in one Of the towns Of the
interior is described thus:
Near the centre of the city, and in
one Of the principal streets, | found a
most excellent market. For fully half
mile this street was literally crowded with
articles Of food. Fish, pork, fowls, ducks,
vegetables OF many kinds, and the fruits
Of the season lined ITS sides. Mush.
rooms were abundant, and excellent, as |
afterwards proved by having some cook
ed. Frogs seemed much in demand.
They are brought TO market in tubs and
baskets, and the yender employs himself
IN skinning them as he sits making sales.
de Is extremely expert at this branch of
his business tie takes up the frog 10
MS left hand, and with a knife which he
holds IN his right, chops OF the fore part
Of It's head The skin Is then drawn ba x
over the body and down ~ the feet. which
are chopped of aud thrown away. The
poor frog, still alive, but headless, skin
less, and without feet, Is then thrown in.
to another tub, and the operation is re-
peated on the rest in the same way.
Every now and then the artist lays down
his knife, and takes up his scales to weigh
these animals for MS customers and MAKE
his sales. Everything in this civilized
country, whether it be gold or silver,
geese or frogs, is sold by weight.
Here tea leaves-ihst is, Just as they
had been plueked from the bushes, and
unmanufactured-were also exposed for
sale in this market. They were sold at
from three farthings 70 FIVE farthings
pound; and as il takes about four pounds
Of raw leaves 10 make one pound of tea,
it follows that the price was at the rate
Of three-penee to 6ve-pence pound, but
20 this must be added the expense of man
ipulation, In this manner the inhabit-
ants Of large towns in China, who have
no tea farms of their own, can buy the
raw leaves in the market, and manufac-
ture the beverage for themselves and in
their own way."