202 
WANDERINGS IN CHINA. 
Chap. XII. 
up entirely by manual labour. When the mud is first 
spread over the land, it is, of course, hard or cloggy, but 
the first showers soon mix it with the surface soil, and 
the whole becomes pulverised, and it is then ready for 
the reception of the cotton-seed. Road-scrapings and 
burnt rubbish are saved up with care, and used for the 
same purpose and in the same manner. 
A considerable portion of the cotton-lands either lie 
fallow during the winter months, or are planted with 
those crops which are ready for gathering prior to the 
sowing of the cotton-seed. Frequently, however, two 
crops a.re found growing in the field at the same time. 
Wheat, for example, which is a winter crop, is reaped in 
the Shanghae district generally about the end of May, 
while the proper time for putting in the cotton-seed is 
the beginning of that month or the end of April. In 
order, therefore, to have cotton on the wheat-lands, the 
Chinese sow its seeds at the usual time amongst the 
wheat, and, when the latter is reaped, the former is 
several inches above ground, and ready to grow with 
vigour when it is more fully exposed to the influence of 
sun and air. The Shanghae season — that is, from the 
late spring frosts to those in autumn — ^is barely long 
enough for the production and ripening of the cotton, as 
it is easily injured by frost ; and the Chinese farmer is 
thus obliged, in order to gain time and obtain two crops 
from his ground in one year, to sow its seeds before the 
winter crop is ready to be removed from the ground. 
When it is possible to have the first crop entirely re- 
moved before the cotton is sown, it is much preferred, as 
the land can then be well worked and properly manured, 
