Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-09-13
BUILD NEW CHINA ON BEST
OF THE OLD TRADITIONS
Minister OF Agriculture Chou Bor-
rows Arbor Day Idea From
America.
SPRING FESTIVAL DAY CHOSEN
Wants Ancient Feast In Honor of An
cestors Pcrpetunted in Practical
Wayne Effort to Uproot Gem
tury.Old Customs.

Way-No Effort to UproOt Gem
tury.Old Customs.
PEKING, September l2.-China has a
]. Sterling Morton in Chou Tzu-Chi.
the Minister OF Agriculture and Com
merce. For years Mr.. Chou has been
|deeply interested in aNorestation. and
In the furtherance Of his plans he has
created a Chinese Arbor Day. when all
farmers are especially urged 70 plant
and cultivate trees in honor OF their
ancestors.
The day selected is a festival which
the Chinese have celebrated for over
$500 years II is called the Spring
Festival. This year II fell on April 6.
the the date changes yearly as tho
o. occasion Is fixed by tho lunar calendar.
Formerly II has been the practice Of
fChinese 10 observe this day by burn
ing paper boats. paper horses and
carts. which are supposed TO assist
their ancestors in escaping evil spirits.
ITS celebration has been general in
rural communities. but critics havc not
been constant In observing this and
Xfothcr festivals designed to do honor 10
ancestors
Mr. Chou hopes 70 have the old
Chinese festival perpetuated In more
practical way. and his plan 20 con- !ae
he new idea borrowed from America
with the ancient feast is typical Of the
present governments plan 10 build
1ew China on the best Of the old tradi-
lions. and not make an effort to uproot
Entirely oustoms which have endured
for many centuries
Tho Spring Festival is somewhat le-
sendary In It's origin, but is supposed
y
had q devoted supporter, Eiai Che-Tuf.
who followed tho prince into exile in
Northern China, and lived with him
here for eighteen years. When Prince
Tstn was able 10 leave exile and again
gained the favor az the court. he tried
10 reward Klai Chc-Tui for h!s faith
fulness. But kiai was unwilling to
7ave his devotion 10 his friend re-
*arded, and ESCAPED with his mother
nto the mountains. where they lived
or several years, regardless Of Tsin's
Efforts 10 entice him out into the world.
H5F!nally Tsin had the forests in the
nountain fred TO compel Kiai 10 leave
lis hiding place. The unfortunate re-
,luse and his mother were both burned
treat clouds Of smoke cnRuired the
FOUNTAIN for n single day. The follow
ne day was one OF unusual Brightness
49, N4''T "a ''''til.'E I6lSp!l fi Inc SHTlTlS
festival
DKIGINALLY BECAME
PERIOD OF FASTING
The Chinese celebrate the day b,.
Eating brilliantly dyed eggs and deco
fate the doors OF their homes with
villow branches. Originally this was
period OF fasting. Al hrst the celc-
)rants would eat no no; food for :.
I'D 70 .,,tr
iound 10 affect the health OF the public
10 seriously thar an imperial ed,ct was
,ssued centuries ago fo5biddins this
eaturc.
The University o. Marking. an In
.titution maintained by Americans. has
department o: agriculture and .o.es-
Fry which has attracted wide attention
N China and has done much 10 inspire
he movement for aforestation Pro-
#,essor Joseph Railic, an American. is
#ti the head OF th!s Department. ard
las impressed the government so fav-
Srah!y hy his work in trca planting
pm Purple Mountain. near Marking.
hat the Secretary o: Agriculture and
Commerce has d!shanded the college
y agriculture established by the gov
irnment in Pek!ng, and sent twenty
Jour o, the most promising students
10 work under Professor Battle
Practically Mi the provinces are now
lending students TO study forestry n,
fanking. and tho school which grew
Ia: of the efforts OF a r.w missionaries
10 point the way IN tho conservation
natural resources promises TO be-
ioH'c vital influence in the movement
- 10 restore trees 10 the cut-over lands
81 China.
80, l.
Ihe Chinese and the severity OF the
- v!nter in the northern sections. all
,rees are seized upon FOR fuel by the
'overty- Even the roots are
rubbed out. Many Chinese are com
iclled to burn dry grass TO keep from
lrcezing IN extreme weather. The re
4u!t is bare hillsidcs which heavy
jams rob OF all fertile soil. Similar
Conditions exist also in many of the
iowlands. Chinese rivers have become
lubjcct to terrible foods since tho de-
tasta,ion OF forests In the hills and
= Mountains. Lands which were once
critic have been robbed OF their ton
soil by high waters, and II has been
deposited in river beds or on ground
70 near the level of the river that IL
Dan seldom produce a crop because OF
Il he foods.
&IOLD OUT LITTLE HOPE
UNTIL TREES ARE RESTORED
Engineers who have made surveys
f the Chinese rivers for the govern
1cnt. in an effort TO devise systems
food control, hold out little hope
ntil trees are restored in the hills
10 retain the water which now dashes
Ian the bare lands into tho streams
0tith such speed that the channels are
3rnadequate to care for il.
Mr.. Chou was educated in America.
md has travelled widely in Europe
tudying conservation problems. He is
Thoroughly familiar with the different
8troblcms China faces in her efforts to
make crops certain and avoid the
- "a mine and pestilence which sweep
liver the valleys In the trail Of ruinous
Moods. The Chinese government lacks
Elhe money neCeSsarE TO carry ON AZ