Ghap.III. OF THE CULTURE OF RICE. 303 



4. The ground is cleared of all ftones, and whatever roots are in it 

 are pulled up by a ftrong harrow, with great iron teeth. This in- 

 ftrument is drawn by a buffalo, and a man guides it with the help 

 of two handles, like thofe of a plough, on which he leans hard. 

 The earth is like mud, and partly covered with water during all 

 this operation. "-^ "-■ ' 



5. The earth is afterwards fmoothed with a harrow, which has 

 feveral rows of teeth. A man guides this harrow by its two-handles, 

 whilft a buffaloe draws it : and as faft as its teeth form little channels 

 in the ground, the water runs in, and fills them up. 



6: When the rice that was bid to foak has fprouted, the Cecd 

 is known to be good; and it is tlien fown by hand, very thick, and 

 as equally as poflible. Only part of the ground is fown in this 

 manner, to furnifli plants for tiie reft. \. '"^^ 



• The day after it has been fown, the points of the plants appear 

 above the furfa' ■:; of the water: for the ground is overflowed .all 

 .this time with jdft enough water to cover it. 



7. When the plants have acquired a little flrength, they are 

 fprinkled vrith lime v.-ater, to defcroy the infers and fome of the 

 weeds that v/ould hurt them. For this purpofe a fmall ballet is 

 faftened to the end of a long handle, and dipt in lime water, 

 which runs through it, as it is conveyed over the plants. 



The Chinefe have a great veneration for the firfh inventor of this 

 method, which ?nfwers to our cuilom of fteeping wheat in lime- 

 water, or maniiiing land with quick -lime. 



8. Towards April, v'hen the plants are grown ftrong enough tO' 

 cover the whole field, and look very green and even, the grcateft 

 part of them is pulkd up by handfuls, all the mud is carefully walh- 

 ed off their roots, and, being held all this time as even as pofhble. 

 with one another, they are planted in tufts, pretty far ai under, and 

 in a quincunx form, in fields prepared on purpofe for them. Afe- 

 rene day is chofen for this operation, which muft; be performed a%- 

 quick as poiUble. 



This praftice of the. Chinefe is in regard to the commdi} cul- 

 ture of rice, what our new hufbandry is with refpedt to the 'Coian- 

 inon culture of wiieat. '-'•>, !v.' 



9. The tice muft be watered: which is always done in China,' 'by 

 overflowing it. To this end, the rice grounds are always near » a 



poitti 



'.'1: 



