288 CHINESE HUSBANDRY. 



water, and give moifture to the plants, with* 

 out drowning them. The true time for trans- 

 planting is towards the end of December, and 

 though the air is then very cool, and it fome- 

 times freezes in the nights, yet the feeds 

 thrive, and the plants flock out in a fortnight ; 

 each of which brings forth in March feven or 

 nine flalks, with ears and ftraw, rather fliortcr 

 than ours; and in May there is a plentiful 

 crop. I have been told that wheat produces 

 a hundred and twenty fold ; which increafe 

 plentifully rewards the hufbandman's labour 

 and trouble. 



As rice is what the Chincfe chiefly fubfifl 

 on, and what they life inftead of bread (as 

 has been before mentioned), they employ but 

 fmall fpots of ground f or the culture of wheat. 

 They only ufe it in their fugar cakes, a great 

 quantity of which are requifite for the pago- 

 das on their holidays ; and fome they make for 

 themfelves. Foreigners eat the chief part of 

 this corn ; and b'ecaufe that which is raifed in 

 this province is infufncient, large quantities 

 are brought from the northern parts. 



I saw fome barley on a little field in June ; 

 it grew very well, and fliot out exceeding fine 



ears: 



