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《卷二 Volume 2》[View] [Edit] [History]
An aligned English translation of this text is available and can be displayed alongside the source text (instructions). Please note that AI has been used in creating these translations. Translation setting: [None] [English]《黍穄第四 Shu Ji Di Si》 | |
1  | 《爾雅》曰：「秬，黑黍。秠，一稃二米。」郭璞注曰：「秠亦黑黍，但中米異耳。」 The Erya says: "Ju is black shu." "Li refers to one husk containing two grains of rice." Guo Pu's commentary says: "Li is also black shu, but it differs in the type of grain inside." |
| 2 | 孔子曰：「黍可以為酒。」 Confucius said: "Shu can be used to make wine." |
| 3 | 《廣志》云：「有牛黍，有稻尾黍、秀成赤黍，有馬革大黑黍，有秬黍，有溫屯黃黍，有白黍、，有塸塸芒、鷰鴿之名。穄，有赤、白、黑、青、黃鷰鴿，凡五種。」 The Guangzhi states: "There is niu shu, daowei shu, xiucheng chishu, mage d hei shu, ju shu, wentun huangshu, bai shu, and names such as Zouzoumang and Yige." Ji comes in red, white, black, blue-green, and yellow varieties known as yinge, totaling five types." |
| 4 | 按今俗有鴛鴦黍、白蠻黍、半夏黍；有驢皮穄。 According to current customs, there are yuanyang shu, baiman shu, banxia shu; and lvp ji. |
| 5 | 崔寔曰：「𪎭，黍之秫熟者，一名穄也。」〉 Cui Shi said: "Shu is the ripe form of shu, also known as Ji." 〉 |
| 6 | 凡黍、穄田，新開荒為上，大豆底為次，穀底為下。 For fields planted with shu or ji, newly cultivated wasteland is best, followed by land previously used for soybeans, and land previously used for millet is the worst. |
| 7 | 地必欲熟。再轉乃佳。若春夏耕者，下種後，再勞為良。 The soil must be well-prepared. It becomes ideal after being tilled twice. If plowing is done in spring or summer, it is good to cultivate the soil again after sowing. |
| 8 | 一畝，用子四升。 For one mu of land, four sheng of seeds are used. |
| 9 | 三月上旬種者為上時，四月上旬為中時，五月上旬為下時。夏種黍、穄，與稙穀同時；非夏者，大率以椹赤為候。諺曰：「椹釐釐，種黍時。」燥濕候黃塲。始章切種訖不曳撻。常記十月、十一月、十二月凍樹日種之，萬不失一。凍樹者，凝霜封著木條也。假令月三日凍樹，還以月三日種黍；他皆倣此。十月凍樹宜早黍，十一月凍樹宜中黍，十二月凍樹宜晚黍。若從十月至正月皆凍樹者，早晚黍悉宜也。 Sowing in the first ten days of March is considered the best time, the first ten days of April as medium time, and the first ten days of May as the worst time. Planting shu and ji in summer is done at the same time as early millet; for non-summer planting, generally it follows the timing when the persimmon turns red. A proverb says: "When the persimmons turn red, it is time to plant shu." The timing for dry and wet conditions depends on Huangchang turning yellow. At the beginning of Zhangjie, planting is completed without dragging or beating. It should be remembered that planting on days when trees freeze in October, November, and December ensures a perfect success rate without failure. Freezing of trees refers to the phenomenon where frost solidifies and adheres to branches. For example, if freezing occurs on the third day of a month, then shu should be planted on the third day; others follow this pattern. If freezing occurs in October, it is suitable for early shu planting; if in November, for mid-season shu; and if in December, for late shu. If freezing of trees occurs from October to the first month of the new year, both early and late varieties of shu are suitable for planting. |
| 10 | 苗生壠平，卽宜杷勞。鋤三遍乃止。鋒而不耩。苗晚耩，卽多折也。 Once seedlings emerge and furrows become level, it is immediately suitable to use a harrow for cultivation. Weeding should be done three times in total. The plow is sharp but not deep-tilled. If the seedlings are late and deep tilled, many will be broken. |
| 11 | 刈穄欲早，刈黍欲晚。穄晚多零落，黍早米不成。諺曰：「穄青喉，黍折頭。」皆卽濕踐。久積則浥鬱，燥踐多兜牟。穄，踐訖卽蒸而裛於劫反之。不蒸者難舂，米碎，至春又土臭；蒸則易舂，米堅，香氣經夏不歇也。黍，宜曬之令燥。濕聚則鬱。 Ji should be harvested early, while shu is best harvested later. If Ji is harvested too late, many grains will fall off; if Shu is harvested too early, the grain will not be fully developed. A proverb says: "Ji turns green at the throat, and shu breaks at the head." Both should be trampled while still damp. If left for a long time, they will become damp and moldy; if dried before treading, many grains will remain in the husks. For Ji, after trampling, it should be steamed and stored (yì). If not steamed, it is difficult to pound; the grains will be broken and by spring they will smell of earth. If steamed, pounding becomes easier, the rice is firm, and its fragrance lasts through summer without fading. Shu should be dried in the sun until it is dry. If kept damp, it will become moldy and spoiled. |
| 12 | 凡黍，黏者收薄。穄，味美者，亦收薄，難舂。 Generally, sticky shu yields less. Ji that is flavorful also has a low yield and is difficult to pound. |
| 13 | 《雜陰陽書》曰：「黍『生』于榆。六十日秀，秀後四十日成。黍『生』于巳，『壯』于酉，『長』于戌，『老』于亥，『死』于丑，惡于丙、午，忌于丑、寅、卯。穄，忌于未、寅。」 The Zayinyang Shu says: "Shu 'grows' under the elm tree." It takes sixty days to sprout, and forty days after sprouting for it to mature. Shu "grows" in the Si hour, "thrives" in the You hour, "matures" in the Xu hour, "ages" in the Hai hour, and "dies" in the Chou hour. It is unfavorable during Bing and Wu hours, and should be avoided during Chou, Yin, and Mao hours. Ji is also to be avoided during Wei and Yin hours." |
| 14 | 《孝經援神契》云：「黑墳宜黍、麥。」 The Xiaojing Yuanshen Qi states: "Black, fertile soil is suitable for growing shu and wheat." |
| 15 | 《尚書考靈曜》云：「夏，火星昏中，可以種黍、菽。火，東方蒼龍之宿，四月昏，中在南方。菽，大豆也。」 The Shangshu Kailingyao states: "In summer, when the Mars star is in its central position at dusk, it is suitable to plant shu and shu (soybeans)." Mars belongs to the constellation of the Azure Dragon in the East; at dusk in April, it is positioned centrally in the south. "Shu refers to soybeans." |
| 16 | 《氾勝之書》曰：「黍者暑也，種者必待暑。先夏至二十日，此時有雨，彊土可種黍。諺曰：「前十鴟張，後十羌襄，欲得黍，近我傍。」「我傍」，謂近夏至也，蓋可以種晚黍也。一畝，三升。 The Fan Shengzhi Shu states: "Shu means heat; planting must wait for the hot season." Twenty days before the summer solstice, if there is rain at this time, firm soil can be planted with shu. A proverb says: "Ten days before Chizhang, ten days after Qiangxiang; if you want to plant shu, do it near me." "Near me" means close to the summer solstice; this is when late shu can be planted. For one mu, three sheng are used. |
| 17 | 「黍心未生，雨灌其心，心傷無實。 "If the heart of the shu plant has not yet grown and rainwater floods its center, the heart will be damaged and no grain will develop." |
| 18 | 「黍心初生，畏天露。令兩人對持長索，搜去其露，日出乃止。 「凡種黍，覆土鋤治，皆如禾法，欲疏於禾。」按疏黍雖科，而米黃，又多減及空；今穊，雖不科而米白，且均熟不減，更勝疏者。氾氏云：「欲疏於禾」，其義未聞。 "When the heart of the shu first begins to grow, it fears dew from the sky." Have two people hold a long rope and wipe away the dew; stop when the sun rises. "When planting shu, covering the soil and cultivating should follow the same method as for millet, but with a slightly looser arrangement than millet." According to this, although sparse shu may tiller, the grain is yellow and often reduced or empty. Now, dense planting, though it does not tiller, produces white grains that mature evenly without reduction, which is even better than sparse planting. Fan Shi said: "It should be looser than millet," but the meaning of this statement has not been clearly explained. |
| 19 | 崔氏曰：「四月蠶入簇，時雨降，可種黍、禾，謂之上時。 Cui Shi said: "In April, when silkworms enter the簇 (coconut-like structures for rearing silkworms) and timely rain falls, it is suitable to plant shǔ and hē, which is considered the best planting time." |
| 20 | 「夏至先後各二日，可種黍。 "Two days before and after the summer solstice are suitable for planting shu." |
| 21 | 「蟲食李者黍貴也。」 "When insects eat plums, it means that shu will be expensive." |
《粱秫第五 Liang Shu Di Wu》 | |
| 1 | 《爾雅》曰：「虋，赤苗也；𦬊，白苗也。」郭璞注曰：「虋，今之赤粱粟；𦬊，今之白粱粟：皆好穀也。」犍為舍人曰：「是伯夷、叔齊所食首陽草也。」 The Erya states: "Mian refers to red seedlings; Bi refers to white seedlings." Guo Pu's commentary states: "Mian is the modern red liang millet; Bi is the modern white liang millet. Both are high-quality grains." Qianwei She Ren said: "This is the Shouyang grass that Boyi and Shuqi ate." |
| 2 | 《廣志》曰：「有具粱，解粱；有遼東赤粱，魏武帝嘗以作粥。」 The Guangzhi says: "There is Ju liang and Jie liang; there is Liaodong chih liang, which Emperor Wei Wu Di once used to make porridge." |
| 3 | 《爾雅》曰：「粟，秫也。」孫炎曰：「秫，黏粟也。」 The Erya says: "Su refers to shu." Sun Yan said: "Shu is sticky millet." |
| 4 | 《廣志》曰：「秫，黏粟，有赤、有白者；有胡秫，早熟及麥。」 The Guangzhi says: "Shu, a type of sticky millet, comes in red and white varieties; there is also Hu shu, which matures early along with wheat." |
| 5 | 《說文》曰：「秫，稷之黏者。」 The Shuowen Jiezi says: "Shu refers to the sticky variety of ji (millet)." |
| 6 | 按今世有黃粱；穀秫，桑根秫，槵天棓秫也。〉 According to current usage, there is huang liang; gu shu, sangen shu, and moutian bai shu as well. 〉 |
| 7 | 粱、秫並欲薄地而稀，一畝用子三升半。地良多雉尾，苗穊穗不成。 Liang and shu both prefer light soil with sparse planting, using 3.5 sheng of seeds per mu. In fertile land, many seedlings resemble pheasant tails; if the plants are too dense, the ears will not form properly. |
| 8 | 種與稙穀同時。晚者全不收也。 The planting time is the same as for early millet. If planted too late, there will be no harvest at all. |
| 9 | 燥濕之宜，杷勞之法，一同穀苗。 The suitability for dry or wet conditions and the method of harrowing are the same as for millet seedlings. |
| 10 | 收刈欲晚。〈性不零落，早刈損實。 Harvesting should be done later. It does not easily drop its grains; harvesting too early will damage the yield. |
《大豆第六 Da Dou Di Liu》 | |
| 1 | 爾雅曰：「戎叔謂之荏菽。」孫炎注曰：「戎叔，大菽也。」 The Erya says: "Rongshu is also called Ren shu." Sun Yan's commentary states: "Rongshu refers to large shu (soybeans)." |
| 2 | 張揖《廣雅》曰：「大豆，菽也。小豆，荅也。豍豆、豌豆，留豆也。胡豆，䜶䝄也。」 Zhang Yi's Guangya says: "Da dou is also known as shu." Xiaodou refers to da. Houdou and wandou are also known as liudou. Hudou is also called Lianzhu." |
| 3 | 《廣志》曰：「重小豆，一歲三熟，槧甘。白豆，麤大可食。剌豆，亦可食。秬豆，苗似小豆，紫花，可為麵，生朱提、建寧。大豆：有黃落豆；有御豆，其豆角長；有楊豆，葉可食。胡豆，有青、有黃者。」 The Guangzhi states: "In Chong, small beans are grown; they can mature three times a year and have a sweet taste." White beans are coarse and large but edible. Ladao is also edible. Judu has seedlings resembling small beans, with purple flowers; it can be made into flour and grows in Zhuti and Jianning. Da dou (soybeans): there is Huangluo dou; You dou, which has long bean pods; and Yang dou, whose leaves are edible. Hudou comes in green and yellow varieties." |
| 4 | 《本草經》云：「張騫使外國，得胡豆。」 The Bencao Jing states: "Zhang Qian, when sent to foreign countries, obtained hudou (soybeans)." |
| 5 | 今世大豆，有白、黑二種，及長梢、牛踐之名。小豆有菉、赤、白三種。黃高麗豆、黑高麗豆、鷰豆、豍豆，大豆類也。豌豆、江豆、䝁豆，小豆類也。〉 In the present day, soybeans come in two varieties: white and black, as well as types known by names such as Changshao and Niujian. Small beans have three varieties: lu (green), chi (red), and bai (white). Huang Gaoli dou, Hei Gaoli dou, Yidou, and Houdou are all types of soybeans. Wandou, Jiangdou, and Liandou belong to the category of small beans. 〉 |
| 6 | 春大豆，次稙穀之後。二月中旬為上時，一畝用子八升。三月上旬為中時，用子一斗。四月上旬為下時。用子一斗二升。歲宜晚者，五、六月亦得；然稍晚稍加種子。 Spring soybeans are planted after early millet. The upper season is the middle of the second month, with eight sheng of seeds used per mu. The middle season is the first half of March, using ten sheng (one dou) of seed. The lower season begins in the first half of April. Twelve sheng (one dou and two sheng) of seed is used. In years when planting should be delayed, sowing can also take place in the fifth or sixth month; however, the later it is, the more seeds need to be added. |
| 7 | 地不求熟。秋鋒之地，卽𥡦種。地過熟者，苗茂而實少。 The land does not require prior cultivation. In fields with autumn plowing, planting can be done immediately after plowing. If the land is over-prepared, the seedlings will grow lush but produce few fruits. |
