The evening times., 1899-12-13

Agricultural products of north China Is
| made the subject of an interesting COM
munication received by the State Depart
ment from James W. Ragsdale, United
States Consul at Tienstin. China. He
writes as follows:
The provincial provinces in northern
China are Shfhli and Shantung. The prov
ince of Shansi, to the west, is separated BY
range of mountains from Chilli. and the
climate is in some respects quite different;
but there is a general similarity between
| the regions specially mentioned and the re-
mainder of the northern part OF the en-
pire. The country has an alluviai or ioamy
soil, and is usually capable of producing
good crops when there is an adequate rain
fall, which, however, not infrequently fails
At such times there is always risk OF
general famine, such as took place in the
years 1S77-7s when millions perished.
THE Chinese are very expert in the use
of manure. which they dry in the spring
and pulverize: and it is always for sale at
the river markets at price varying win
the locality. This manure is brought 10
the fields in carts, and is poured into the
seed drill with the seed, so as to make
little go a great way. The practice OF
drilling everything is sometimes waste
ful one. as there is almost always mucn
larger quantity of seed put in the ground
than can live in the limited space intended
for it, and much Of it has to be pulled up
later by hand. II the wheat gets j good
start in the autumn, ii looks we'll all WIN
ter 1t is much helped by the rains, ard
especially by the SHOWS, which generally
occur at intervals through the winter.
Much of the land is made to yield TWO
full crops a year, and after the wheat has
been gathered in June, the land may be
planted in beans or sweet potatoes. maize,
or some other late crop. But it is, recog-
nized as the better plan to let the ground
lie fallow until after autumn harvest, when
wheat may be put in again, as the in
creased yield compensates for the loss Of
the extra crop.
The Chinese we'll understand the prin-
ciple of rotation of crops, and for the
most part are governed by it, with some
conspicuous exceptions. But it is gem
eral fact that they are Indifferent 10 the
quality OF the seed planted, and though
they realize that the middle OF the ear
yields better seed than the ends, they pay
no attention to such a selection, il Of
ten being considered a fine economy to
sell the round, full grain, and keep the
withered and imperfect ones for plant
ing.
..The great mass of the village popula
ton do not use white flour as an article of
ordinary diet. but on feast days, during the
wheat harvest itself, and during the New
Year holidays there is marked exception
to this rule.
THE Chinese hoe is clumsy implement.
1t has surface more than inches square,
and its function is to cut weeds in two and
to stir the soil from beneath. without to
any extent removing it. The plow is al
ways small with but one handle, the mold
board having very few inches of surface
and being always designed for surface work
only.
Indian corn has undoubtedly been in
troduced into China during the present dy-
nasty II never grows to a great height,
and the yield is probably not quarter as
large per acre as in the United States; but
il is useful to take the place of other crops
in dry year, since il can be planted much
later than either kind of millet. 1t is now
thoroughly established as one of the stand
ard crops of northern China. Barley is
grown TO some extent. but the aggregate
yield is probably not large.
''Ooats are found in the mountain regions
of Chilli. about Kalgan, and in various
parts of Shansi.
In the poor soil near the mountains one
sees a great deal of buckwheat in small
patches. 1t is an index of the state of
Chinese markets that foreigners living in
northern China, where there is probably a
thousand times more buckwheat grown
than all the foreigners could possibly use.
experience so much trouble in getting hold
of it when wanted that they invariably send
to California, rather than be disappoint ted
by having their Chinese orders untitled
Besides the millet already mentioned.
other kinds are raised, such as the gluti
nous millet, usually cultivated only in
small patches for home consumption. be-
cause it makes certain dumpling which is
much priced. The varieties of these small
grains are SO numerous that 1t is a proverb
that not even farmer can repeat all the
names.
IN the many regions subject TO inunda-
tions there is kind of upland rice which
is planted when ordinary crops would be
drowned out, but this belongs rather to
central than to northern China. Sesame
is grown to some extent for the manufac-
ture by rude process, of an oil much used
in cooking. Sesame seeds are used to i'm
prove the favoring of the ordinary wheat
cakes baked in ovens or on hot stones.
Sweet potatoes are found throughout
this entire region, sometimes Of an excel
lent quality. They are perhaps the cheap
est form of food accessible to the poor and
are easily cultivated. being propagated
from shoots set out after the rains have
begun.
Tobacco is another plant which China
owes to the West, although that fact has
long been forgotten. 1t cannot have been
introduced more than 200 years, but its use
has become practically universal Foreign
ers think it too mild. but the Chinese are
attached to it, 1t is smoked in long pipes
holding very small quantities.
THE Chinese raise a great amount of
beans of various kinds, the principal of
which is a coarse black bean fed to ami
mails and used for making crude oil.
which is in great demand. The bean cake
left after the oil has been extracted is an
important article of commerce, especially
from the port of Niuchwang, where beans
occupy large part OF the cultivatable
land. The cake is sent to the south. where
it is greatly priced as manure for sugar
cane and for other crops. Although they
are entirely ignorant of any value to be
attached to nitrogenous foods, the Chi
nese make large use of beans of various
hi. - ItAt and IN,