Cuar. XVI] ROTATION OF CROPS. SIS 
handle, and with this he scatters the liquid over the 
growing crop. A strong stimulant like this would 
probably in other circumstances have an inju- 
rious effect ; but, by using it only when the crops 
are young and luxuriant, they assimilate its gases, 
and a most marked effect is produced upon 
their growth and productiveness. This kind of 
liquid manure is generally applied to wheat, barley, 
and all the cabbage tribe, and other garden vege- 
tables; but not to rice, which is always flooded 
during its growth. 
This manure is sometimes used after putrefaction 
and fermentation have taken place, and even in 
this state it is very efficient. In the gardens near 
Canton it is often dried and mixed with the soil 
taken from the bottom of the Lotus ponds, and 
used for growing plants in pots, or for enriching 
any particular tree which may be a favourite in 
the garden. 
Although the land is sometimes allowed to lie 
idle for some months, yet there is no regular 
system of fallowing, nor is the rotation of crops 
much known or practised. Indeed, as regards 
the low lands, the soil being a kind of stiff, strong 
clay, capable of yielding many crops of rice in 
succession, without being in any way burthened 
or impoverished, no such mode of cultivation is 
necessary. 