| 8 | 收刈欲晚。此不零落，刈早損實。 Harvesting should be done as late as possible. If harvested too early, the beans will not have fully matured and the yield will be reduced. |
| 9 | 必須耬下。種欲深故。豆性强，苗深則及澤。鋒、耩各一。鋤不過再。 It must be harrowed underneath. This is because planting should be deep. Soybean plants are strong; deeper seedlings can reach the moisture. One plowing and one harrowing each. Hoeing should not be done more than twice. |
| 10 | 葉落盡，然後刈。葉不盡，則難治。刈訖則速耕。大豆性炒，秋不耕則無澤也。 Harvest only after the leaves have completely fallen off. If the leaves are not fully removed, it will be difficult to manage (the field). After harvesting, plow quickly. Soybeans are hot in nature; if the land is not tilled in autumn, it will lack moisture. |
| 11 | 種茭者，用麥底。一畝用子三升。先漫散訖，犂細淺㽟良輟反而勞之。旱則萁堅葉落，稀則苗莖不高，深則土厚不生。若澤多者，先深耕訖，逆垡擲豆，然後勞之。澤少則否，為其浥鬱不生。九月中，候近地葉有黃落者，速刈之。葉少不黃必浥鬱。刈不速，逢風則葉落盡，遇雨則爛不成。 To plant jiao (a type of grain), use wheat stubble as a base. Three sheng of seed are used per mu. First scatter the seeds evenly, then plow lightly and finely, and cultivate them thoroughly. If it is dry, the vines will become tough and leaves fall off; if too sparse, the seedlings' stems won't grow tall; if planted too deep, the thick soil will prevent growth. If there is abundant moisture, first plow deeply, then turn the furrows and scatter the beans, and finally cultivate them thoroughly. If moisture is scarce, this should not be done, as it would cause stagnation and hinder growth. In the middle of the ninth month, when leaves near the ground begin to turn yellow and fall, harvest quickly. If there are few leaves that do not turn yellow, it must be due to stagnation. If harvesting is delayed, the leaves will all fall off in the wind or rot and fail to mature if it rains. |
| 12 | 《雜陰陽書》曰：「大豆『生』於槐。九十日秀，秀後七十日熟。豆『生』於申，『壯』於子，『長』於壬，『老』於丑，『死』於寅，惡於甲、乙，忌於卯、午、丙、丁。」 The Zayinyang Shu states: "Soybeans 'grow' under the huaishu (Chinese locust tree)." They flower after ninety days, and mature seventy days after flowering. Soybeans "grow" in Shen, "thrive" in Zi, "mature" in Ren, "age" in Chou, and "die" in Yin; they are unfavorable under Jia and Yi, and should be avoided during Mao, Wu, Bing, and Ding." |
| 13 | 《孝經援神契》曰：「赤土宜菽也。」 The Xiaojing Yuanshen Qi states: "Red soil is suitable for growing shu (soybeans)." |
| 14 | 《氾勝之書》曰：「大豆保歲易為，宜古之所以備凶年也。謹計家口數，種大豆，率人五畝，此田之本也。 The Fan Shengzhi Shu states: "Soybeans ensure a harvest with little effort, which is why they were cultivated in ancient times to prepare for years of famine." Carefully calculate the number of people in your household and plant soybeans, allocating five mu per person; this is the foundation of farming. |
| 15 | 「三月榆莢時，有雨，高田可種大豆。土和無塊，畝五升；土不和，則益之。種大豆，夏至後二十日，尚可種。戴甲而生，不用深耕。 "In March, when the elm pods appear and there is rain, high ground can be planted with soybeans." If the soil is loose and free of clods, five sheng per mu are sufficient; if the soil is not suitable, more should be added. Soybeans can still be planted twenty days after the summer solstice. They sprout with a seed coat, so deep plowing is unnecessary. |
| 16 | 「大豆須均而稀。 "Soybeans should be evenly spaced and not too dense." |
| 17 | 「豆花憎見日，見日則黃爛而根焦也。 "The soybean flowers dislike exposure to the sun; if exposed, they will turn yellow and rot while their roots become scorched." |
| 18 | 「穫豆之法，莢黑而莖蒼，輒收無疑；其實將落，反失之。故曰：『豆熟於場。』於場穫豆，卽青莢在上，黑莢在下。」 "The method of harvesting soybeans is to gather them when the pods are black and the stems green, without hesitation; if you wait until they begin to fall, you will lose them." Hence it is said: "Soybeans mature in the field." Harvesting soybeans in the field means that green pods are still on top, while black pods have fallen below." |
| 19 | 氾勝之區種大豆法：「坎方深各六寸，相去二尺，一畝得千二百八十坎。其坎成，取美糞一升，合坎中土攪和，以內坎中。臨種沃之，坎三升水。坎內豆三粒；覆上土，勿厚，以掌抑之，令種與土相親。一畝用種二升，用糞十二石八斗。 Fan Shengzhi's method of planting soybeans in plots: "Each hole is six cun square and deep, spaced two chi apart; one mu contains 1280 holes. Once the holes are dug, take one sheng of good manure, mix it with soil from the hole, and put it back into the hole. Before planting, water each hole with three sheng of water. Place three soybean seeds in each hole; cover the soil lightly, not too thickly, and press it down with your palm to ensure good contact between the seed and the soil. Two sheng of seeds are used per mu, along with twelve dan and eight dou of manure. |
| 20 | 「豆生五六葉，鋤之。旱者溉之，坎三升水。 "When the soybean plants have five or six leaves, hoe them." If it is dry, water them; pour three sheng of water into each hole. |
| 21 | 「丁夫一人，可治五畝。至秋收，一畝中十六石。 "One able-bodied man can manage five mu." At harvest in autumn, one mu yields sixteen dan. |
| 22 | 「種之上，土纔令蔽豆耳。」 "The best planting method is to cover the beans with just enough soil to conceal them." |
| 23 | 崔寔曰：「正月可種豍豆。二月可種大豆。」又曰：「三月，昏，參夕，杏花盛，桑椹赤，可種大豆，謂之上時。四月，時雨降，可種大、小豆。美田欲稀，薄田欲稠。」 Cui Shi said: "In the first month, Houdou can be planted." "In the second month, soybeans can be planted." He also said: "In March, when it is dusk and the star Shen appears in the evening sky, with apricot blossoms in full bloom and mulberry fruits turning red, soybeans can be planted; this is called the upper season." In April, when timely rains fall, both large and small beans can be planted. "In fertile fields, planting should be sparse; in poor soil, it should be dense." |
《小豆第七 Small Beans, Chapter Seven》 | |
| 1 | 小豆，大率用麥底。然恐小晚，有地者，常須兼留去歲穀下以擬之。 For small beans, wheat stubble is generally used as a base. However, to avoid planting too late, those with land should always reserve some of the previous year's grain for this purpose. |
| 2 | 夏至後十日種者為上時，一畝用子八升。初伏斷手為中時，一畝用子一斗。中伏斷手為下時，一畝用子一斗二升。中伏以後則晚矣。諺曰：「立秋葉如荷錢，猶得豆」者，指謂宜晚之歲耳，不可為常矣。 Planting ten days after the summer solstice is considered the upper season, with eight sheng of seed used per mu. The middle season begins at Chufu (first period of summer heat), using ten sheng (one dou or one sheng more) of seed per mu. The lower season is when planting occurs at Zhongfu (middle period of summer heat), with twelve sheng of seed used per mu for this time. Planting after Zhongfu is too late. A proverb says: "If the leaves appear like lotus coins at Lichun, soybeans can still be grown," but this refers only to years when planting is suitable later and should not be considered a regular practice. |
| 3 | 熟耕、耬下以為良。澤多者，耬耩，漫擲而勞之，如種麻法。未生白背，勞之極佳。漫擲、犂㽟，次之。𥡦土歷反種為下。 Well-prepared soil and harrowing are essential for good results. In areas with abundant moisture, harrow the land, scatter the seeds evenly, and cultivate them as in the method for planting hemp. Cultivating before the white back (a stage of growth) appears is extremely beneficial. Scattering seeds and plowing are secondary methods. Direct seeding without prior preparation is the least effective method. |
| 4 | 鋒而不耩，鋤不過再。 Plow but do not harrow, and hoe no more than twice. |
| 5 | 葉落盡，則刈之。葉未盡者，難治而易濕也。豆角三青兩黃，拔而倒竪籠叢之，生者均熟，不畏嚴霜，從本至末，全無秕減，乃勝刈者。 Harvest when the leaves have all fallen off. If the leaves are not yet fully dropped, it is difficult to manage and prone to moisture retention. When the bean pods are three parts green and two parts yellow, pull them up and stand them upright in clusters; this ensures even ripening. They will not fear severe frost, from base to tip there will be no shriveled or reduced beans, making it superior to cutting. |
| 6 | 牛力若少，得待春耕；亦得𥡦種。 If oxen are scarce, one can wait for spring plowing; direct seeding is also possible. |
| 7 | 凡大、小豆，生既布葉，皆得用鐵齒𨫒楱俎遘反縱橫杷而勞之。 For both large and small beans, once the leaves have spread, they can be cultivated using a toothed iron harrow to work the soil in all directions. |
| 8 | 《雜陰陽書》曰：「小豆『生』於李。六十日秀，秀後六十日成。成後，忌與大豆同。」 The Zayinyang Shu says: "Small beans 'grow' under the li (plum) tree." They flower after sixty days, and mature sixty days after flowering. After maturing, they should not be planted in the same field as soybeans." |
| 9 | 《氾勝之書》曰：「小豆不保歲，難得。 The Fan Shengzhi shu says: "Small beans do not ensure a harvest and are difficult to obtain. |
| 10 | 「椹黑時，注雨種，畝五升。 "When the mulberry fruits turn black, sow during rain with five sheng per mu." |
| 11 | 「豆生布葉，鋤之。生五六葉，又鋤之。 "When the bean plants have spread their leaves, hoe them." When they grow five or six leaves, weed again. |
| 12 | 「大豆、小豆，不可盡治也。古所以不盡治者，豆生布葉，豆有膏，盡治之則傷膏，傷則不成。而民盡治，故其收耗折也。故曰，豆不可盡治。 "Soybeans and small beans cannot be cultivated to their full potential." In ancient times, they did not cultivate them fully because when the beans spread their leaves and produce oil (gao), excessive cultivation would damage this oil. If damaged, the plants will fail to mature properly. But if farmers over-cultivate them, their harvests are reduced and wasted. Therefore it is said: beans should not be cultivated to excess. |
| 13 | 「養美田，畝可十石；以薄田，尚可畝收五石。」諺曰：「與他作豆田。」斯言良美可惜也。 "With well-maintained fertile land, a yield of ten dan per mu is possible; even with poor soil, five dan per mu can still be harvested." A proverb says: "Give him a field for growing beans." These words are indeed beautiful, but they are a pity. |
| 14 | 《龍魚河圖》曰：「歲暮夕，四更中，取二七豆子，二七麻子，家人頭髮少許，合麻、豆著井中，咒勑井，使其家竟年不遭傷寒，辟五方疫鬼。」 The Longyu Hetu says: "At the end of the year, in the middle of the fourth watch at night, take fourteen beans and fourteen flax seeds, a small amount of family members' hair, mix them with the flax and beans into the well, chant incantations over the well to ensure that no one in the household suffers from cold diseases throughout the year, warding off epidemics from all directions." |
| 15 | 《雜五行書》曰：「常以正月旦——亦用月半——以麻子二七顆，赤小豆七枚，置井中，辟疫病，甚神驗。」又曰：「正月七日，七月七日，男吞赤小豆七顆，女吞十四枚，竟年無病；令疫病不相染。」 The Za Wuxing Shu says: "On the first day of the first lunar month—also on the fifteenth day—place fourteen flax seeds and seven red small beans into a well to ward off epidemics; this is very effective." It also says: "On the seventh day of the first month and the seventh day of the seventh month, men should swallow seven red small beans and women fourteen; this ensures no illness throughout the year and prevents infectious diseases from spreading." |
《種麻第八 Planting Flax, Chapter Eight》 | |
| 1 | 《爾雅》曰：「黂，枲實。枲，麻。別二名」「茡，麻母。」孫炎注曰：「黂，麻子。」「茡，苴麻盛子者。」 ้อย The Erya says: "Feng is the seed of xǐ." "Xi, flax." Two different names. "Jing is the mother of flax." Sun Yan's commentary says: "Feng, flax seed." "Jing refers to the mature seeds of juma." |
| 2 | 崔寔曰：「牡麻，無實，好肌理，一名為枲也。」〉 Cui Shi said: "Muma has no fruit, but it has fine fibers; it is also known as Xi." " |
| 3 | 凡種麻，用白麻子。白麻子為雄麻。顏色雖白，齧破枯燥無膏潤者，秕子也，亦不中種。市糴者，口含少時，顏色如舊者佳；如變黑者，裛。崔寔曰：「牡麻子，青白，無實，兩頭銳而輕浮。」 Generally, when planting flax, use white flax seeds. White flax seeds are for male flax plants. Although the color is white, if they are dry and brittle when bitten into with no oiliness, they are inferior seeds and unsuitable for planting. When purchasing flax seeds, those that retain their original color after being held in the mouth for a short time are good; if they turn black, it means they have been dampened. Cui Shi said: "Muma seeds are bluish-white, without fruit, pointed at both ends and light." |
| 4 | 麻欲得良田，不用故墟。故墟亦良，有點葉夭折之患，不任作布也。地薄者糞之。糞宜熟。無熟糞者，用小豆底亦得。崔寔曰：「正月糞疇。疇，麻田也。」 Flax prefers good quality fields and should not be planted on old wasteland. Although old wastelands may seem suitable, they carry the risk of leaf blight and plant death, making them unsuitable for producing flax cloth. If the land is poor, manure should be applied to it. The manure should be well-rotted. If there is no well-rotted manure, using the residue from small beans will also suffice. Cui Shi said: "In the first lunar month, apply manure to the fields." "Chou refers to flax fields." |
