Chap. XII. 
SOIL, MANURE, AND CULTURE. 
201 
it has nevertheless a pleasing and undulating appearance, 
and, taken as a whole, it is perhaps the most fertile 
agricultural district in the world. The soil is a strong 
rich loam, capable of yielding immense crops year 
after year, although it receives but a small portion of 
manure. 
The manure applied to the cotton-lands of the Chinese 
is doubtless peculiarly well fitted for this kind of crop. 
It is obtained from the canals, ponds, and ditches which 
intersect the country in every direction, and consists of 
mud which has been formed partly by the decay of long 
grass, reeds, and succulent water-plants, and partly by 
the surface soil which has been washed down from the 
higher ground by the heavy rains. Every agricultural 
operation in China seems to be done with the greatest 
regularity, at certain stated times which experience has 
proved the best ; and in nothing is this more apparent 
than in the manuring of the cotton-lands. Early in 
April the agricultural labourers, all over the country, are 
seen busily employed in cleaning these ponds and 
ditches. The water is first of all partly drawn off, and 
then the mud is thrown up on the adjoining land to 
dry, where it remains for a few days until all the super- 
fluous water is drained out of it, and is then conveyed 
away and spread over the cotton-fields. Previous to 
this the land has been prepared for its reception, having 
been either ploughed up with the small bufifelo plough 
in common use in the country, and then broken and 
pulverised by the three-pronged hoe, or, in those 
instances where the farms are small and cannot boast 
of a buffalo and plough, it is loosened and broken 
K 3 
