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Tung Hsiang.--The area under poppy cultivation last season was about the same as the previous years; perhaps more than the season immediately before, as that season the weather was very wet, and they were hindered from planting it.
K'ai Hsien.The area under cultivation last season did show an increase as compared with former years. I am working in this district for eight years, and never before have I seen as much of poppy as this year.
Wan Hsien. Last season's cultivation fully 50 per cent. more than last three years.
Fengtu. Last season's cultivation less by half than that of previous season, and 30 per cent. less than season before that.
Fuchou. Last season's cultivation six times as great as the previous one, and twice as much as the season before that.
Chungchou.-Last season's cultivation 50 per cent. less than previous one, and 20 per cent. less than season before that.
Shih Chu Ting-Cultivation 20 per cent, less than previous one, which was about equal to the preceding season.
Nan Ch'uan.--Crop six times as great as in 1908, and twice as much as in 1907. Pa Hsien.--(Chungking). Crop twice as large as in 1908, and 10 to 20 per cent. above average.
Kiangpei.-Crop was one and one-third times as large as in 1908, and slightly above the average.
Question 2.-Was the crop adversely affected by atmospheric conditions, or was
the acreage reduced by order of the officials?
crop
Replies.
Liangshan.--The of 1908-9 was quite up to the average. I have not heard of any decrease of yield or acreage.
Tung Hsiang. The atmospheric conditions were good. There were proclamations put out, but they did not affect the amount sown.
Kai Hsien.The crop this year was a very good one.
Won Hsien. The crop was adversely affected by atmospheric conditions. Fengtu Same as Wan Hsien.
Fuchou.-Information in Chinese is not clear; apparently exertions of the officials accounted for the decrease in the 1908 but subsequently their
crop,
relaxed. energy Chungchou. Reduction due to official action.
Shih Chu Ting-Reduction in cultivation due to official action, but crop affected by bad weather.
Nan Ch'uan-Reduction in 1908 crop due to official proclamation ordering gradual reduction in cultivation. Increase in 1909 crop due to a viceregal order requiring farmers to apply for a permit to cultivate; the farmers took advantage of this to extend the acreage under poppy.
Pa Hsien-Increase due to changeable policy of officials. Decrease in the 1908 crop was caused by the institution of the "kuan kao tien" and the threatened anti- opium measures.
Kiangpei.-No answer.
Question 3.-What crops are suggested in substitution of the poppy?
Replies.
Liangshan.The proclamations talk the usual platitudes of grow more wheat and pulse and less opium, but they are generally ridiculed. The culture of silk is now being tried as a possible substitute.
Tung Hsiang.-Last year and this year a good many mulberry trees have been planted to rear silk worms. The idea seems to be to prepare for the future if the officials become in earnest about prohibiting opium growing.
K'ai Hsien-Nothing is suggested so far; some of the people are beginning to plant mulberry trees.
Wan Hsien.-Peas, beans, wheat.
Fengtu.--Pulse and cereals.
Fuchou.-Pulse, cercals, rape, and potatoes.
Shih Chu Ting.--Wheat, cotton, mulberry, and tea.
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Nan Chuan-Pulse, cereals, and rape. Pa Hsien.-Viceregal suggestion is American cereals; present winter crops, in addition to opium, are pulse and cercals.
Kiangpei-Mulberry and tea.
Question 4.- (a.) What is the comparative value to the farmer of opium and
wheat, beans or other cereals or crops with which it may be in contempla tion to replace the poppy? (b.) What do you consider to be the prospects of such substitution?
Replies.
Liangshan (a.) The common percentage is as follows: "For every cash earned in wheat and beans, six are earned in opium." (b.) The people generally would be glad to revert to the old crops of wheat, cereals, and pulse, and if the prohibition of the poppy were enforced they would be really glad; but, left as it is how, one man will not give up the poppy as a crop simply because his neighbour profits by its culture. The difficulty would cease with a general and complete prohibition.
Tung Hsiang-Informant has no knowledge.
crops is
K'ai Hsien-(.) The value of opium to the farmer compared with other not a small one-perhaps, as much as three to one. (b.) The prospect on the whole will be a good one. The whole population will get benefited by it; as to the opium, only a few are getting rich.
Wan Hsien.(u.) Opium is twice the value of other produce to the farmer. (b.) Prospects of substitution favourable.
Fenglu.(a.) Profits on opium three to four times as great as on cereals, pulse,
and rape.
Fuchou (a.) Profits on opium six times as great as on wheat, and six and a-half times as great as on pulse, millet, and Indian corn.
Shih Chu Ting.(a.) Profits on opium three times as great as on cereals, and three and a-half times greater than on maize.
Nan Ch'uan. (a.) Profits on opium five times as great as on wheat, and seven times greater than rape and pulse.
Pa Hsien-(a.) Profits on opium three times as great as on cereals and rape. Kiangpei (a.) Profits on opium three to four times as great as on other crops, mulberry and tea excluded. (b.) Mulberry and tea will give almost as good a profit as opium.
Question 5. What has been done in the matter of closing opium dens ?
Replies.
Liangshen.-Opium dens have been effectively closed throughout the city and district. This has not reduced consumption.
Tung Hsiang.--I think it was in March when I was at Tung Hsiang for three days, all the opium dens were shut in the city and suburbs. I do not know whether this has been kept to. (My informant is not permanently stationed at Tung Hsiang, and was at Ch'ü IIsien when I wrote to him.)
K'ai Hsien.A proclamation has been put out to close the dens, but they are still more or less selling it.
Wan Hsien.Officially the dens are closed, but privately much smoking is done. Probably the trade is reduced three-tenths. An immense amount of boiling is going on by private owners to enable them to keep dens open, and there is no sale for official anti-opium medicine.
Fenglu.-Information somewhat vague. Open dens in city reduced from fifty to ten, but there are also secret dens.
Fuchou. In the suburbs of Fuchou there are nine opium dens near the five city gates. Although officials are said to have closed 300 odd dens in the district, there are about 140 to 150 secret dens,
secret dens.
Chungchou.Opium dens closed in city and market towns, but there are a few
Shih Chu Ting.-There were during the year before last fifty and more opium dens in the city; present number is twenty-eight. In the market towns they have all been closed.
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