| 5 | 耕不厭熟。縱橫七徧以上，則麻無葉也。田欲歲易。拋子種則節高。 Tilling should not be done too much; it is better to till thoroughly. If tilled back and forth more than seven times, the flax will have no leaves. The fields should be rotated annually. If the seeds are scattered, the stalks will grow tall. |
| 6 | 良田一畝，用子三升；薄田二升。穊則細而不長，稀則麤而皮惡。 For good land, three sheng of seed per mu is needed; for poor soil, two sheng. If the planting is too dense, the flax will be thin and short; if it is too sparse, the stalks will be coarse with poor quality bark. |
| 7 | 夏至前十日為上時，至日為中時，至後十日為下時。「麥黃種麻，麻黃種麥」，亦良候也。諺曰：「夏至後，不沒狗。」或答曰：「但雨多，没橐駝。」又諺曰：「五月及澤，父子不相借。」言及澤急，說非辭也。夏至後者，非唯淺短，皮亦輕薄。此亦趨時不可失也。父子之間，尚不相假借，而況他人者也？ Ten days before the summer solstice is the best time; on the day of the solstice, it is a medium time; ten days after the solstice is the worst time. "The saying 'plant flax when wheat turns yellow, plant wheat when flax turns yellow' also indicates a good planting season." A proverb says: "After the summer solstice, even dogs do not get wet." Someone replied: "But if there is much rain, even camels will be submerged." Another proverb says: "In May, when the fields are flooded, father and son do not lend to each other." This means that flooding comes quickly, it is a matter of urgency rather than mere words. Those planted after the summer solstice are not only short but also have thin and poor quality bark. This is also a matter of seizing the right time, which must not be missed. Even between father and son, they do not borrow from each other; how much less so with others? |
| 8 | 澤多者，先漬麻子令芽生，取雨水浸之，生芽疾；用井水則生遲。浸法：著水中，如炊兩石米頃，漉出。著席上，布令厚三四寸，數攪之，令均得地氣。一宿則芽出。水若滂沛，十日亦不生。待地白背，耬耩，漫擲子，空曳勞。截雨腳卽種者，地濕，麻生瘦；待白背者，麻生肥。澤少者，暫浸卽出，不得待芽生，耬頭中下之。不勞曳撻。 If there is abundant water, first soak the flax seeds until sprouts appear. Soaking them in rainwater causes quick germination; using well water results in slower growth. The method of soaking is: place the seeds in water for about the time it takes to cook two dan of rice, then drain them out. Spread them on a mat, layering them about three or four cun thick, and stir frequently to ensure even exposure to the earth's warmth. After one night, sprouts will emerge. If the water is too abundant, even after ten days, they will not sprout. Wait until the soil turns white and dry, then harrow and furrow, scatter the seeds loosely, and plow lightly without pressing them in. If planted immediately after rain, when the ground is still wet, the flax grows weak; if planted after waiting for the soil to dry and turn white on top, the flax grows strong. If there is little water, soak briefly and then sow immediately without waiting for sprouts to form; plant the seeds at a moderate depth with the harrow. Do not press or trample them down. |
| 9 | 麻生數日中，常驅雀。葉青乃止。布葉而鋤。頻煩再遍止。高而鋤者，便傷麻。 For several days after the flax sprouts, birds should be regularly driven away. Only when the leaves turn green can this practice stop. When the flax has spread its leaves, hoe it. Do this two or three times at most. Hoeing too deeply will damage the flax. |
| 10 | 勃如灰便收。刈，拔，各隨鄉法。未勃者收，皮不成；放勃不收而卽驪。𢆞欲小，縛欲薄，為其易乾。一宿輒翻之。得霜露則皮黃也。 Harvest when the stalks turn gray and withered. Cutting or pulling should follow local methods. Harvesting before the stalks are fully withered results in poor quality bark; if left too long after they have turned gray, the fibers become black and spoiled. The bundles should be small, and tied loosely to facilitate quick drying. Turn them over after one night's rest. Exposure to frost and dew turns the bark yellow. |
| 11 | 穫欲淨。有葉者喜爛。漚欲清水，生熟合宜。濁水則麻黑，水少則麻脆。生則難剥，大爛則不任。暖泉不冰凍，冬日漚者，最為柔肕也。 Harvesting should be thorough. Those with leaves are prone to rotting. Soaking should be done in clear water, and the duration of soaking must be appropriate for both soft and hard fibers. Using muddy water will make the flax black; using too little water makes it brittle. If not soaked enough, it is difficult to strip the fibers; if over-soaked and rotten, they become unusable. Warm springs that do not freeze are best for winter soaking, as the fibers will be most soft and supple. |
| 12 | 《衞詩》曰：「蓺麻如之何？衡從其畝。」《毛詩》注曰：「蓺，樹也。衡獵之，從獵之，種之然後得麻。」 The Wei Shi says: "How to cultivate flax?" "Plow the fields in straight rows." The Mao Shi commentary says: "Yi means to plant." "Plow horizontally, plow vertically; only after planting in this way can flax be obtained." |
| 13 | 《氾勝之書》曰：「種枲太早，則剛堅、厚皮、多節；晚則皮不堅。寧失於早，不失於晚。穫麻之法，穗勃勃如灰，拔之。夏至後二十日漚枲，枲和如絲。」 The Fan Shengzhi Shu says: "If flax is planted too early, the stalks become stiff and hard with thick bark and many nodes; if planted too late, the bark will not be firm." Better to err on planting too early than too late. The method of harvesting flax is: when the stalks wither and turn gray, pull them out. "Twenty days after the summer solstice soak the flax; it will become as soft as silk." |
| 14 | 崔寔曰：「夏至先後各五日，可種牡麻。」〈「牡麻，有花無實。」 Cui Shi said: "Five days before and after the summer solstice, male flax can be planted." "Male flax has flowers but no fruit." |
《種麻子第九 Planting Flax Seeds, Chapter Nine》 | |
| 1 | 崔寔曰：「苴麻，麻之有蘊者，茡麻是也。一名黂。」〉 Cui Shi said: "Juma is flax with a seed head; it is known as Jingma. It is also called Feng." " |
| 2 | 止取實者，種斑黑麻子。斑黑者饒實。崔寔曰：「苴麻子黑，又實而重，擣治作燭，不作麻。」 If the goal is only to obtain seeds, plant black-spotted flax seeds. Black-spotted varieties are abundant in seeds. Cui Shi said: "Juma seeds are black, full and heavy; they can be pounded to make candles but not for flax fiber." |
| 3 | 耕須再遍。一畝用子三升。種法與麻同。 Tilling must be done twice. Three sheng of seeds are used per mu. The planting method is the same as for flax. |
| 4 | 三月種者為上時，四月為中時，五月初為下時。 Planting in March is the best time, April is a medium time, and early May is the worst time. |
| 5 | 大率二尺留一根。穊則不科。鋤常令淨。荒則少實。既放勃，拔去雄。若未放勃去雄者，則不成子實。 Generally, leave one plant every two chi. If planted too densely, the plants will not grow properly. Weeding should always be thorough. Neglect leads to fewer seeds. After the plants have grown vigorously, remove the male ones. If the male plants are not removed before they grow vigorously, then no seeds will be produced. |
| 6 | 凡五穀地畔近道者，多為六畜所犯，宜種胡麻、麻子以遮之。胡麻，六畜不食；麻子齧頭，則科大。收此二實，足供美燭之費也。慎勿於大豆地中雜種麻子。扇地兩損，而收並薄。六月間，可於麻子地間散蕪菁子而鋤之，擬收其根。 For fields of the five grains near roads, they are often trampled by livestock; it is advisable to plant sesame or flax seeds around them for protection. Sesame is not eaten by livestock; if the head of a flax plant is nibbled, it will grow larger stalks. Harvesting these two kinds of seeds is sufficient to supply the cost of fine candles. Be careful not to interplant flax seeds in soybean fields. Both crops will suffer, and the harvest will be poor. In June, radish seeds can be sown among flax fields and cultivated to harvest their roots. |
| 7 | 《雜陰陽書》曰：「麻『生』於楊或荊。七十日花，後六十日熟。種忌四季——辰、未、戌、丑——戊、己。」 The Miscellaneous Book of Yin and Yang says: "Flax 'grows' under willow or vitex trees. It flowers after seventy days, and matures sixty days later. Planting should avoid the four seasons—Chen, Wei, Xu, Chou—and the days on which the heavenly stems are Wu and Ji." |
| 8 | 《氾勝之書》曰：「種麻，豫調和田。二月下旬，三月上旬，傍雨種之。麻生布葉，鋤之。率九尺一樹。樹高一尺，以蠶矢糞之，樹三升。無蠶矢，以溷中熟糞糞之亦善，樹一升。天旱，以流水澆之，樹五升。無流水，曝井水，殺其寒氣以澆之。雨澤時適，勿澆。澆不欲數。養麻如此，美田則畝五十石，及百石，薄田尚三十石。穫麻之法，霜下實成，速斫之；其樹大者，以鋸鋸之。」 The Book of Fan Shengzhi says: "When planting flax, prepare the field in advance. Sow it around the end of the second month and the beginning of the third month, taking advantage of the rain. When flax sprouts and spreads its leaves, weed it. Generally, one tree per nine chi. For a tree one chi tall, apply three sheng of silkworm manure fertilizer. If there is no silkworm manure, using well-fermented human dung from the latrine is also good; apply one sheng per tree. In dry weather, water it with running water; five sheng per tree. If there is no running water, expose well water to the sun to eliminate its coldness before using it for irrigation. When rainfall is timely and sufficient, do not irrigate. Irrigation should not be frequent. If flax is cultivated in this way, good fields can yield fifty dan or even a hundred dan per mu, while poor fields still produce thirty dan. The method of harvesting flax: when frost falls and the seeds mature, cut them quickly; for large trees, use a saw to cut them. |
| 9 | 崔寔曰：「二、三月，可種苴麻。」〈「麻之有實者為苴。」 Cui Shi said: "In February or March, Juma can be planted." "Flax that produces seeds is called Ju." |
《大小麥第十。瞿麥附 Wheat, both large and small, Tenth. 》 | |
| 1 | 《廣雅》曰：「大麥，麰也；小麥，䅘也。」 The Guangya says: "Da mai is mou; Xiao mai is qian." |
| 2 | 《廣志》曰：「虜水麥，其實大麥形，有縫。𥟶麥，似大麥，出涼州。旋麥，三月種，八月熟，出西方。赤小麥，赤而肥，出鄭縣。語曰：『湖豬肉，鄭稀熟。』山提小麥，至黏弱；以貢御。有半夏小麥，有禿芒大麥，有黑穬麥。」 The Guangzhi says: "Lu shui mai, its grain resembles da mai in shape and has a seam. Shi mai is similar to da mai and grows in Liangzhou. Xuanmai, sown in March and ripe in August, originates from the western regions. Chi xiaomai is red and plump, produced in Zheng Xian. There is a saying: "Hu zhu rou, Zheng xi shu." Shanti xiaomai has an extremely sticky and soft texture; it was offered as tribute to the imperial court. There is Banxia xiaomai, Tumang da mai, and Heikoumai." |
| 3 | 《陶隱居本草》云：「大麥為五穀長，卽今倮麥也，一名麰麥，似穬麥，唯無皮耳。穬麥，此是今馬食者。然則大、穬二麥，種別名異，而世人以為一物，謬矣。」 The Bencao of Tao Yinguju says: "Da mai is the leader among the five grains, that is today's luo mai. It is also known as moumai. It resembles koumai but differs only in having no husk. Koumai is what horses eat nowadays. Thus, da mai and koumai are two different types of wheat with distinct species and names; yet people in the world consider them as one thing, which is a mistake." |
| 4 | 按世有落麥者，禿芒是也。又有春種穬麥也。〉 According to records, there is a type of wheat called luomai, which refers to tumang. There is also spring-sown koumai. " |
| 5 | 大、小麥，皆須五月、六月暵地。不暵地而種者，其收倍薄。崔寔曰：「五月、六月菑麥田也。」 Both da mai and xiaomai require dry land in May or June. Those who plant without drying the land will have a much poorer harvest. Cui Shi said: "May and June are for preparing wheat fields." |
| 6 | 種大、小麥，先㽟，逐犂䅖種者佳。再倍省種子而科大。逐犂擲之亦得，然不如作䅖耐旱。其山田及剛強之地，則耬下之。其種子宜加五省於下田。凡耬種者，非直土淺易生，然於鋒、鋤亦便。 When planting da mai or xiaomai, first plow the land; it is best to sow while following the plowing. This method saves twice as much seed and results in larger stalks. It is also possible to sow by scattering seeds while plowing, but it is not as good as ridge planting for drought resistance. For mountainous fields and hard soils, use a seed drill to sow them. The amount of seeds should be increased by five times for poor land. Generally, seed drill planting not only results in shallow soil and easy sprouting but also facilitates hoeing and weeding. |
| 7 | 穬麥，非良地則不須種。薄地徒勞，種而必不收。凡種穬麥，高、下田皆得用，但必須良熟耳。高田借擬禾、豆，自可專用下田也。八月中戊社前種者為上時，擲者，畝用子二升半。下戊前為中時，用子三升。八月末九月初為下時。用子三升半或四升。 Koumai should not be planted on poor land. Planting in poor soil is a waste of effort, as it will certainly result in no harvest. Generally, koumai can be planted on both high and low land, but the soil must be fertile and well-prepared. Highland fields used for growing millet or soybeans can themselves be exclusively used as lowland fields. Sowing in mid-August, before the Wu She festival, is considered the best time; for scattering seeds, use two sheng and five dou per mu. Before the lower Wu period is a medium planting time, using three sheng of seed. The end of August and early September are considered poor planting times. Use three sheng and five dou or four sheng of seed. |
