AGRICULTURE 49 



deposits cannot be made without the cognizance of the 

 authorities, but the terms in such cases are not onerous. When 

 waste hillsides and poor areas are brought under cultivation 

 ample time is allowed for a return of the capital expended in 

 reclaiming them before assessment is made. 



Since the food-supply of the Chinese population has always 

 been supplied from within the Empire, agriculture has rightly 

 been accorded first place among all branches of labour from 

 time immemorial. According to legend, the Emperor Shen- 

 nung (2737-2697 B.C.) established agriculture as a science. He 

 examined the various kinds of soils and gave directions as to 

 what should be cultivated in each. He taught the people how 

 to make ploughs, and instructed them in the best methods of 

 husbandry. Immediate results were seen in the improved 

 conditions of the people, and succeeding generations have 

 amply testified their gratitude to him. Under the title of 

 " Prince of Cereals " he has long since been deified, and is 

 worshipped throughout the length and breadth of the land. 

 In Peking there is an altar dedicated to him, enclosed within 

 a large park. Formerly, at the vernal equinox, the ruling 

 emperor, assisted by various officials, performed an annual 

 commemorative ceremony of ploughing a portion of the park. 



The Chinese nation is to a very large extent vegetarian, 

 flesh being eaten only in small quantities except on festival 

 occasions. Pork, chickens, ducks, and fish comprise the meat- 

 diet, and of these the Chinese are excessively fond, but to the 

 great majority they are luxuries, only to be indulged in on rare 

 occasions. Rice is to them what wheat is to us, only more so. 

 So long as the average Chinaman can get rice he is happy ; 

 but this would be scarcely true of ourselves if we could only 

 get bread ! Next to rice the more important food-stuffs are 

 wheat, maize, pulse, and cabbage. The Chinese fry most of 

 their vegetables, and for this purpose a vegetable oil is nearly 

 always used. The oils expressed from the seeds of members 

 of the Cabbage [Brassica) family, the Soy Bean {Glycine hispida) , 

 and Sesame [Sesamum indicum) being most in request. 



Whilst the Chinese cultivate a great variety of vegetables 

 the quality of one and all, judged from our standard, is 

 wretchedly inferior. With the exception of maize and sweet 



VOL. II. — 4 



