292 CHINESE HUSBANDRY. 



roots twifling together keep up the borders ; 

 and the trees themfelves fhelter the plants from 

 winds and funmine, and fo give a very fine ap- 

 pearance to thefe decorated terraces. 



When the foil of the terraces is dug up 

 by a little plough or fpade, and made fmooth 

 with a little rake, they at the fame time put fo 

 much dung as the plants require : yet in 

 this cafe they likewife are very fparing. The 

 dung is generally foaked in water in round 

 cifterns funk in the ground ; and the feed is 

 moiftened with this filthy water. Sometimes 

 when they plant or fow they lay a handful of 

 afhes on each grain, becaufe in their opinion 

 the dung which lies between the plants does 

 no good. 



The beds which are made on the terraces, 

 or in other places, fcarce lie ftill one month ; 

 but foon after the ripening of one plant are 

 prepared to produce another ; and are annual- 

 ly employed three times. The hufbandmen 

 regulate the bufinefs according to the nature 

 of the plants ; and each plant, which either 

 loves wet, cold, or drynefs, obtains the moft 

 convenient feafon to grow in ; and all the roots 

 come in autumn. 



The 