| 8 | 小麥宜下田。歌曰：「高田種小麥，稴穇不成穗。男兒在他鄉，那得不憔悴。」八月上戊社前為上時，擲者，用子一升半也。中戊前為中時，用子二升。下戊前為下時。用子二升半。 Xiaomai is suitable for lowland fields. A song says: "Planting xiaomai in highland fields, the ears of grain will not form properly." "A man away from home, how can he not grow weary?" The upper Wu She festival in August is the best planting time; for scattering seeds, one sheng and five dou of seed are used. Before the middle Wu period is a medium planting season, using two sheng of seed. Before the lower Wu period marks the worst planting time. Use two sheng and five dou of seeds. |
| 9 | 正月、二月，勞而鋤之。三月、四月，鋒而更鋤。鋤麥倍收，皮薄麵多；而鋒、勞、鋤各得再遍為良也。 In January and February, work hard to hoe the fields. In March and April, cultivate and weed again. Weeding wheat doubles the harvest, resulting in thinner hulls and more flour; it is best if cultivating, working, and weeding are each done twice. |
| 10 | 令立秋前治訖。立秋後則蟲生。蒿、艾簞盛之，良。以蒿、艾蔽窖埋之，亦佳。窖麥法：必須日曝令乾，及熱埋之。多種久居供食者，宜作劁才彫切麥：倒刈，薄布，順風放火；火既著，卽以掃帚撲滅，仍打之。如此者，經夏蟲不生；然唯中作麥飯及麵用耳。 Complete the cultivation before the beginning of autumn. After the beginning of autumn, pests will appear. Storing them in baskets lined with wormwood or mugwort is good. It is also excellent to cover and bury the grains in a cellar using wormwood or mugwort. The method of storing wheat: it must be sun-dried until dry, then buried while still warm. For those who plant a large amount and need to store it for long-term consumption, it is advisable to make qiao mai (qiao, pronounced caodiaoqie): cut the wheat upside down, spread it thinly, and set fire in the direction of the wind; once the fire starts, immediately use brooms to extinguish it, then thresh it. This method prevents pests from appearing even through summer; however, this wheat is only suitable for making porridge or flour. |
| 11 | 《禮記·月令》曰：「仲秋之月，……乃勸人種麥，無或失時；其有失時，行罪無疑。」鄭玄注曰：「麥者，接絶續乏之穀，尤宜重之。」 The Rites of Zhou: Monthly Ordinances says: "In the month of Zhongqiu,... encourage people to plant wheat and do not miss the season; if one misses the planting time, there will be no doubt about punishment." Zhang Xuan's commentary says: "Wheat is the grain that connects the gap between harvests; it should be especially valued." |
| 12 | 《孟子》曰：「今夫麰麥，播種而耰之，其地同，樹之時又同；浡然而生，至於日至之時，皆熟矣。雖有不同，則地有肥、磽，雨露之所養，人事之不齊。」 The Mencius says: "Now take moumai for example; when sown and cultivated, the land is the same, and the planting time is also the same. They sprout vigorously and by the day of the solar term, they all mature." Although there may be differences, it is due to variations in soil fertility and barrenness, the nourishment from rain and dew, as well as inconsistencies in human effort." |
| 13 | 《雜陰陽書》曰：「大麥『生』於杏。二百日秀，秀後五十日成。麥『生』於亥，『壯』於卯，『長』於辰，『老』於巳，『死』於午，惡於戊，忌於子、丑。小麥『生』於桃。二百一十日秀，秀後六十日成。忌與大麥同。蟲食杏者麥貴。」 The Miscellaneous Book of Yin Yang says: "Da mai 'grows' under apricot trees. It takes 200 days to head, and another 50 days after heading for it to mature. Wheat "grows" in Hai, "thrives" in Mao, "matures" in Chen, "ages" in Si, and "dies" in Wu. It dislikes Wu and should avoid Zi and Chou. Xiaomai "grows" under peach trees. It takes 210 days to head, and then another 60 days after heading for it to become mature. It should not be planted together with da mai. "When insects eat apricots, wheat becomes expensive." |
| 14 | 種瞿麥法：以伏為時。一名「地麵」。良地一畝，用子五升，薄田三四升。畝收十石。渾蒸，曝乾，舂去皮，米全不碎。炊作飧，甚滑。細磨，下絹簁，作餅，亦滑美。然為性多穢，一種此物，數年不絶；耘鋤之功，更益劬勞。 The method for planting qumei: take the period of Fu as the appropriate time. Also known as "Dimian." For one mu of good land, use five sheng of seeds; for poor soil, three or four sheng. A yield of ten dan per mu. Boil thoroughly, dry in the sun, pound to remove the husk, and the rice remains whole without breaking. Cooked into porridge, it is very smooth. Grind finely, sift through a silk sieve, make into cakes, and they are also smooth and delicious. However, this plant tends to be weedy; once planted, it will persist for several years. The labor of weeding and hoeing becomes even more arduous. |
| 15 | 《尚書大傳》曰：「秋，昏，虛星中，可以種麥。」「虛，北方玄武之宿；八月昏中，見於南方。」 The "Great Commentary on the Book of Documents" says: "In autumn, when the constellation Xuxing is at its zenith in the evening, it is suitable to plant wheat." "Xu is a star mansion of the Northern Black Tortoise; at dusk in August, it appears in the south." |
| 16 | 《說文》曰：「麥，芒穀。秋種厚埋，故謂之『麥』。麥，金王而生，火王而死。」 The Shuowen Jiezi says: "Mai, a grain with awns. It is sown in autumn and deeply buried, hence it is called 'mai.'" "Wheat grows when Metal prevails and dies when Fire prevails." |
| 17 | 《氾勝之書》曰：「凡田有六道，麥為首種。種麥得時，無不善。夏至後七十日，可種宿麥。早種則蟲而有節，晚種則穗小而少實。 The Fan Shengzhi Shu says: "Among the six types of farmland, wheat is the first to be planted. If wheat is sown at the right time, there will be no failure in its growth. Seventy days after the summer solstice, it is possible to plant su mai (overwintering wheat). Planting too early results in insect infestation and jointed stalks; planting too late leads to small ears with few grains. |
| 18 | 「當種麥，若天旱無雨澤，則薄漬麥種以酢且故反漿并蠶矢；夜半漬，向晨速投之，令與白露俱下。酢漿令麥耐旱，蠶矢令麥忍寒。 "If it is time to plant wheat, and if the weather is dry with no rain, then soak the wheat seeds lightly in a mixture of vinegar broth and silkworm droppings; soak them at midnight and quickly sow them before dawn, so that they are planted together with the morning dew. Vinegar broth makes wheat drought-resistant, and silkworm droppings make it cold-tolerant. |
| 19 | 「麥生黃色，傷於太稠。稠者鋤而稀之。 "If the wheat turns yellow, it is harmed by being too densely planted." Thin out dense areas with a hoe. |
| 20 | 「秋鋤以棘柴耬之，以壅麥根。故諺曰：『子欲富，黃金覆。』『黃金覆』者，謂秋鋤麥、曳柴壅麥根也。至春凍解，棘柴曳之，突絶其乾葉。須麥生，復鋤之。到榆莢時，注雨止，候土白背復鋤。如此則收必倍。 "In autumn, use thorny branches to cultivate the soil and mound up earth around the wheat roots." Hence the proverb says: "If you wish for wealth, cover it with golden soil." "Covering with golden soil" means autumn hoeing of wheat and dragging branches to mound up the wheat roots. When the spring frost thaws, drag thorny branches over it to remove dead leaves from the surface. After the wheat sprouts, cultivate it again with a hoe. When the elm pods appear and the rain stops, wait until the soil turns white on its back before cultivating again. If done this way, the harvest will surely double. |
| 21 | 「冬雨雪止，以物輒藺麥上，掩其雪，勿令從風飛去。後雪，復如此。則麥耐旱、多實。 "When winter rain and snow stop, cover the wheat with something to trap the snow on top, preventing it from being blown away by the wind. After more snow falls, do this again. Then the wheat will be drought-resistant and produce many grains. |
| 22 | 「春凍解，耕和土，種旋麥。麥生根茂盛，莽鋤如宿麥。」 "When spring frost thaws, plow and mix the soil to plant xuanmai (a type of wheat). Once the wheat sprouts with strong roots, cultivate it thoroughly as you would su mai." |
| 23 | 氾勝之區種麥：「區大小如上農夫區。禾收，區種。凡種一畝，用子二升。覆土厚二寸，以足踐之，令種土相親。麥生根成，鋤區間秋草。緣以棘柴律土壅麥根。秋旱，則以桑落時澆之。秋雨澤適，勿澆之。春凍解，棘柴律之，突絶去其枯葉。區間草生，鋤之。大男、大女治十畝。至五月收，區一畝，得百石以上，十畝得千石以上。 Fan Shengzhi's method of planting wheat in plots: "The size of each plot is the same as that used by an experienced farmer. After harvesting millet, plant wheat in these plots. For every mu planted, use two sheng of seeds. Cover the soil to a depth of two cun and trample it firmly with your feet so that the seeds are in close contact with the soil. Once the wheat has grown roots, hoe out autumn weeds between the plots. Use thorny branches to till and mound soil around the wheat roots along the edges. If there is a dry autumn, water it at the time when mulberry leaves fall. If autumn rains are sufficient, do not water it. When the spring frost thaws in spring, use thorny branches to till the soil and remove dead leaves from the surface by scraping them off. If weeds grow between the plots, hoe them out. An adult man or woman can manage ten mu of land. By May when the harvest comes, one mu yields over 100 dan; ten mu yield more than 1,000 dan. |
| 24 | 「小麥忌戌，大麥忌子，『除』日不中種。」 "Wheat should not be planted on Xu days, and da mai should avoid Zi days; it is unsuitable to plant on 'chu' days." |
| 25 | 崔寔曰：「凡種大、小麥，得白露節，可種薄田；秋分，種中田；後十日，種美田。唯穬，早晚無常。正月，可種春麥、豍豆，盡二月止。」 Cui Shi said: "Generally, when planting da mai and xiaomai, at the White Dew solar term it is suitable for poor soil; during Autumnal Equinox, plant in medium quality land; ten days later, plant in fertile land. Only kongmai (a type of millet) has no fixed time for early or late planting. "In the first month, it is possible to sow chunmai (spring wheat) and huadou; this continues until the end of the second month." |
| 26 | 青稞麥。特打時稍難，唯映日用碌碡碾。右每十畝，用種八斗。與大麥同時熟。好收四十石；石八九斗麵。堪作飯及餅飥，甚美。磨，總盡無麩。〈鋤一徧佳，不鋤亦得。 Qingke mai. Its processing is somewhat difficult, and it can only be crushed with a roller under the sunlight. For every ten mu, eight dou of seeds are used. It ripens at the same time as da mai. A good harvest yields forty dan; each dan produces eight or nine dou of flour. It is suitable for making rice, cakes, and noodles, which are very delicious. When ground, it produces no bran at all. "One weeding is ideal; even without weeding, it can still be acceptable." |
《水稻第十一 Rice Eleventh》 | |
| 1 | 《爾雅》曰：「稌，稻也。」《郭璞》注曰：「沛國今呼稻為稌。」 The Erya says: "Tu is rice." Guo Pu's commentary says: "In Pei Guo, rice is now called Tu." |
| 2 | 《廣志》云：「有虎掌稻、紫芒稻、赤芒稻、白米稻。南方有蟬鳴稻，七月熟。有盡下白稻，正月種，五月穫；穫訖，其莖根復生，九月熟。青芋稻，六月熟；累子稻，白漢稻，七月熟：此三稻，大而且長，米半寸，出益州。稉有烏稉、黑穬、青函、白夏之名。」 The Guang Zhi states: "There are Hu Zhang Dao (Tiger Paw Rice), Zi Mang Dao (Purple Awned Rice), Chi Mang Dao (Red Awned Rice), and Bai Mi Dao (White Rice)." In the south, there is Chan Ming Dao (Cicada Singing Rice), which ripens in July. There is Jin Xia Bai Dao (Fully Lowered White Rice), sown in January and harvested in May; after harvesting, its stems and roots regrow, maturing again in September. Qingyu Dao (Green Taro Rice) ripens in June; Leizi Dao and Baihan Dao mature in July: these three types of rice are large and long, with grains half an inch in length, produced in Yizhou. Jing rice has the names Wu Jing, Hei Kong, Qing Han, and Bai Xia." |
| 3 | 《說文》曰：「䆏，稻紫莖不黏者。」「稉，稻屬。」 The Shuowen Jie Zi says: "Jian is rice with purple stems that are non-sticky." "Jing, a type of rice." |
| 4 | 《風土記》曰：「稻之紫莖，稴稻之青穗，米皆青白也。」 The Fengtu Ji says: "Rice with purple stems and Jing Dao with green ears both have grains that are bluish-white in color." |
| 5 | 《字林》曰：「秜力脂反，稻今年死，來年自生曰『秜』。」 The Zilin says: "Yi (li zhi fan), rice that dies this year but regrows on its own next year is called 'Yi'." |
| 6 | 按今世有黃瓮稻、黃陸稻、青稗稻、豫章青稻、尾紫稻、青杖稻、飛蜻稻、赤甲稻、烏陵稻、大香稻、小香稻、白地稻；菰灰稻，一年再熟。有秫稻。秫稻米，一名糯奴亂反米，俗云「亂米」，非也。有九䅂秫、雉目秫、大黃秫、棠秫、馬牙秫、長江秫、惠成秫、黃般秫、方滿秫、虎皮秫、薈柰秫，皆米也。〉 According to current records, there are Huangweng Dao (Yellow Jar Rice), Huanglu Dao (Huanglu Rice), Qingbai Dao (Green Bait Rice), Yuzhang Qingdao (Yuzhang Green Rice), Weizi Dao (Tail Purple Rice), Qingzhang Dao (Green Staff Rice), Feiqing Dao (Dragonfly Rice), Chijia Dao (Red Shell Rice), Wuling Dao, Daxiang Dao (Big Fragrant Rice), Xiaoxiang Dao (Small Fragrant Rice), and Baodi Dao (White Field Rice); Guhui Dao (Bamboo Ash Rice) can mature twice in one year. There is Shu Dao (Sorghum Rice). Shu Dao rice, also known as nuo mi (nu luan fan), is commonly called "luanmi" by the people, but this is incorrect. There are Jiuchu Shu, Zhimu Shu, Dahuang Shu, Tang Shu, Maya Shu, Changjiang Shu, Huicheng Shu, Huangban Shu, Fangman Shu, Hupi Shu, and Huinai Shu; all of these are types of rice. " |
