NOTES AND QUERIES
197
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crop.
Yield for 1 tau of good average land (Assuming all food requirements plus all Crown Rent met from harvest, with no cash sales or casual labour):
Tai Wai
yield in rice 2.5 piculs x 2 harvests = 5 piculs grain
less .2 piculs for seeds = 4.8 piculs
less 40% (by volume) in hulling and pounding = 3.75 piculs rice (figures given by Wai H.L. The standard volume loss is 50%, but villagers would probably not demand absolutely pure rice. Further, as informed by Mr. Yu Look-yau, J.P., New Territories rice had to be resifted and cleaned before it could be sold to fastidious city dwellers, implying that village hulling had not removed as much as would now be standard. A 50% volume loss in hulling = 28% weight loss now. Assuming the losses are pro rata, a 40% volume loss = 22% loss in weight. This is equal to 3.75 piculs approx.)
3.75 piculs less 19% Crown Rent = 3.03 piculs (see section on Crown Rent below)
3.03 piculs less wastage, say 5% = 2.88 piculs. (Note: both informants claimed waste was minimal, but there must have been some. Tai Foo considered losses when stored in barns higher than when stored in cock-lofts. Wai H.L. acknowledged some loss in hulling and when drying on the wo t'ong but considered rats, insects, and rot a minimal problem - cats were kept to deal with rats. Wai H.L. considered 5% the absolute maximum, but felt it was usually less, Tai Foo felt it was certainly less.)
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2.88 piculs a year = 11.5 taels a day (Note: this assumes extra provision set aside for New Year, Birthday, wedding festivities etc. For Tai Wai I have assumed 35 days equivalent for such festivities i.e. a 400 day year which Wai H.L. considered fair and reasonable) = 1.44 adults daily requirement.
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Plus sweet potatoes
yield 10 piculs by weight
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less wastage 20% (Wai H.L.'s figure many tubers rotted in store): 8 piculs
or 2 catties a day or 0.50 adults daily requirement.
=
Thus 1 tau of good average land in Tai Wai could feed 1.94 adults with-