BREAD PLANTS 7 



A field attached to the Temple of Earth and 

 Heaven, at Peking, is worked into perfect condition 

 in anticipation of the ceremony. The "Son of 

 Heaven, " as the Emperor is called, plows four 

 furrows, with a wonderfully ornamented plow, 

 kept in the temple for this purpose. Then the 

 princes, the high dignitaries, and the court atten- 

 dants, down the scale of rank, take turns at the 

 plow. Forty laborers, deserving of the honor, 

 are allowed to finish the task of preparation. 

 Then the Emperor sows the rice, himself; princes 

 sow millet, wheat, barley and beans. These 

 grains are tended with especial care as they grow, 

 and harvested by officials of high rank. The 

 crops of each grain are stored in the temple, and 

 used on special occasions in making offerings to 

 the spirits of the dead ancestors of the ruling 

 Emperor. 



Viceroys in the outlying provinces of the Empire 

 enact the same ceremony, so the people are all 

 reached by its influence. 



China's population of 400,000,000 is more than 

 five times that of the United States. In spite of 

 all efforts, the people cannot raise all the rice they 

 need. The exportation of this grain has for 

 centuries been forbidden. Little Japan, with 

 50,000,000 population, exports quantities yearly. 