| 7 | 稻，無所緣，唯歲易為良。選地欲近上流。地無良薄，水清則稻美也。 Rice requires no special conditions; it is best suited to the changing seasons. Choose land near an upstream location. Whether the soil is fertile or poor, if the water is clear, the rice will be good. |
| 8 | 三月種者為上時，四月上旬為中時，中旬為下時。 Sowing in March is considered the best time; sowing during the first ten days of April is medium, and during the middle ten days is late. |
| 9 | 先放水，十日後，曳陸軸十遍。遍數唯多為良。地既熟，淨淘種子；浮者不去，秋則生稗。漬經三宿，漉出；內草篅市規反中裛之。復經三宿，芽生，長二分。一畝三升擲。三日之中，令人驅鳥。 First release water onto the field, then after ten days, drag a land roller over it ten times. The more passes made, the better it is. Once the land is prepared, thoroughly wash the seeds; if floating seeds are not removed, weeds will grow in autumn. Soak them for three nights, then drain and place them into a grass sieve (shi gui fan) to air-dry. After another three nights, sprouts will emerge, growing about two fen in length. For one mu, scatter three sheng of seeds. Within the first three days, have someone drive away birds. |
| 10 | 稻苗長七八寸，陳草復起，以鎌侵水芟之，草悉膿死。稻苗漸長，復須薅。拔草曰薅。虎高切。薅訖，決去水，曝根令堅。量時水旱而溉之。將熟，又去水。 When rice seedlings grow to seven or eight cun in height, old weeds may regrow; cut them off with a sickle while the field is still flooded, and all weeds will rot and die. As rice seedlings gradually grow taller, they must be weeded again. Pulling weeds is called hao. Hǔ gāo qiē. After weeding, drain the water and expose the roots to sunlight to strengthen them. Water according to the season's dryness or wetness. Before it ripens, drain the water again. |
| 11 | 霜降穫之。早刈米青而不堅，晚刈零落而損收。 Harvest after the Frost Descends (Qiu Feng). Cutting too early results in green, unripe grains; cutting too late causes them to fall and reduces the harvest. |
| 12 | 北土高原，本無陂澤。隨逐隈曲而田者，二月，冰解地乾，燒而耕之，仍卽下水；十日，塊既散液，持木斫平之。納種如前法。既生七八寸，拔而栽之。既非歲易，草、稗俱生，芟亦不死，故須栽而薅之。溉灌，收刈，一如前法。 The northern highlands originally have no dikes or marshes. For those who cultivate land following the winding contours, in February, when ice melts and the ground dries, burn it and plow; ten days later, once the clods have broken up and softened, use wooden tools to level it. Sow seeds as previously described. Once the seedlings grow to about seven or eight cun, pull them up and transplant them. Since this method does not involve annual land rotation, weeds and barnyard grass grow together; even after cutting, they do not die, so it is necessary to transplant the rice seedlings and weed them. Watering, harvesting, and cutting are all done in accordance with the previous method. |
| 13 | 畦㽟大小無定，須量地宜，取水均而已。 The size of plots is not fixed; it must be adjusted according to local conditions, ensuring only that water distribution is even. |
| 14 | 藏稻必須用簞。此既水穀，窖埋得地氣則爛敗也。若欲久居者，亦如「劁麥法」。 To store rice, bamboo baskets (dan) must be used. Since this is a water grain, burying it in pits where it can absorb damp earth energy will cause it to rot and spoil. If one wishes for long-term storage, the method is the same as "Qiao Mai Fa." |
| 15 | 舂稻必須冬時積日燥曝，一夜置霜露中，卽舂。若冬舂不乾，卽米青赤脈起。不經霜，不燥曝，則米碎矣。 To pound rice, it must be dried in the sun for several days during winter; place it overnight in frost and dew, then pound. If pounded in winter without being sufficiently dry, red veins will appear on the rice grains. Without exposure to frost and sun-drying, the rice will become broken. |
| 16 | 秫稻法，一切同。 The method for growing shu rice is entirely the same. |
| 17 | 《雜陰陽書》曰：「稻『生』於柳或楊。八十日秀，秀後七十日成。戊、己、四季日為良。忌寅、卯、辰。惡甲、乙。」 The Miscellaneous Book of Yin and Yang says: "Rice 'grows' under willows or poplars. It flowers after eighty days, and takes another seventy days to mature after flowering. The best days are Wu, Ji, and the four seasons' days. Avoid Yin, Mao, and Chen days. Disfavor Jia and Yi." |
| 18 | 《周官》曰：「稻人，掌稼下地。「以水澤之地種穀也。謂之稼者，有似嫁女相生。」以豬畜水，以防止水，以溝蕩水，以遂均水，以列舍水，以澮寫水，以涉揚其芟，作田。」「鄭司農說『豬』、『防』：以《春秋傳》曰：『町原防，規偃豬』。『以列舍水』：『列者，非一道以去水也。』『以涉揚其芟』：『以其水寫，故得行其田中，舉其芟鉤也。』杜子春讀『蕩』為『和蕩』，謂『以溝行水也。』玄謂偃豬者，畜流水之陂也。防，豬旁隄也。遂，田首受水小溝也。列，田之畦㽟也。澮，田尾去水大溝。作，猶治也。開遂舍水於列中，因涉之，揚去前年所芟之草，而治田種稻。」 「凡稼澤，夏以水殄草而芟夷之。「殄，病也，絶也。鄭司農說『芟夷』：以《春秋傳》曰：『芟夷、薀崇之。今時謂禾下麥為『夷下麥』，言芟刈其禾，於下種麥也。』玄謂將以澤地為稼者，必於夏六月之時，大雨時行，以水病絶草之後生者，至秋水涸，芟之，明年乃稼。」澤草所生，謂之芒種。」「鄭司農云：『澤草之所生，其地可種芒種。』芒種，稻、麥也。」 The Rites of Zhou says: "Dao Ren, in charge of cultivating low-lying land. "Planting grains on marshy and wetland areas. It is called 'jia' because it resembles the mutual generation of a daughter being married off." "Use pigs to manage water, use barriers to prevent flooding, use ditches to drain water, use channels to evenly distribute water, arrange shelters along the water, build sluices to release excess water, and walk through the fields while lifting weeds—this is how one cultivates rice paddies." Zheng Siniang explained "zhu" and "fang": according to the Commentary of Spring and Autumn Annals, it says: "Tingyuan Fang, Guiyan Zhu." "Regarding 'lie she shui': 'Lie means not just one channel to drain the water.'" "Regarding 'yi she yang qi shan': 'Because the water is drained, one can walk through the field and lift the weeding hook.'" Du Zichun read "dang" as "he dang," meaning "to guide water through ditches." Xuan said that Yan Zhu refers to a dike for retaining flowing water. Fang is the embankment alongside the pig-dike (Zhu). Sui refers to a small ditch at the head of the field that receives water. Lie refers to the plots or beds in the field. Dian is a large ditch at the end of the field for draining water. Zuo means to cultivate or manage, similar to zhi. "Dig channels and ditches in the plots, walk through them, lift out weeds from previous years, and cultivate the field to plant rice." "All cultivation on wetlands requires using water in summer to eliminate weeds and clear them away. "Tian" means to weaken or destroy, to eradicate completely. Zheng Siniang explains "shan yi": according to the Commentary of Spring and Autumns Annals, it says: "Shan Yi, Yun Chong zhi." "In modern times, wheat planted under rice stalks is called 'Yi Xia Mai,' meaning to cut the rice and plant wheat beneath it." Xuan says that those who intend to cultivate wetlands must, in the sixth month of summer during heavy rains, use water to weaken and eradicate newly sprouted weeds. By autumn when the water dries up, cut them down; only then can cultivation begin the following year." The growth of marsh grass is called Mang Zhong." "Zheng Siniang said: 'Where marsh grass grows, the land can be used to plant Mangzhong.'" Mang Zhong refers to rice and wheat." |
| 19 | 《禮記·月令》云：「季夏……大雨時行，乃燒、薙、行水，利以殺草，如以熱湯。鄭玄注曰：「薙，謂迫地殺草。此謂欲稼萊地，先薙其草，草乾，燒之，至此月，大雨流潦，畜於其中，則草不復生，地美可稼也。『薙氏，掌殺草：春始生而萌之，夏日至而夷之，秋繩而芟之，冬日至而耜之。若欲其化也，則以水火變之。』」可以糞田疇，可以美土彊。」注曰：「土潤，溽暑，膏澤易行也。糞、美，互文。土強，彊㯺之地。」 The Book of Rites · Monthly Ordinances says: "In the last month of summer... when heavy rains fall, set fire to and clear the land, channel water, and use it to kill weeds as if with hot soup. Zheng Xuan's commentary says: "Ting means to closely cut the grass near the ground. This means that if one wishes to cultivate fallow land, they should first cut the weeds. Once the grass is dry, burn it; by this month, when heavy rain and runoff occur, retain the water in the field—this prevents the regrowth of weeds, making the soil fertile for cultivation. "The Ting Shi, in charge of killing weeds: In spring, when they first sprout, suppress them; on the summer solstice, level them out; in autumn, bind and cut them; on the winter solstice, till the soil with a plow. "If one wishes to transform the land, use water and fire to change it." "It can fertilize fields and improve soil fertility." The commentary says: "When the soil is moist, during humid summer heat, moisture and nourishment spread easily. Fen and Mei are used in mutual textual reference. Tǔ qiáng refers to strong, fertile land." |
| 20 | 《孝經·援神契》曰：「汙、泉宜稻。」 The Classic of Filial Piety · Yuan Shen Qi says: "Wu and quan are suitable for rice cultivation." |
| 21 | 《淮南子》曰：「蘺，先稻熟，而農夫薅之者，不以小利害大穫。」高誘曰：「蘺，水稗。」 The Huainanzi says: "Bian, which ripens before rice, is weeded by farmers; they do not let small gains harm the greater harvest." Gao You said: "Bian refers to water barnyard grass." |
| 22 | 《氾勝之書》曰：「種稻，春凍解，耕反其土。種稻，區不欲大，大則水深淺不適。冬至後一百一十日可種稻。稻地美，用種畝四升。始種稻欲溫，溫者缺其堘，令水道相直；夏至後大熱，令水道錯。」 The Book of Fan Shengzhi says: "To plant rice, when the spring frost thaws, plow and turn over the soil. When planting rice, plots should not be too large; if they are, the water depth will be uneven. One hundred and ten days after the winter solstice is suitable for planting rice. For fertile rice fields, use four sheng of seed per mu. At the beginning of rice planting, warmth is desired; to achieve this, remove some embankments so that water channels are aligned straight. After the summer solstice when it becomes very hot, arrange the water channels in a staggered pattern." |
| 23 | 《崔寔》曰：「三月，可種稉稻。稻，美田欲稀，薄田欲稠。五月，可別稻及藍，盡夏至後二十日止。」 Cui Shi said: "In March, it is possible to plant jing rice. For fertile fields, rice should be planted sparsely; for poor soil, densely. In May, it is possible to transplant rice and indigo plants, continuing until twenty days after the summer solstice." |
《旱稻第十二 Dry Rice, Chapter Twelve》 | |
| 1 | 旱稻用下田，白土勝黑土。非言下田勝高原，但夏停水者，不得禾、豆、麥，稻田種，雖澇亦收，所謂彼此俱穫，不失地利故也。下田種者，用功多；高原種者，與禾同等也。凡下田停水處，燥則堅垎，濕則汙泥，難治而易荒，墝埆而殺種——其春耕者，殺種尤甚——故宜五六月暵之，以擬穬麥。麥時水澇，不得納種者，九月中復一轉，至春種稻，萬不失一。春耕者十不收五，蓋誤人耳。 For dry rice cultivation, use low-lying fields; white soil is better than black soil. This does not mean that low-lying fields are better than highlands, but rather in summer when water stagnates, grains such as millet, beans, and wheat cannot be grown; however, rice can still be planted, even if there is flooding, it will yield a harvest. This is what is meant by mutual benefit—neither land nor opportunity is wasted. Cultivating in low-lying fields requires more labor; cultivating on highlands is comparable to growing millet. In general, low-lying fields where water stagnates become hard and cracked when dry, and muddy when wet; they are difficult to cultivate and easily fall into disuse. The soil is poor and harmful to seeds—especially in spring plowing, which causes even greater seed damage—thus it is suitable to sun-dry the land in May or June, similar to preparing for millet or wheat planting. If winter flooding prevents sowing in the wheat season, plow again in mid-September and plant rice in spring; this method ensures a harvest without fail. Spring plowing results in only half of ten crops being harvested, which is misleading for farmers. |
| 2 | 凡種下田，不問秋夏，候水盡，地白背時，速耕，杷、勞頻煩令熟。過燥則堅，過雨則泥，所以宜速耕也。 When planting in low-lying fields, regardless of whether it is autumn or summer, wait until the water has drained and the soil appears white and dry; then plow quickly, frequently use hoes and rakes to till the land thoroughly. If it is too dry, the soil becomes hard; if there's excessive rain, it turns into mud—this is why timely plowing is essential. |
| 3 | 二月半種稻為上時，三月為中時，四月初及半為下時。 Sowing rice in mid-February is the best time, March is moderate, and early to mid-April is late. |
