14§ 
overlooked it. In the first place, many of the paddy fields are 
“made soils,” that is, soils which are too “heavy” are mixed with 
sandy soils. Clay and loam soils are mixed with those of a sandy 
nature. The materials are often conveyed long distances. Dur- 
ing the winter the soil, after being mixed with vegetable refuse, 
is thrown up in heaps and composted. In the spring the mass is 
again distributed and the crop planted. In the meantime every 
particle of animal and vegetable refuse is collected into reser- 
voirs, simple excavations in the fields near canals, which facili- 
tate the disposal of night soils, probably the most important 
manurial substance used. These night soils are daily collected 
from the cities and towns, — in the aggregate, enormous quanti- 
ties being secured. Furthermore, the rivers and canals are con- 
tinually being dredged for the fertile ooze covering the bottoms. 
All this is stored in the reservoirs, which are frequently plastered 
to prevent loss by seepage, and are covered with a thatched roof 
to keep out the sun and rain. Nothing is wasted or permitted 
to deteriorate through neglect. Large stone-ware vessels are 
conveniently placed along the roadways for the use of the passing 
traveler. Street sweepings, hair from the barber shops, offal 
from the butcher shops, feathers, bones, leaves, straw, animal 
droppings, soot and even the bath and wash water are con- 
served, — nothing is too insignificant. The dung of domestic 
animals is esteemed the most valuable of fertilizers and is a regu- 
lar and important article of commerce. While they have no 
chemists to place a valuation on these commodities, they appear 
to know their worth instinctively. Or, as the writer several 
times noticed, a stick would be plunged into the mass and passed 
under the nose ; evidently this was the crucial test of their fer- 
tilizing value. A Chinese “fertilizer factory” is a unique institu- 
tion. They are plentiful about Canton and I visited several of 
them. On a permanent, smooth, well firmed earthen floor a 
quantity of the thickest material from the reservoirs is spread and 
to this semi-liquid mass, earth is added in varying quantities, 
when the whole is thoroughly worked together. More earth or 
more of the remaining liquid portions of manure may be added, 
if in the judgment of the manufacturers, the “grade” or “stand- 
ard” of the product calls for such fortification. When of the 
consistency of mortar, the mass is spread out in a thin layer on 
the floor, which is previously sprinkled with rice-hull ash to 
prevent sticking. In a day or two the mass has become suffi- 
ciently sun-dried to be taken up in slabs, which are broken up 
and stacked in piles for storage and ripening; there may be sev- 
eral tons in a pile. . These are then thatched with straw for pro- 
tection against the weather. Shortly it is ready for sale or home 
use. The cash value per ton is $4.00 to $6.00. This fertilizer 
is used exclusively as a top dressing on rice and vegetables. 
For the former crop it is first pulverized and applied at the rate 
of about 200 cadic (266 pounds) per man (6600 square feet), or, 
