University Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1908-1916, 1911-04-19


The grains of rice are collected and
stored away in hemp sacks, either for
home consumption or for sale to the
village rice merchant. In the north.
where a species of maize is grown, the
ears are separated from the stalks by
throwing them on a threehing-fiOor
then beating them with fail.
There are no wagons. All that is
carried on the Chinese farm is carried
on the shoulders of the farmer. A pole
and two baskets carry everything.
In China there is no waste ground.
The number of people demand that
there be none. The little triangular
space that is wasted in America at
the corner o. each neld where the plOw
turns is cultivated in China. To save
space the paths arc only fOOtpaths, for
there are 40 wagons or buggies in this
land to require wider road. When
two parties meet, perhaps in sedan
chairs. one has to step down into the
field while the other goes by. These
paths are also the fences and divi-
siOns between the fields. for to build a
fence would be eXtravagant, and be-
sides some space would be wasted
This lack of fences is striking to an
American. In this land of plenty the
level ground alone is cultivated. but il
a country so thickly populated as
China, fields are not on the Level
ground, but climb up the mountain
sides From a distance these plots of
land look Ike grear steps up the side
of the hill. These fields are all irri-
gated, the water being conducted to
the uppermost one, then running down
the entire series.
Millions of people are kept alive
through these mountain fields. Then.
too. the intensive use that the Chin
ese make of their products saves the
nation. AS an example. take the stalk
of the rice Liant. which. besides being
used for The thaching of the farm
houses, is used for making rain-coats,
straw sandals. rope, baskets and other
minor things abour the house. The
gOurdS on the farm are cut in half, the
interior sCJoped out, and when the
shell is dry this is used as a ladle for
water. From the fruit stones many
curious things are made. Carvers of
miniature things take the stone of the
peach and from il get priest. a mon.
key or even boat with ivory win
dOws. The farmers wife never buys
a washing board, for the fiat stones by
the side of the stream have been pro-
vided by nature for this purpose. Wa
ter is used very intensively by the
farmer. In the upper part of a stream
that flows through the village you may
see two apprentice boys busily wash
ing mule. Below them a flock of
geese swim about in close proximity
to the busy wife doing the weeks
washing on the banks of the stream.
A shopkeeper may come next with
some of the store furniture that he
has bought to be cleaned, while finally
we see the man from an eating house
washing the rice for the days cook
ing. Carefully he releases the scum
that rises to the surface. going back
to the shop with clean rice.
The Chinese farm is always small
one. The house is built in the center
of the fields. surrounded by clusters
of bambOOs and trees. From this place
the owner can see all over his land.
clump of trees and a farm
house lie 4 little further on.
Besides rice. which il the staple |
food all over the Empire, beans, cab
bage. turnips, maize, millet, the null |
berry and tea shrub, and corn are
raised. The method of planting and |
transplanting rice is perhaps familiar |
TO those who haze read of Chinese |
ways. The first stage is to plant the |
rice all together. flood the field and let |
it grow up to eight inches or more.
Then the entire force of the farm yarC |
is sent in.o the flooded fields, and |
with many hours of bended back,
the tender stalks from a
crowded position TO an equal one
where it will finally grow up. In the
early stages of rice growing the fields
ire kept entirely under water.
AS an instance of how the farmer
will use everything that nature has
given him, take the bamboo. The
chinese commence by eating this
plant when young. In its tender state
t is used for window shades, fishing
DOles, baskets, rope and other uses
hat demand pliability. When this
,rass is larger it is used for scaffold-
ng. houses, chairs, furniture of all
Kinds, drinking cups, torches. fences,