| 4 | 漬種如法，裛令開口。耬耩䅖種之，䅖種者省種而生科，又勝擲者。卽再遍勞。若歲寒，早種慮時晚，卽不漬種，恐芽焦也。其土黑堅强之地，種未生前遇旱者，欲得令牛羊及人履踐之；濕則不用一迹入地。稻既生，猶欲令人踐壠背。踐者茂而多實也。 Soak the seeds as prescribed, and air-dry them until they crack open slightly. Sow using a seed drill (lou jiang); this method of drilling seeds saves seed and promotes better plant growth, surpassing the broadcasting method. Then till it again thoroughly. If the year is cold, planting too early may still be considered late; in such cases, do not soak the seeds, as this might cause the sprouts to dry up. For dark, hard, and fertile soil, if drought occurs before the seeds sprout, it is desirable to have cattle, sheep, or people trample the field; when the soil is wet, not even a single footprint should be left. Even after rice has sprouted, it still requires people to walk along the ridges and furrows. Trampling promotes lush growth and abundant grain production. |
| 5 | 苗長三寸，杷、勞而鋤之。鋤唯欲速。稻苗性弱，不能扇草，故宜數鋤之。每經一雨，輒欲杷勞。苗高尺許則鋒。天雨無所作，宜冒雨薅之。科大，如穊者，五六月中霖雨時，拔而栽之。栽法欲淺，令其根須四散，則滋茂；深而直下者，聚而不科。其苗長者，亦可捩去葉端數寸，勿傷其心也。入七月，不復任栽。七月百草成，時晚故也。 When the seedlings grow to three cun in height, use a rake or hoe to weed them. Weeding should be done quickly. Rice seedlings are weak and cannot compete with weeds, so frequent weeding is necessary. After each rainfall, it is advisable to rake or till the soil again. When the rice seedlings reach about one chi in height, they begin to tiller. If it rains and there is no other work to do, weeding should be done even in the rain. For densely clustered plants that are too thick, during the period of heavy rains in May or June, they should be pulled up and replanted. The method of planting should be shallow, allowing the roots to spread out in all directions, which promotes lush growth; if planted too deep and straight down, the roots will cluster together without spreading. For taller seedlings, it is also possible to twist off several cun from the tip of the leaves, but one must not damage their central growing point. By July, replanting is no longer advisable. In July, all weeds have grown fully; this is too late for replanting. |
| 6 | 其高田種者，不求極良，唯須廢地。過良則苗折，廢地則無草。亦秋耕、杷、勞令熟，至春，黃塲納種。不宜濕下。餘法悉與下田同。 For highland planting, one does not need to seek the very best land; it only requires previously fallow or unused land. If the soil is too fertile, the seedlings may break easily; if the land has been left fallow, there will be fewer weeds. It should also be plowed in autumn and tilled with a rake or labor to make the soil loose; by spring, sow the seeds into the yellow field. Sowing should not be done on wet ground. All other methods are the same as those for lowland fields. |
《胡麻第十三 Huma Shisan》 | |
| 1 | 《漢書》，張騫外國得胡麻。今俗人呼為「烏麻」者，非也。 The Book of Han records that Zhang Qian obtained hu ma (Sesamum indicum) from foreign lands beyond the frontier. It is incorrect for common people today to call it "Wuma." |
| 2 | 《廣雅》曰：「狗虱、勝茄，胡麻也。」 The Guangya says: "Goushi, Shengqie—these are hu ma (Sesamum)." |
| 3 | 《本草經》曰：「胡麻，一名巨勝，一名鴻藏。」 The Shennong Bencao Jing says: "Hu ma, also known as Jusheng and Hongcang." |
| 4 | 按今世有白胡麻、八稜胡麻。白者油多，人可以為飯，惟治脫之煩也。〉 According to current usage, there are white hu ma and eight-angled hu ma. The white variety contains more oil; people can use it for making food, although the process of removing the hulls is troublesome. 〉 |
| 5 | 胡麻宜白地種。二、三月為上時，四月上旬為中時，五月上旬為下時。月半前種者，實多而成；月半後種者，少子而多秕也。 Hu ma should be planted on white (light-colored or previously fallow) land. February and March are the best times for planting; early April is a medium time, and early May is the least favorable. Seeds planted before the fifteenth day of the month produce more full grains; those planted after the fifteenth yield fewer seeds and many empty or shriveled ones. |
| 6 | 種欲截雨腳。若不緣濕，融而不生。一畝用子二升。漫種者，先以耬耩，然後散子，空曳勞。勞上加人，則土厚不生。耬耩者，炒沙令燥，中半和之。不和沙，下不均。壠種若荒，得用鋒、耩。 Planting should be done just as the rain is ending. If not planted in moist soil, the seeds will rot without germinating. Two sheng of seed are used per mu of land. For broadcasting, first use a harrow to prepare the soil, then scatter the seeds and drag lightly with a labor tool. If people walk on the labor tool while using it, the soil will become too thick and hinder germination. For sowing with a seed drill, first roast sand until dry, then mix half of it with the seeds. If sand is not mixed in, the seeding will be uneven. For row planting on ridges or in fallow fields, a seed drill and furrow opener can be used. |
| 7 | 鋤不過三遍。 Weeding should not exceed three times. |
| 8 | 刈束欲小。束大則難燥；打，手復不勝。以五六束為一叢，斜倚之。不爾，則風吹倒，損收也。候口開，乘車詣田斗藪；倒豎，以小杖微打之。還叢之。三日一打。四五遍乃盡耳。若乘濕橫積，蒸熱速乾，雖曰鬱裛，無風吹虧損之慮。裛者，不中為種子，然於油無損也。 When cutting and bundling, the bundles should be small. Large bundles are difficult to dry; when threshing, they become too heavy for hands to handle. Bundle five or six small bundles together and lean them at an angle. Otherwise, the wind may blow them over, causing damage to the harvest. When the pods open, ride a cart to the field and gather them; stand them upright upside down and lightly beat them with a small stick. Then return the stalks to their bundles. Thresh once every three days. After four or five rounds, the threshing will be complete. If harvested when still damp and stacked horizontally to dry quickly in a warm environment, although it may become slightly moldy or humid (yu yi), there is no concern about wind damage. If the seeds are slightly damp and not suitable for planting, they can still be used to extract oil without any loss in quality. |
| 9 | 崔寔曰：「二月、三月、四月、五月，時雨降，可種之。」 Cui Shi said: "In February, March, April, and May, when timely rains fall, it is suitable for planting." |
《種瓜第十四。茄子附 Planting Melons, Fourteenth Chapter. 》 | |
| 1 | 《廣雅》曰：「土芝，瓜也；其子謂之𤬓力點反。瓜有龍肝、虎掌、羊骹、兔頭、㼔音溫㼊大真反、狸頭、白㼐、秋無餘、縑瓜，瓜屬也。」 The Guangya says: "Tuzhi is a melon; its seeds are called 'Dian' (pinyin: Dian)." There are Longgan, Huzhang, Yangxiao, Toutu, Wen (pinyin: Wenshi Dazhen), Litu, Baixie, Qiuyu, and Jian gua—these all belong to the melon family." |
| 2 | 張孟陽《瓜賦》曰：「羊骹、累錯，㼐子、廬江。」 Zhang Mengyang's Gu Fu says: "Yangxiao, Leicuo, Xiezǐ, Lujiang." |
| 3 | 《廣志》曰：「瓜之所出，以遼東、廬江、燉煌之種為美。有烏瓜、縑瓜、狸頭瓜、蜜筩瓜、女臂瓜、羊髓瓜。瓜州大瓜，大如斛，出涼州。猒須、舊陽城御瓜。有青登瓜，大如三升魁。有桂枝瓜，長二尺餘。蜀地溫良，瓜至冬熟。有春白瓜，細小小瓣，宜藏，正月種，三月成；有秋泉瓜，秋種，十月熟，形如羊角，色黃黑。」 The Guangzhi says: "As for the origin of melons, those from Liaodong, Lujiang, and Dunhuang are considered the finest. There are Hei gua (black melon), Jian gua, Litu gua, Mitong gua, Nubi gua, and Yangsui gua. The large gourd-like melons of Guazhou are as big as a hu (an ancient measure), produced in Liangzhou. Yaxu and the imperial melons from Jiuyang Cheng. There is also Qingdeng gua, as large as a three-sheng kui (an ancient vessel). There is Guizhi gua, which can grow over two chi in length. The land of Shu is warm and fertile; melons there ripen even by winter. There is the Chunbaigua, which has small and fine slices; it is suitable for storage. It is planted in January and matures by March. There is also Qiuchuangua, sown in autumn, ripening in October. Its shape resembles a sheep's horn, with yellow-black coloration." |
| 4 | 《史記》曰：「召平者，故秦東陵侯。秦破，為布衣，家貧，種瓜於長安城東。瓜美，故世謂之『東陵瓜』，從召平始。」 The Records of the Grand Historian says: "Zhao Ping was formerly the Dongling Hou (Marquis) of the Qin dynasty. After the fall of the Qin, he became a commoner and fell into poverty, planting melons east of Chang'an city. His melons were so delicious that the world came to call them "Dongling gua," a name originating from Zhao Ping." |
| 5 | 《漢書·地理志》曰：「燉煌，古瓜州，地有美瓜。」 The Book of Han: Geography Chapter says: "Dunhuang, an ancient Guazhou, has fertile land and produces fine melons." |
| 6 | 王逸《瓜賦》曰：「落疏之文。」 Wang Yi's Gu Fu says: "The pattern of sparse leaves falling." |
| 7 | 《永嘉記》曰：「永嘉美瓜，八月熟。至十一月，肉青瓤赤，香甜清快，衆瓜之勝。」 The Yongjia Ji says: "The fine melons of Yongjia ripen in August. By the eleventh month, their flesh is green and the pulp red; they are fragrant, sweet, and refreshing—superior to all other melons." |
| 8 | 《廣州記》曰：「瓜，冬熟，號為『金釵瓜』。」 The Guangzhou Ji says: "Melons mature in winter and are known as 'Jincha gua.'" |
| 9 | 《說文》曰：「𤬐，小瓜，瓞也。」 The Shuowen Jiezi says: "Dian is a small melon, also called Die." |
| 10 | 陸機《瓜賦》曰：「栝樓、定桃，黃㼐、白摶，金釵、蜜筩，小青、大斑，玄骭、素腕，狸首、虎蹯。東陵出於秦谷，桂髓起於巫山」也。〉 Lu Ji's Gu Fu says: "Gualou, Dingtao, Huangdie, Baijuan, Jincha, Mitong, Xiaoqing, Daban, Xuanhan, Suwan, Lishou, Hufan. "The Dongling melon originates from Qin Gu, and the Gui sui variety arises from Wushan." 〉 |
| 11 | 收瓜子法：常歲歲先取「本母子」瓜，截去兩頭，止取中央子。「本母子」者，瓜生數葉，便結子；子復早熟。用中輩瓜子者，蔓長二三尺，然後結子。用後輩子者，蔓長足，然後結子；子亦晚熟。種早子，熟速而瓜小；種晚子，熟遲而瓜大。去兩頭者：近蔕子，瓜曲而細；近頭子，瓜短而喎。凡瓜，落疏、青黑者為美；黃、白及斑，雖大而惡。若種苦瓜子，雖爛熟氣香，其味猶苦也。 The method for collecting melon seeds: every year, one should first select the "benmuzi" (parent stock) melons, cut off both ends, and only take the central seeds. The "benmuzi" refers to those melons that produce fruit after growing just a few leaves, and their seeds mature early. Using the middle-grade melon seeds results in vines that grow two or three chi long before producing fruit. Using the lower-grade seeds produces vines of full length before setting fruit, and their fruits also mature late. Planting early-maturing seeds results in quick ripening but smaller melons; planting late-maturing seeds leads to slower maturation but larger fruits. The reason for removing the two ends is as follows: seeds near the stem end produce curved and slender melons, while those near the blossom end yield short and crooked fruits. Generally, melons with sparse leaves and dark green rinds are considered superior; those that are yellow, white, or spotted, although large, are of poor quality. If one plants bitter melon seeds, even when the fruit is fully ripe and fragrant, its taste remains bitter. |
| 12 | 又收瓜子法：食瓜時，美者收取，卽以細糠拌之，日曝向燥，挼而簸之，淨而且速也。 Another method for collecting melon seeds: when eating melons, collect the best ones. Immediately mix them with fine bran, dry them in the sun until thoroughly dried, rub and winnow them; this results in clean and quick seed preparation. |
| 13 | 良田，小豆底佳；黍底次之。刈訖卽耕。頻煩轉之。 Fertile land is best suited for planting small beans as a base crop; broomcorn millet is the next best option. Plow immediately after harvesting. Turn it over frequently. |
| 14 | 二月上旬種者為上時，三月上旬為中時，四月上旬為下時。五月、六月上旬，可種藏瓜。 Planting in the first half of February is the best time; planting in the first half of March is a medium time; and planting in the first half of April is the least favorable. In early May or early June, it is suitable to plant melons for storage. |
| 15 | 凡種法：先以水淨淘瓜子，以鹽和之。鹽和則不籠死。先臥鋤耬卻燥土，不耬者，坑雖深大，常雜燥土，故瓜不生。然後掊坑，大如斗口。納瓜子四枚、大豆三箇於堆旁向陽中。諺曰：「種瓜黃臺頭。」瓜生數葉，掐去豆。瓜性弱，苗不獨生，故須大豆為之起土。瓜生不去豆，則豆反扇瓜，不得滋茂。但豆斷汁出，更成良潤；勿拔之，拔之則土虛燥也。多鋤則饒子，不鋤則無實。五穀、蔬菜、果蓏之屬，皆如此也。 The general method of planting: first rinse the melon seeds thoroughly with water and mix them with salt. Mixing with salt prevents the seeds from rotting. First, use a hoe to loosen and remove the dry soil; if this is not done, even though the planting holes are deep and large, they will often contain dry soil, so the melons will not grow. Then dig pits as wide as the mouth of a dou (an ancient measuring vessel). Place four melon seeds and three soybeans in a small pile on the sunny side. A proverb says: "Plant melons at Huangtaitou." When the melon seedlings have grown several leaves, pinch out the soybean plants. Melons are weak in nature and their seedlings do not grow well alone; therefore, they require soybeans to help loosen the soil for them. If the soybean plants are not removed after the melons sprout, the beans will outcompete the melons and hinder their growth. However, when the soybean stalks are cut, they release juice that becomes a good source of moisture; do not pull them out, as doing so would make the soil loose and dry. Frequent weeding results in abundant fruiting, while neglecting to weed leads to no harvest. Grains, vegetables, and fruits all follow this principle. |
