Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-10-30
Agriculture in China.
lsy Hon. Charles penby in the Nc

Nember FOfufnJ
Notwithstanding the great antiquity
of agriculture among them, the Chinese
have failed to make any great progress
in 1t. Their system of cultivation is
very careful and marked by attention
to details; but it shows Ignorance OIL
the principles of rotation of crops ana
|of adaptation of soils to particular
grains, and an extremely primitive
knowledge of agricultural implements.
Their fields are treated like gardens.
being subjected to the most constant
and watchful care, both ut the time OF
planting and during the growth of
crops. When ripe the crop is gathered
by hand, with the utmost completeness;
not straw or u leaf, scarcely even
root, being allowed to remain.
In threshing grain the Chinese spread
1T out on smooth clay floor in the
open air--there is such q threshing
floor adjoining every farm house-and
the grain is detached either by thresh-
ing with fails or by rolling over 1t a
stone roller drawn by donkey. The
chaff is removed by tossing the grain
into the air in slight breeze: the ker-
nels of grain falling straight to the
ground and the chaff and the dust be-
ing blown aside.
The two most characteristic features
of Chinese agriculture are the use OF
manure and the system of Irrigation.
In the cities the night soil deposited
on the sides of the streets and alleys
lis gathered by men and boys. 1t is
linked with clay, dried in the sun, and
sold to farmers. On country roads
Ia. nd
seen at places where large numbers OF
pack horses, camels and mules pass,
gathering the material, which is after
ward, with beneficial effects, spread on
tn fields. Earth from canals, rivers,
and streets is carried away for the
same purpose "Other substances are
diligently collected" says Williams,
"as hair from barber shops, exploded
fire crackers, and sweepings f5Gm the
streets. lime and plaster from Kitchens
and old buildings, SCOT. bones, and fish
and animal remains. The quantity OF
these fertilizers used and the import
ance the Chinese attach to them are
proved by the number of people whose
livelihood is gained by their collection.
In irrigating his land the farmer uses
lmany devices Where running water Is
at hand he turns it to advantage by dt-
recting it over his fields In large cnan-
nels. These are banked in with clay,
and subdivided into smaller and smaller
streamlets. until every part of the
ground has been reached. If no run
ming water is found wells are dug. and
1.-THE waterfs drawn by hand and poured
Into the main bitches, which are subdi-
jyided into numerous smaller ones.
| Holes are dug in which rain water ac-
cumulates, which is baled out when
needed. The raising of this water IN
most cases. especially in the vicinity OF
| Pelsin. is done very lahoriously by hand.
Chinese agricultural implements are
4 OF the rudest character They are CHIEF
i,ly the hoe, the harrow, the rake, the
| though. and the stone roller. The plow
Is simply a broad blade fastened to
rough handle. guided by man. and
drawn by teams of the most miscell-
aneous description. 1t cuts furrow
never more than six inches deep, and
| frequently only two or three The
teams are made Up of horses, doukeys,
mules, bullocks, and men, It being not
Unusual to see man or boy am any
one or more of the animals above
named drawing the same plough. chi
nese farmers measure the depth OF the
| burrows by the fingers, and frequently
| sneak of ploughing only TWO OF tnree
| fingers deep. The reason OF TINS seems
| to be the difficulty of making deeper
| furrow with their ploughs me noe IS
| a much more effective tool and IT is
with 1t they work between the burrows
Of grain after it has sprouted.