Receive As Much as $5
And Food Each Day SPECIAL ro THE "uch."
Chengtu, Oct. 10.
Szechuan is scarce of labour, The drafting of men for the army and the employing of village-labour, both men and women, for road making is easily understood and both of these do draw labour away from the farms. it is the prosperity in general and the increase of industries of every kind that is absorbing a great deal of labour, that is all new to Szechuan. HEW. industries <startéd. by those coming in from other provinces, who had been industrial hands formerly, take up a lot of new labour, Then, 100, there are the many hundreds of small ce-operative industries that have absorbed labour from rural and urban centres in large numbers, "The gradual increase in prices of food products and manufactured ar-tides has made all lines of mer-cane enterprise profitable. No body seems to be idle and all are living better than ever before. Consequently, when the rice harvest began the farmers had to pay $1 and food for their labour. So it is necessary to keep the farm hands pleased and happy in their work. As the rice harvest progressed the wages gradually rose to and even as much as $5 each day and food. The rickshaw fares and money for chair carriers have increased accordingly, 25 those who travelled to Omei (summer resort) and other places know. On the whole there seems to be a greater number of people living and dressing better than formerly. It is really the small salary people who are feeling the pinch. The rice crop has been better than average.
"The National Agricultural Improvement Bureau with headquarters in Szechuan is doing admirable work {he to increase farm production within the province. While the former research work of this Bureau is being continued with even greater vigour than formerly in. Nanking, yet, the merely experimental feature of such work is well passed, and a definite practical use is being made of this department. Their seed grains are being used by the farmers with better Yield, both in quantity and quality. Their statistics reveal improvement slong many lines and each new harvest brings more. The extension centres now available to help the farmers are increasing. all (he time. Kor example, at Men, Chiang-hsien, e are eleven larger or smaller Centres, where farmers may receive seed grains, and help to combat swine plague, rinderpest, wheat and Other grain pests.
More education is needed to achieve fuller ce-operation with the rural people, and remove doubt and prejudice against employing new im-HE provement methods. The time is now opportune for real practical development along lines of scientific improvement of farm production. The West China Union University Agricultural department, under the direction of Dr. Dickenson is doing Sub; Splendid work in the improvement and development of fruit and vegetable growing. Many new fruits and ye -have been introduced and are being grown successfully.
OBE when heart has slipped its Jead of care how blest is the When travel-worn and weary we have All toils and travails paid by this one lies our piWo 3 A dreamed of thing, home-coming.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.