| 16 | 五六月種晚瓜。 Plant late-season melons in May or June. |
| 17 | 治瓜籠法：旦起，露未解，以杖舉瓜蔓，散灰於根下。後一兩日，復以土培其根，則迥無蟲矣。 The method for preventing rot on melons: early in the morning, before the dew has evaporated, use a stick to lift up the melon vines and sprinkle ash beneath their roots. After one or two days, cover the roots with soil again; this will completely prevent pests. |
| 18 | 又種瓜法：依法種之，十畝勝一頃。於良美地中，先種晚禾。晚禾令地膩。熟，劁刈取穗，欲令茇方末反長。秋耕之。耕法：弭縛犂耳，起規逆耕。耳弭則禾茇頭出而不沒矣。至春，起復順耕，亦弭縛犂耳翻之，還令草頭出。耕訖，勞之，令甚平。 Another method for planting melons: if planted according to these methods, ten mu of land can yield as much as one qing (100 mu). In fertile and high-quality soil, first plant late-season millet. Late-season millet makes the soil rich and soft. After it matures, cut off the ears of grain; this encourages the growth of new shoots (bā). Till the land in autumn. The tilling method: fasten the plow's ears, and till backward along a straight line. When the plow's ears are properly adjusted, the new shoots will emerge without being buried. By spring, turn the plowing direction and till forward again; also fasten the plow's ears properly to ensure that the grass shoots emerge. After tilling, level the soil thoroughly so it is very even. |
| 19 | 種稙穀時種之。種法：使行陣整直，兩行微相近，兩行外相遠，中間通步道，道外還兩行相近。如是作次第，經四小道，通一車道。凡一頃地中，須開十字大巷，通兩乘車，來去運輦。其瓜，都聚在十字巷中。 Plant early-season millet at that time. The planting method: arrange the rows neatly and straight, with two rows slightly close together, then leave a wider space between these pairs of rows to form footpaths. Outside the paths, return to having two rows close together again. Arranged in this manner, four narrow footpaths will lead to one wide cart path. In every qing of land, a large cross-shaped alley must be opened so that two carts can pass through for transportation back and forth. The melons are all gathered in the center of the cross-shaped alley. |
| 20 | 瓜生，比至初花，必須三四遍熟鋤，勿令有草生。草生，脅瓜無子。鋤法：皆起禾茇，令直豎。其瓜蔓本底，皆令土下四廂高，微雨時，得停水。瓜引蔓，皆沿茇上。茇多則瓜多，茇少則瓜少。茇多則蔓廣，蔓廣則歧多，歧多則饒子。其瓜會是歧頭而生；無歧而花者，皆是浪花，終無瓜矣。故令蔓生在茇上，瓜懸在下。 Once the melon seedlings sprout, before they begin to flower, it is essential to weed them three or four times thoroughly; do not allow any weeds to grow. If weeds are allowed to grow, they will suppress the melons and prevent fruiting. The weeding method: lift up all the grass shoots and make them stand upright. Underneath the base of each melon vine, raise the soil on all four sides slightly; during light rain, this allows water to collect. The melon vines will extend along the grass shoots upward. More grass shoots mean more melons; fewer grass shoots result in fewer melons. More grass shoots lead to broader vines, and broader vines produce more branches, which in turn yield abundant fruit. Melons grow from the tips of the side branches; any flowers that appear on non-branching parts are useless and will not produce melons. Therefore, allow the vines to grow upward along the grass shoots so that the melons hang downward. |
| 21 | 摘瓜法：在步道上引手而取，勿聽浪人踏瓜蔓，及翻覆之。踏則莖破，翻則成細，皆令瓜不茂而蔓早死。若無茇而種瓜者，地雖美好，正得長苗直引，無多槃歧，故瓜少子。若無茇處，豎乾柴亦得。凡乾柴草，不妨滋茂。凡瓜所以早爛者，皆由腳躡及摘時不慎，翻動其蔓故也。若以理慎護，及至霜下葉乾，子乃盡矣。但依此法，則不必別種早、晚及中三輩之瓜。 The method of picking melons: reach down from the footpath to pick them; do not allow careless people to step on the vines or turn them over. Stepping on the vines breaks their stems, and turning them over makes them thin; both actions cause the melons to grow poorly and the vines to die early. If melons are planted without grass shoots, even on good soil, the vines will grow straight and upright with few branches, resulting in fewer fruits. In places where there are no grass shoots, dry firewood can also be used as a support. Any kind of dry firewood or straw is acceptable and will not hinder growth. The reason melons rot early is usually due to stepping on them or being careless when picking, which causes the vines to be disturbed. If handled carefully and properly protected, by the time frost falls and the leaves dry up, all the melons will have matured completely. As long as this method is followed, there is no need to separately plant early-season, late-season, and mid-season melons. |
| 22 | 區種瓜法：六月雨後種菉豆，八月中犂䅖殺之；十月又一轉，卽十月中種瓜。率兩步為一區，坑大如盆口，深五寸。以土壅其畔，如菜畦形。坑底必令平正，以足踏之，令其保澤。以瓜子、大豆各十枚，遍布坑中。瓜子、大豆，兩物為雙，藉其起土故也。以糞五升覆之。亦令均平。又以土一斗，薄散糞上，復以足微躡之。冬月大雪時，速併力推雪於坑上為大堆。至春草生，瓜亦生，莖葉肥茂，異於常者。且常有潤澤，旱亦無害。五月瓜便熟。其掐豆、鋤瓜之法與常同。若瓜子盡生則太穊，宜掐去之，一區四根卽足矣。 The method of growing melons in plots: plant mung beans after the June rains, and in mid-August plow them under to kill them; turn over the soil again in October, at which time melon seeds can be sown. Generally, make one plot every two bu (approximately 1.2 meters), with pits as wide as a basin's mouth and five cun deep. Heap up the soil along the edges to form ridges, like those in a vegetable bed. The bottom of each pit must be level and firm; step on it with your foot to ensure the soil retains moisture. Scatter ten melon seeds and ten soybean seeds evenly in each pit. Melon seeds and soybean seeds are planted together as a pair, because they help loosen the soil. Cover them with five sheng of manure. Also ensure it is spread evenly and level. Then sprinkle one dou of soil thinly over the manure, and lightly step on it to press everything down. During heavy snowfall in winter, quickly gather all available help to pile snow onto the pits in large heaps. By spring when grass begins to grow, the melons will also sprout; their stems and leaves will be thick and lush, different from ordinary ones. Moreover, they remain moist and healthy even during droughts. The melons will ripen in May. The method of removing soybean plants and weeding the melons is the same as usual. If all the melon seeds sprout, they will be too dense; it is advisable to thin them out. Four vines per plot are sufficient. |
| 23 | 又法：冬天以瓜子數枚，內熱牛糞中，凍卽拾聚，置之陰地。量地多少，以足為限。正月地釋卽耕，逐𤳈布之。率方一步，下一斗糞，耕土覆之。肥茂早熟，雖不及區種，亦勝凡瓜遠矣。凡生糞糞地無勢；多於熟糞，令地小荒矣。 Another method: in winter, place several melon seeds into hot cow manure; when they freeze, collect them and store them in a shady place. The amount used should be adjusted according to the size of the land, with enough to cover it as the limit. In January, when the ground thaws, plow immediately and scatter them evenly in rows. Generally, for every square bu (approximately 0.36 square meters), apply one dou of manure and cover it with soil by tilling. The melons grow lush, fertile, and ripen early; although not as good as those grown in plots, they are still far superior to ordinary melons. Fresh manure applied directly to the soil is ineffective; using too much of it will make the land slightly barren. |
| 24 | 有蟻者，以牛羊骨帶髓者，置瓜科左右，待蟻附，將棄之。棄二三，則無蟻矣。 If there are ants, place cow or sheep bones with marrow near the melon plants; wait for the ants to gather on them and then discard the bones. After discarding two or three such sets of bones, there will be no more ants. |
| 25 | 氾勝之區種瓜：「一畝為二十四科。區方圓三尺，深五寸。一科用一石糞。糞與土合和，令相半。以三斗瓦甕埋著科中央，令甕口上與地平。盛水甕中，令滿。種瓜，甕四面各一子。以瓦蓋甕口。水或減，輒增，常令水滿。種常以冬至後九十日、百日，得戊辰日種之。又種薤十根，令周廻甕，居瓜子外。至五月瓜熟，薤可拔賣之，與瓜相避。又可種小豆於瓜中，畝四五升，其藿可賣。此法宜平地。瓜收畝萬錢。」 Fan Shengzhi's method for growing melons in plots: "One mu is divided into twenty-four beds." Each bed should be three chi square or round, and five cun deep. One dou of manure is used per bed. Mix the manure with soil so that they are in equal proportions. Bury a three-dou clay jar in the center of each bed, with its mouth level with the ground surface. Fill the jar completely with water. Plant melon seeds, one on each of the four sides around the jar. Cover the mouth of the jar with a tile. If the water level decreases, add more; always keep it full. The planting should be done 90 or 100 days after the winter solstice, on a Wuchen day. Also plant ten scallion roots around the jar in a circle, placing them outside the melon seeds. By May when the melons ripen, the scallions can be pulled up and sold, avoiding interference with the harvest of the melons. Alternatively, small beans can also be planted among the melons at a rate of four to five sheng per mu; their leaves (huo) can be harvested and sold. This method is suitable for flat land. "The yield from melons can bring in ten thousand qian per mu." |
| 26 | 崔寔曰：「種瓜宜用戊辰日。三月三日可種瓜。十二月臘時祀炙萐，樹瓜田四角，去䗣。」「胡濫反。瓜蟲謂之䗣。」 Cui Shi said: "Melons should be planted on a Wuchen day." On the third day of the third month, melons can be planted. "In December during the winter solstice sacrifice, burn Shijia and place them at the four corners of the melon field to drive away pests." "Hulianfan." "The insect that harms melons is called Bi." |
| 27 | 《龍魚河圖》曰：「瓜有兩鼻者殺人。」 The Longyu Hetu says: "Melons with two nostrils can kill people." |
| 28 | 種越瓜、胡瓜法：四月中種之。胡瓜宜豎柴木，令引蔓緣之。收越瓜，欲飽霜。霜不飽則爛。收胡瓜，候色黃則摘。若待色赤，則皮存而肉消也。並如凡瓜，於香醬中藏之亦佳。 The method for planting Yue gua and Hu gua: plant them in mid-April. Hu gua should be supported with wooden stakes, allowing the vines to climb upward. To harvest Yue gua, it is best after a full frost. If the frost is not sufficient, the melons will rot. To harvest Hu gua, wait until their color turns yellow before picking them. If left to turn red, the rind will remain but the flesh will have dried up. Like ordinary melons, they can also be stored in fragrant soy sauce for good preservation. |
| 29 | 種冬瓜法：《廣志》曰：「冬瓜，蔬𥩰。」《神仙本草》謂之「地芝」也。傍牆陰地作區，圓二尺，深五寸。以熟糞及土相和。正月晦日種。二月、三月亦得。既生，以柴木倚牆，令其緣上。旱則澆之。八月，斷其梢，減其實，一本但留五六枚。多留則不成也。十月，霜足收之。早收則爛。削去皮子，於芥子醬中，或美豆醬中藏之，佳。 The method of planting donggua: The Guangzhi says, "Donggua is a vegetable." The Shenxian Bencao refers to it as "Dizhi" (earth ginseng). Create a plot along the wall in a shady area, round with a diameter of two chi and depth of five cun. Mix well-rotted manure with soil. Plant on the last day of the first lunar month. It is also possible to plant in February or March. Once the plants sprout, place wooden stakes against the wall so that they can climb upward. Water them if there is a drought. In August, cut off the tips of the vines and reduce the number of fruits; leave only five or six melons per plant. If too many are left, they will not mature properly. In October, harvest them after sufficient frost has fallen. Harvesting too early will cause them to rot. Peel off the rind and seeds, then store them in mustard seed sauce or high-quality broad bean sauce; this is excellent. |
| 30 | 冬瓜、越瓜、瓠子，十月區種，如區種瓜法。冬則推雪著區上為堆。潤澤肥好，乃勝春種。 Donggua, Yuegua, and hu zi should be planted in plots in October, following the same method used for planting melons. In winter, pile snow onto the plot to form a mound. This method provides moisture and nourishment, making it better than planting in spring. |
