The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-04-27
MANCHURIA SLOW
TO SEE OPPORTUNITY
Prejudice Against Modern Agri
cultural Methods Holds Back
Great Wheat Region.

Washington, April 27.-It is hardly
likely that Manchuria, notwithstanding
its great agricultural possibilities, will
soon be formidable competitor with
the rest of the world, so far as agri-
cultural products are concerned. The
fertile fields of that country could be
made to grow wheat in great quanti-
ties, but the prejudices of the natives
against modern agricultural implements
and machinery are standing in the way,
and it is believed in Washington that
the United States may safely count
| upon holding its present trade with
that part of the world, both in -four and
4 wheat, for years to come. Ultimately,
of course, the Chinese will see the wis
dom of adopting modern agricultural
methods, but until they do so, American
i trade is safe
4 A recent report from Consul General
4 Sammons, stationed at Niu-chwang,
says that while Manchuria is an ideal
4 farming country, modern agricultural
implements are practically unknown.
Cheap collie labor and the love of old
methods are holding the country back,
and will continue to do so indefinitely.
4 A few extracts from the consul gen
eral s report will be of interest in all
parts of the country which are doing,
Or hope to do, an export trade with
4 China.
Chinese Prefer Old Tools.
"Magistrate Kuan of the Hal Cheng
4 district of Manchuria, one of the pro-
gressive Chinese officials, remarked to
4 me that China was not ready for really
4 modern manufacturing machinery and
d agricultural implements; that those de-
I vices that were used twenty-five or
fifty, or even seventy-fve years ago in
4 America, were more suitable for the
ho dot O
II urges gradual advancement, the repla-
cling of primitive device by something
slightly more modern, and after that
change is accepted, to take still another
tentative step forward.
"American farm implements can be
used in Manchuria, and no doubt in due
II time will find a market here The ex-
i tensive methods Of farming of the Da-
kotas may ultimately obtain in suitable
sections Of Manchuria, especially where
the raising of wheat will prove profit
able but for the present, the small farm
4. with an infinitely smaller income, is
Il by far the most popular. For years the
crowded provinces Of China have been
disgorging their surplus population into
Manchuria, where homes or land could
r be had at prices usually below the
a cheapest government land in America
No Use for Modern Plow.. -
GA modern pillow was brought here
L few wears ago for introduction, but
the natives could not be induced to Use
it. Their method of turning over the
soil with small castiron pillow, resem
bling toy pattern of an American corr
hitler, or with fork, hung like hoe
was more acceptable. Forks weighing
four pounds each, used for loosenins
or turning the soil, made with tire,
heavy wroughtiron tines from scrapirol
by native blacksmith, sell at so cent
gold. The handle costs 10 cents golt
additional.
# "a perambulating village blacksmith
goes about in the early spring making
# differ in design in the various local.
the surface of the soil. In the northern
part of Manchuria, where wheat i
Il raised extensively, a larger pillow, capa
BILE of turning more soil, is used. TIL
perambulating blacksmith has full
equipped outfit, including anvil, below:
etc, which he transports by means o
y wheelbarrow with the aid of an az
IA sistant, who also helps at the anvil.
It was the intention of Russia, ha
III she been the victor in the recent wal
# to develop Manchuria, and make it tn
breadbasket of the far east, designe
ton to which it could make itself Ell
titled by reason of the richness of it
soil and it's climate. No doubt, Japa
n will cooperate with China to a simiiS
end, but it is apparent, from what M
Sammons says, that the day is far di
tant when Manchuria will be a formid;
BILE rival of any of the great countrie
of the world which exports foodstuffs.