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say three-fourths of a ton per acre. The plants are about a 
month old and a foot high when the first application is made ; 
the second application is made a short time before the flower- 
ing period. The effects of the fertilizer are said to be noticeable 
within a few days, and the ultimate results are very satisfactory, 
the yield frequently being double that of unfertilized fields. A 
sample of this material was secured and has been submitted to the 
Station chemist for analysis. 
The half-liquid night soils, which are collected dailv from more 
than two millions of persons in the environment of Canton, are 
stored in cisterns and allowed to putrify for a month or two. 
They are then diluted, and are applied as are the composts al- 
ready described. The effects of these manures seem to indicate 
that their fertilizing constituents are quite as available as are our 
most soluble chemical fertilizers. 
The value of wood ashes and lime is well understood and they 
are used as far as possible, but the supply seems limited. It is. 
said that the plastered walls of old buildings are frequently re- 
newed for the purpose of securing the debris for fertilizing pur- 
poses. On the sea coast fish and seaweeds form valuable fer- 
tilizing material; In some sections they are used exclusively. 
Notwithstanding all this careful husbanding of manurial ma- 
terial, the supply would still be insufficient to meet the needs were 
it not for the practically unlimited canal and river muck which 
perpetually accumulates wherever large river populations exist. 
On the Canton and Yangtse-kiang Rivers, and their tributaries, 
and on innumerable canals, an extensive business has been de- 
veloped of dredging the muck for sale, numerous specially 
equipped craft being employed. Additional fertility is secured 
by rational systems of crop rotations, and extensive practices of 
green manuring, even the herbage of the hills and weeds along 
the roadside are made to contribute their part. 
Little need be said of the industry and skill of the Chinese 
farmer. His practice in tillage, irrigation, drainage, and manur- 
ing is unique and well nigh perfect, though he may not always 
know the reasons for his results. The secret of his success is 
to be found in small holdings, long experience, thoroughness and 
patience to a degree rarely seen, even among the most successful 
orientals in Hawaii, where the spirit of large holdings and im- 
mediate returns takes possession of all who come within its in- 
fluence. 
During my stay at Canton I made special efforts to look into 
the matting industry. While considerable Cyperus is grown 
along the river, beyond Canton, it is in small and scattered 
patches. At the time of my visit most of the crop had been har- 
vested and the cured product was being shipped to the city for 
manufacture into mats. The mat-making is all done by hand in 
small shops or in the farm houses by the farmer and his family. 
Labor costs ten to fifteen cents per day. This cheap labor in the 