| 31 | 種茄子法：茄子，九月熟時摘取，擘破，水淘子，取沈者，速曝乾裹置。至二月畦種。治畦下水，一如葵法。性宜水，常須潤澤。著四五葉，雨時，合泥移栽之。若旱無雨，澆水令徹澤，夜栽之。白日以席蓋，勿令見日。 The method of planting eggplants: When eggplants ripen in September, pick them, split them open, wash the seeds with water, take those that sink to the bottom, dry them quickly, and store them properly. Plant them in beds in February. Prepare the beds and water them, following exactly the same method as for growing kui (chives). Eggplants thrive in moisture and require constant dampness. When the plants have four or five leaves, transplant them during rainy weather with soil attached to their roots. If it is dry and there is no rain, water thoroughly until the soil is saturated, then transplant them at night. Cover them with a mat during the day to prevent exposure to sunlight. |
| 32 | 十月種者，如區種瓜法，推雪著區中，則不須栽。 Those planted in October should be treated like melons sown in plots; pile snow onto the plot, and there will be no need for transplanting. |
| 33 | 其春種，不作畦，直如種凡瓜法者，亦得，唯須曉夜數澆耳。 大小如彈丸，中生食，味如小豆角。 For spring planting, it is also acceptable not to make beds and instead plant directly as with ordinary melons; however, frequent watering both day and night will be necessary. They are about the size of a ball bearing, can be eaten when young, and have a flavor similar to small green beans. |
《種瓠第十五 Planting Hu: Chapter Fifteenth》 | |
| 1 | 《衞詩》曰：「匏有苦葉。」毛云：「匏，謂之瓠。」《詩義疏》云：「匏葉，少時可以為羹，又可淹煮，極美，故云：『瓠葉幡幡，採之亨之。』河東及揚州常食之。八月中，堅強不可食，故云：『苦葉』。」 The Wei Shi says: "Pao has bitter leaves." Mao Yun said: "Pao is called Hu." The Shiyi Shu says: "Pao leaves, when young, can be used for making soup or pickled and boiled; they are very delicious. Hence it is said: 'Hu ye fanyan, cai zhi heng zhi.'" They are commonly eaten in Hedong and Yangzhou. In mid-August, they become tough and inedible, hence the term "bitter leaves." |
| 2 | 《廣志》曰：「有都瓠子，如牛角，長四尺。有約腹瓠，其大數斗，其腹窈挈，緣帶為口，出雍縣；移種于他則否。朱崖有苦葉瓠，其大者受斛餘。」 The Guangzhi says: "There is a type called Duhu zi, shaped like a cow's horn and four chi long. There is also the Yuefu hu, which can hold several dou in volume. Its belly is narrow and constricted, with a girdle-like band forming its opening; it grows in Yong Xian but will not grow well if transplanted elsewhere." In Zhuya there is a bitter-leafed hu, the large ones of which can hold more than one hu." |
| 3 | 《郭子》曰：「東吳有長柄壺樓。」 The Guozi says: "In Dongwu there is a long-stemmed hulou." |
| 4 | 《釋名》曰：「瓠畜，皮瓠以為脯，蓄積以待冬月用也。」 The Shiming says: "Hu chu refers to preserving the rind of hu as dried meat, storing it for use in winter months." |
| 5 | 《淮南萬畢術》曰：「燒穰殺瓠，物自然也。」〉 The Huainan Wanbi Shu says: "Burning straw to kill hu is a natural occurrence of things." " |
| 6 | 《氾勝之書》種瓠法：「以三月耕良田十畝。作區，方深一尺。以杵築之，令可居澤。相去一步。區種四實。蠶矢一斗，與土糞合。澆之，水二升；所乾處，復澆之。 The Fan Shengzhi Shu method for planting hu: "In March, plow ten mu of good land. Make plots one chi square and deep." Compact the soil with a pestle so that it can retain moisture. Leave one bu of space between plots." Plant four seeds per plot." Mix one dou of silkworm droppings with manure and soil. Water it with two sheng of water; if any part dries out, water it again." |
| 7 | 「著三實，以馬菙㱿其心，勿令蔓延；多實，實細。以藳卧薦其下，無令親土多瘡瘢。度可作瓢，以手摩其實，從蔕至底，去其毛；不復長，且厚。八月微霜下，收取。 "When three fruits have formed, pinch off the growing tip with a horsehair brush to prevent the vines from spreading; if too many fruits are left, each will be small." Place straw beneath them as padding so that they do not touch the soil and develop blemishes. When the fruit is about to be used as a gourd, rub its surface with your hands from the stem to the base to remove the hairs; this will prevent further growth and make it thick. Harvest them in August when light frost begins to fall." |
| 8 | 「掘地深一丈，薦以藳，四邊各厚一尺。以實置孔中，令底下向。瓠一行，覆上土，厚三尺。二十日出，黃色好，破以為瓢。其中白膚，以養豬致肥；其瓣，以作燭致明。 "Dig a hole one zhang deep, line it with straw, and ensure the straw is thick by one chi on all four sides. Place the fruits in the hole with their bases facing downward." Cover one row of hu with soil, making it three chi thick. After twenty days, take them out; they will be yellow and in good condition, then break them open to make gourds." The white flesh inside can be used to fatten pigs; the shells can be made into candles that burn brightly. |
| 9 | 「一本三實，一區十二實，一畝得二千八百八十實。十畝凡得五萬七千六百瓢。瓢直十錢，并直五十七萬六千文。用蠶矢二百石，牛耕、功力，直二萬六千文。餘有五十五萬。肥豬、明燭，利在其外。」 "One plant produces three fruits, one plot yields twelve fruits, and one mu of land will produce 2880 fruits." Ten mu in total yield 57,600 gourds. Each gourd is worth ten qian; altogether they are worth 576,000 wen." The cost of using two hundred dan of silkworm manure and the labor from oxen and human effort amounts to 26,000 wen. There remains a profit of 550,000 wen." The fat pigs and bright candles provide additional benefits beyond this." |
| 10 | 《氾勝之書》區種瓠法：「收種子須大者。若先受一斗者，得收一石；受一石者，得收十石。先掘地作坑，方圓、深各三尺。用蠶沙與土相和，令中半，若無蠶沙，生牛糞亦得。著坑中，足躡令堅。以水沃之。候水盡，卽下瓠子十顆，復以前糞覆之。既生，長二尺餘，便總聚十莖一處，以布纏之五寸許，復用泥泥之。不過數日，纏處便合為一莖。留強者，餘悉掐去，引蔓結子。子外之條，亦掐去之，勿令蔓延。留子法：初生二、三子不佳，去之；取第四、五、六子，留三子卽足。旱時須澆之：坑畔周匝小渠子，深四五寸，以水停之，令其遙潤，不得坑中下水。」 The Fan Shengzhi shu method of planting hu in plots: "When collecting seeds, choose the largest ones. If one dou is planted, a harvest of ten dou can be expected; if one shi is planted, a yield of ten shi will result." First dig a pit that is three chi in diameter and depth. Mix silkworm sand with soil equally; if there is no silkworm sand, fresh cow manure may also be used. Place it in the pit and compact it firmly by stepping on it. Water it thoroughly." Wait until the water has soaked in, then plant ten hu seeds and cover them with the previously prepared manure. Once they sprout and grow more than two chi, gather ten stems together in one place, tie them with cloth about five cun long, then cover the tied area with mud. Within a few days, the bound part will fuse into a single stem. Keep only the strongest one and pinch off all others to encourage vine growth and fruiting. Also pinch off side branches outside the main fruit-bearing stem, so that they do not spread unchecked. Method for retaining fruits: The first two or three fruits are poor quality and should be removed; select the fourth, fifth, and sixth fruits—keeping three is sufficient. During dry weather, watering is necessary: dig a small channel around the pit, about four to five cun deep, and fill it with water so that moisture spreads gradually; do not directly pour water into the center of the pit." |
| 11 | 《崔寔》曰：「正月，可種瓠。六月，可畜瓠。八月，可斷瓠，作蓄瓠。瓠中白膚實，以養豬致肥；其瓣則作燭致明。」 Cui Shi said: "In January, hu can be planted. In June, hu can be preserved for storage." In August, cut the gourds and prepare them for preservation. The white flesh inside the hu is used to fatten pigs, while its shell can be made into bright-burning candles." |
| 12 | 《家政法》曰：「二月可種瓜、瓠。」 The Jiafa Zhan says: "In February, melons and hu may be planted." |
《種芋第十六 Planting Yu: Chapter Sixteenth》 | |
| 1 | 《說文》曰：「芋，大葉實根駭人者，故謂之『芋』。」「齊人呼芋為『莒』。」 The Shuowen Jiezi says: "Yu is a plant with large leaves and edible roots that are startling in appearance, hence it is called 'yu.'" "People from Qi call yu 'Ju'." |
| 2 | 《廣雅》曰：「渠，芋；其莖謂之𦵸。」公杏反「藉姑，水芋也，亦曰烏芋。」 The Guangya says: "Qu is another name for yu; its stem is called 'Jia'." Gongxingfan said, "Jigu is a water yu, also known as Wuyu." |
| 3 | 《廣志》曰：「蜀漢既繁芋，民以為資。凡十四等：有君子芋，大如斗，魁如杵𥰠。有車轂芋，有鋸子芋，有旁巨芋，有青邊芋：此四芋多子。有談善芋，魁大如瓶，少子；葉如散蓋，紺色；紫莖，長丈餘；易熟，味長，芋之最善者也；莖可作羹臛，肥澀，得飲乃下。有蔓芋，緣枝生，大者次二三升。有雞子芋，色黃。有百果芋，魁大，子繁多，畝收百斛；種以百畝，以養彘。有早芋，七月熟。有九面芋，大而不美。有象空芋，大而弱，使人易飢。有青芋，有素芋，子皆不可食，莖可為菹。凡此諸芋，皆可乾腊，又可藏至夏食之。又百子芋，出葉俞縣。有魁芋，無旁子，生永昌縣。有大芋，二升，出范陽、新鄭。」 The Guangzhi says: "In Shuhan, yu grows abundantly; the people rely on it for sustenance. There are a total of fourteen varieties: one is called Junzi yu, as large as a dou and shaped like a pestle. There is Chuguxu, Juzixu, Pangjuxu, and Qingbianxu: these four types of yu produce many tubers. There is Danshanxu, whose tubers are as large as a bottle and produce few offspring; its leaves resemble scattered umbrellas in shape and have a deep blue color; the stems are purple and over one zhang long. It matures easily and has a rich flavor, making it the finest type of yu. Its stems can be used to make soup or stew, which is thick and slightly astringent, best consumed with some liquid." There is Manxu, which grows along branches; the large ones can hold two or three sheng. There is Jizixu, with a yellow color. There is Baiguoxu, whose tubers are large and produce many offspring; one mu can yield a hundred hu. If planted on a hundred mu, it can be used to feed pigs. There is Zaoyu, which matures in the seventh month. There is Jiumenxu, large but not flavorful. There is Xiangkongxu, which is large and weak in flavor, causing people to feel hungry easily. There is Qingyu and Suxu; their tubers are all inedible, but the stems can be made into pickles. All these various types of yu can be dried and preserved; they can also be stored until summer for consumption. There is also Baizixu, which originates from Yeyu Xian. There is Kuixu, which does not produce side tubers; it grows in Yongchang Xian. "There is Daxu, with a capacity of two sheng; it originates from Fanyang and Xinzheng." |
| 4 | 《風土記》曰：「博士芋，蔓生，根如鵝、鴨卵。」〉 The Fengtu Ji says: "Bo Shi Xu grows on vines, with roots resembling the eggs of geese and ducks." " |
| 5 | 《氾勝之書》曰：「種芋，區方深皆三尺。取豆萁內區中，足踐之，厚尺五寸。取區上濕土與糞和之，內區中萁上，令厚尺二寸，以水澆之，足踐令保澤。取五芋子置四角及中央，足踐之。旱，數澆之。萁爛。芋生子，皆長三尺。一區收三石。 The Fan Shengzhi Shu says: "When planting yu, the plot should be three chi in width and depth. Take soybean stalks and place them inside the plot, trample them thoroughly until they are fifteen cun thick. Take the moist soil from the top of the plot and mix it with manure, placing it on top of the stalks inside the plot. Make it twelve cun thick, then water it thoroughly and trample it until it retains moisture. Place five yu tubers at the four corners and the center, and trample them firmly into place. In dry weather, water it frequently. Once the stalks have rotted. When yu produces tubers, they all grow to a length of three chi. One plot yields three dan. |
| 6 | 「又種芋法：宜擇肥緩土近水處，和柔，糞之。二月注雨，可種芋。率二尺下一本。芋生根欲深，劚其旁以緩其土。旱則澆之。有草鋤之，不厭數多。治芋如此，其收常倍。」 "Another method for planting yu: choose fertile, soft soil near a water source and mix in manure." In the second month when it rains heavily, yu can be planted. Plant one tuber every two chi. Yu plants prefer deep roots; loosen the soil around them to make it softer. Water it if there is a drought. Remove weeds as needed; do not be concerned about doing it frequently. If yu is cultivated in this manner, the harvest will often double." |
| 7 | 《列仙傳》曰：「酒客為梁，使烝民益種芋：『三年當大饑。』卒如其言，梁民不死。」按芋可以救饑饉，度凶年。今中國多不以此為意，後至有耳目所不聞見者。及水、旱、風、蟲、霜、雹之災，便能餓死滿道，白骨交橫。知而不種，坐致泯滅，悲夫！人君者，安可不督課之哉？ The Lie Xian Zhuan says: "Jiu Ke served as a minister of Liang, and advised the people to plant more yu: 'There will be a great famine in three years.'" In the end, events unfolded exactly as he had predicted, but the people of Liang did not perish." Yu can be used to relieve famine and help endure years of disaster. Nowadays, many in China do not pay attention to this; future generations may encounter situations beyond what the ears and eyes have ever witnessed. When disasters such as floods, droughts, winds, pests, frosts, and hail occur, people will be seen starving to death along the roads, with white bones lying scattered everywhere. To know this yet not plant yu is to invite destruction without action—how tragic! How can a ruler possibly neglect overseeing and encouraging the planting of yu? |
| 8 | 崔寔曰：「正月，可菹芋。」 Cui Shi said: "In the first month, yu may be pickled." |
| 9 | 《家政法》曰：「二月可種芋也。」 The Jiafa Fa says: "Yu can be planted in the second month." |
URN: ctp:ws225219
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