(1) With reference to our previous edict authorising the establishment of an In perial University, at Peking we hereby appoint Prince Ching and Hu Ying-kuei, resident of the Board of Rites, to arrange about the drawing of the necessary plans, selection of situation, ete., with regard to the said Universit; (2) We hive received the report of the Teunsli Yamen favouring the suggestion of the Censor Cheng Chung-yen to encourage scientific agriculture, according to Western ideas, throughout the Finpire Agriculture is the basi of our Empire an and it is wf the highest importance that it should receive every encouragement and assistance from the Government. New throughout the various provinces there is. plenty of land lying idle and ready for the plough, and also land which has not been cultivated so xs to produce thw fullest extent of its natural stores. We would therefore command the various Viceroys and Governors to instruct their subordinates, the loos! authorities, to impress upon the gentry and land-omners, as well as f"rmers, within their jurisdiction, to earnestly seek to improve their lands, choosing the best Chinese and Western methods of cultivation for the purpose. Let it not be all empty talk, but let us see some solid ~aults, and it is the special duty of these cal officials to attend energetically snd diligently to this work. To encourage all to labour earnestly for the public good
Viceroys and Governors to recommend to hereby grant permission tv the said our favourable notice for promotion and higher official preferment all such s can show substantial results in their labours on this head. We further hear that certain persons in Shanghai have formed an Agricultural Association. step jin the right direction and is one of the levers for enlightening the country xt [Inrge. We hereby command Liu Kun-yi, Viceroy of the Liangki+ng provinces, to pro-{cure the rules and prospectus of the said Shanghai Agricultural Association for trans-mitral to the Tsungli Yamen, which is commanded on r ceipt wf the same to print copies for distribution to the high authorities of the various proviners of the Empire, in order that similar associations may be inaugurated in them all, All persons able to do so are further commanded to trans late, Western books on the science of agriculture, to be used as text books in the agricultural schools and colleges to be projected in the near future.
5th July.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.