By John Livingstone, Esq. 51 



draws their plough, perpendicularly through the soil, to break 

 the lumps, and convert it into a kind of ooze ; and as the 

 teeth of this rake or harrow are not set more than from two 

 to three inches apart, it serves, at the same time, very effec- 

 tually to remove roots, and otherwise to clean the ground. 

 For some purposes, the ground thus prepared is allowed to 

 dry ; it is then formed into beds or trenches ; the beds are 

 made of a convenient size for watering and laying on manure. 

 The intermediate trenches are commonly about nine inches 

 deep, and of the necessary breadth to give to the beds 

 the required elevation ; but when the trenches are wanted 

 for the cultivation of water plants, some part of the soil is 

 removed, so that a trench may be formed of the proper 

 dimensions. 



The implement used for these purposes is a hoe, commonly 

 ten inches deep, and five inches broad, made of iron, or of 

 wood with an iron border, and for some purposes it is di- 

 vided into four or five prongs. By constant practice the 

 Chinese have acquired such a dexterous use of this simple 

 instrument, that they form their beds and trenches with as- 

 tonishing neatness and regularity. With it they raise the 

 ground which has not been ploughed, from the beds and 

 trenches, by only changing it from a vertical to a horizontal 

 direction, or employing its edge. It is also used for digging, 

 planting, and in general for every purpose which a Chinese 

 husbandman has to accomplish. 



The next objects of consideration are their manures, to 

 which they are by no means inattentive. Vegetable or wood 

 ashes are esteemed the very best manure by the Chinese. 

 The weeds which were separated from the land by the har- 



