Chapter XVI

Chinese Agriculture.--Exaggerated Statements regarding its Advancement.--Soil of the Hills.--Tea Land--Soil of the Plains.--Summer Crops.--Rice and its Cultivation.--Chinese Plough and Harrow.--Number of Crops produced.--Method of obtaining two Crops of Rice in Summer in the Province of Chekiang.--Rice Harvest.--Terrace Cultivation described.--The Tein-ching Plant, from which the Northern Indigo is obtained.--Summer Hill Crops.--Cultivation of sweet Potatoes.--Earth Nuts.--Winter Crops.--Celebrated Shan-tung Cabbage.--Oil Plant.--Wheat, Barley, etc.--Ripening of Winter Crops.--Manures.--Two Plants cultivated for this Purpose.--Their Cultivation and Mode of Application.--A Manure for mixing with Seeds.--Its Utility.--Other Manures in common use.--Manure Tanks.--Night Soil and Urine.--Mode of Application.--Succession anti Rotation of Crops.