AGRICULTURE OF CHINA. 105 



to wheat, as that is to maize "by the English. A few years ago, two Chinamen were sent some 

 hundreds of miles into the interior, to procure a copy of the Hebrew scriptures from a fraternity 

 of Jews living in a city upon the Hoang-ho. In the report of their journey they express the 

 severity of their distress, almost amounting to famine, on the borders of that river, by stating 

 that the inhabitants were reduced to the necessity of using "wheaten bread," the rice-crops 

 having failed from excessive drought and scarcity of water. 



Second crops are spread over all this region in autumn, consisting mainly of rice, with a 

 proportion of cotton. The cotton is sown broadcast in the standing wheat, in May, by a man 

 walking through it and casting the seed (one at a time) in front of him, and to either side. 

 It remains uncovered, and vegetates where it falls. It is generally of the white kind, though 

 nankeen- colored cotton is sometimes seen. 



A third crop is also grown upon these cotton patches — a large, hardy kind of bran. This is 

 sown as another intermediary crop, amidst the growing cotton-plants, and attains maturity in 

 early spring. 



It would thus appear that the Chinese obtain two grain-crops annually from almost all their 

 cultivable surface — or, at least, of that which can be irrigated. And although the produce does 

 not seem to be near so much as might be procured by better management, yet the two yearly 

 grain-crops are sufficient to account for the lands sustaining so large a population. Nor is 

 much of this grain diverted to the support of working animals, there being very few — indeed, 

 comparatively none employed as such. 



Besides the usual vegetables, there is one so common, so abundant, and such a favorite, that 

 mention of it cannot be omitted. It is to the Chinese, what cabbage is to the Dutch, and, like 

 it, is of the brassica tribe. Thepietsai (its Chinese name) seems to be a medium in its mode of 

 growth, between the beet and the colewort, having long, rather narrow, and crisp leaves, and 

 yields very largely in rich soil with irrigation. 



In this region there is a small yellow clover of little value. But there is also another trefoil, 

 which probably would be of great value in our middle, and more particularly in our southern 

 States. It is thus spoken of by Dr. Wilson, a surgeon in the English navy, who was stationed 

 some time at the island of Chusan during the opium war: " At the close of autumn, after the 

 rice-crop is gathered, a portion of the soil is sown with a hardy variety of trefoil, which, notwith- 

 standing occasional severe frosts, grows vigorously during the winter. (The range of the ther- 

 mometer is from 88° to 28° Fahrenheit.) This, which is cultivated extensively, is used almost 

 entirely as a manure, and no doubt possesses powerful fertilizing properties." After speaking 

 of its quick growth, its being nutritious, and being agreeable to the eye, having a flush of dark- 

 red flowers, he adds : "Its precise habits are not known, but it grew in a dry soil, and resem- 

 bled, if it is not identical with, the plant called sanfoin in England." It would doubtless prove 

 very valuable for soiling. I desired to procure seeds of this cultivated grass, but was unable. 

 Endeavors were also made to obtain the seed of the dyers' buckwheat (polygonum tinctorium), 

 but without success. This is said to be an abundant dye-plant in China, and, as such, would be 

 exceedingly desirable to supply, in part, the increasing demand for coloring matter by our 

 manufacturing establishments. 



These people are so remarkable for their success in the use of manures, that some notice of them 

 is necessary from the most transient observer ; and such was, I, 



Green manuring has just been referred to, in an extract from Dr. Wilson. Alluvial de- 

 posits, from the margins and beds of rivers and equals,, are spread over the land as top-dress- 

 Us 



