52 State of Chinese Horticulture and Agriculture. 



row, with what they otherwise are able to collect, are carefully 

 burnt, and the ashes spread. The part of the field where 

 this has been done is easily perceived by the most careless 

 observer. Indeed the vigour of the productions of those 

 parts of their land where the ashes have been applied is 

 evident as long as the crop continues on the ground. The 

 ashes of burnt vegetables are also mixed with a great variety 

 of other matters in forming the compositions which are spread 

 on the fields, or applied to individual plants. 



The plaster of old kitchens is much esteemed as a manure, 

 so that a farmer will replaster a cook-house for the old plas- 

 ter, that he may employ it to fertilize his fields. 



The Chinese have a high notion of the value of night-soil, 

 the collection of which, and its formation into cakes, by means 

 of a little clay, clay and lime, or similar substances, gives em- 

 ployment to a great number of individuals. They transport 

 these cakes to a great distance. This manure in its recent 

 state is applied to the roots of Cauliflowers, Cabbages, and 

 similar plants, with the greatest advantage. 



The dung and urine of all animals is collected with great 

 care ; they are used both mixed and separately. The mix- 

 ture is less valuable than the dung, and this for general 

 purposes is the better, the older it is. Horns and bones 

 reduced to powder, the cakes left after expressing several 

 oils, such as of the ground-nut, hempseed, and the like, 

 rank also high as manures. Small crabs, the feathers of 

 fowls and ducks, soot, the sweepings of streets, and the 

 stagnant contents of common sewers, are often thought suf- 

 ficiently valuable to be taken to a great distance, especially 

 when water carriage can be obtained. 



