A FARMING PIONEER
China was one of the first countries in the world to study the science of farming. It was the earliest research centre for agriculture. While people in other countries in the world were trying to catch wild animals and birds and were still collecting seeds and nuts, farmers in China were developing the science of agriculture.
One of the pioneers of farming was Jia Sixie, who lived in the sixth century AD He was born in Yidu, in Shandong Province and worked in Gaoyang, which is also in Shandong. For many years he worked in the government. Then he returned home and spent his time on research into agriculture. He collected information, studied it, did experiments and learnt from the experiences of farmers.
He studied ways of keeping seeds. He advised farmers to choose the best seed-heads, the ones that had the best colour. Then he said that they should be hung up to dry. In the following spring, the seeds should be knocked out of the seed-heads and sown.
He studied how to improve soil conditions. He learnt how to clean rough ground before planting crops. He pointed out that it was important to remove weeds before sowing seed in the soil. He advised farmers first to let sheep or cows walk on the land.
The animals would then destroy the weeds or eat them. The soil should also be turned over with a fork so that the weeds would be destroyed. He also said it was important to plant wheat close together. Other scientists had said that wheat should be planted with space between the plants. However, Jia Sixie did experiments and showed that his way was better.
He wrote a book called QiMinYaoShu during the years 533--544. The book, which has 110,000 characters, is about both farming and gardening. It includes advice on the following subjects: growing green vegetables and fruit trees,keeping cows and sheep, and keeping fish in lakes. There are also instructions for making wine.
This book was considered to be an important summary of the knowledge of farming. For centuries after Jia Sixie died, it was studied by Chinese farmers and students of farming.
