chow-foo, Chinkiang Yeo, Tung-chow "ea Inspector anc i intendant of Yang-Shea, by Imperial appointment Assistant
Hai-men issues this exhortation to cultivate the mulberry, with a view to the increase of trade.
In the sustenancoof human life, food and clothing are the first essentials, and in the of the state husbandry and the tivation of the mulberry are the chief elements.
The old farmsteads are forsaken, and the support of even life has become a grievous burden. =asight to make the heart mourn. The cause of all this misery and ruin was the irruption of the soldiery into these parts. But though war has ceased, the land is still untilled and the population sparse, and no signs of former prosperity as yet appear; why is this The proximity of this place-to Yangchow and the consequent corruption of morals and indifference to the principles on which human progress is founded, stands first in the list of causes, and another reason will be found in the neglect of the local officials to take the Jead and urge the people (to develope the resources of the district), so that the earth retains its wealth while the homes of the people are empty. Even where the husband is industrious in cultivating the fields, the aay at her spindle. The consequence is thi excessive rain or drought or any local calm ty, resulting in a poor harvest, leaves the agriculturists Without means either to pay the taxes or procure food. Then they go forth to Wander in search of livelihood perhaps, to perish of cold or hunger, or driven by want to gras of the law. We cannot contemplate all commit crime they bring themselves within the
this without extreme pain, Heaven evidently intended that human beings should support themselves by following a fixed calling, and not by wandering in all directions trusting to what chance may throw in their way, and itis plain alo thatthe wants of the body cannot supplied but by attention to husbandry and to the cultivation of the mulberry.
The Taotai ie a native of Woo-hing, the test silk-producing district in the Empire, and he has known a family of eight persons, by a month's labour, to produce more than 10 baskets of silk and gain more money by it than they could have earned from the cultivation of 100 mov of Iand devoted to ordinary hus-bandy. The family was thus not only fed and clothed but placed in_ easy circumstances, The soil of Kiangsoo is light and porous and the climate is warm, characteristics which point it out as eminently adapted for rearing the silk-worm. Of the four district cities within this prefecture, Liyang is by ost flourishing and you know its chief trade isin silk. In this it has obeyed the voice of nature and hence its prosperity. Its opulence may also be traced to the industry of its women in spinning. In this branch of labour every effort put forth brings a double return, What then intimidates you from engaging in lucrative a imsinoss Of course, Vofore you can roar silk-worme must plant mulberry-trees. Chinkiang formerly had a silk-worm and mulberry association, and all planters doubtless possessed. the work of Sha-shih-an on mulberry cultivation, and agine there were bit few families, unfamiliar with the system there laid down. The great rebellion how-over has left every thing in confusion, and the book and its contents have perished tothor. Moreover the common people find it difficult to make a be i thing they can only rejoice ov ier unwilling to inour the neces wi they defer commencing; or fearing stand looking idly on fill delay has rendered the scheme impracticable.
The Taotai, on his arrival here, seeing the condition of the agricultural population, thought very anxiously for some means of alleviating their to their prayer, has fixe on the following tain portico to Hoo-chow to purchase a large scheme. It is <d to send forthwith cer-
supply, nonced persons to come and plant them. The of mulberry seedlings, and, hire expe-empty spaces in the city will first be planted in the way of seaking a beginning. It is further intended that Woo-chew-tung, general Warden of the city, and others shall inspect the city and country, fix on some suitable plan and form a silk association.
When the trees are sufficiently large, the Taotai will parckase silkworm's ¢; mand. enipstrucions on the boweding: of the silkrienct ties to go in ull directions The Taotai wishes all classes to know that silk growing is tenfold more remunerative than ordinary agriculture, without either its Incessnt toi, anxiety or Pecuniary embarrassment wil yield leaves for'a Eaton Ase gene-'Trees, after having been planted three years, ral rule it may be laid down that a mow of
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.