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Mr. Osborne. There is a great number of fields that once grew paddy in the hills and valleys. They are now out of cultivation are they not?
A.-There are some, Sweet potatoes would grow anywhere.
Q-Do you know whether the foreign potato would grow in that sandy soil which is now cultivating sweet potatoes?
A.-A light soil like that is best for potatoes if rich.
Q.-Is there any reason why, if they grow them in Macao, they cannot grow them here ?
A.—I think in a great measure that you want to give the Chinese an object lesson. If the native finds that by doing a certain thing he can make profit at it he will soon do it.
Mr. Francis. I don't think John Chinaman wants much instruction in the art of gardening and growing things.
Mr. Ladds.—If he sees it is a paying thing all he wants is a start.
Mr. Osborne. What do you think would be a practical method with reference to cattle ?
A.--Let the Government purchase a number of calves at so much a head, and distribute them over the various districts to every head man in each village and to deserving people in those villages, one to each, under a distinct understanding that they are to raise them for the Hongkong market and when they are full grown and sold that they are to repay to the Government the money which the animal cost.
Mr. Osborne.-Would you brand each animál?
A. You might.
Q. Where would you buy these calves?
A.--You would get them up country.
Q. Could anything be done in the way of pig-breeding?
Mr. Francis.-Excuse me, Mr. Orborne, but would this pay John Chinaman?
A. It would pay him very well. He could buy the calf at $10 and if it is a good breed and it grows and fattens well in two and a half or say three years it ought to be worth $40 to him.
Mr. Osborne.--He only wants a trial and he could keep it on the hillsides?
Mr. Ladds. Having given them an object lesson like that they would see that it was good business and they would say, we had better try it, if the calf lives, we have only to pay $10 while we eventually get $40. Having done that people next door, and his friends say that is good business, we will try it too; whereas they would never dreain of it unless you give them an object lesson and a start.
Mr. Osborne. -There is no other market they can take it to?
A.-No, I don't think so.
Q.-Could the same thing not be done with pigs?
A.-I think that could be met better by private enterprise. Get people to start pig-farming.
Mr. Francis.-What inducement would you hold out to a Chinaman to start these farms ?
A-Profits.
Q. In what shape; how would you set about it?
A.-I should point out to them the large profits which they would make, or which they ought to make.