Chapter 46: 46 Ridge Cultivation Method

Chapter 46: The Ridge and Furrow Method

The jurisdiction of Deepwood Town was by no means small, and after an entire afternoon of inspection, Luo Ning had barely managed to survey the eastern wheat fields and vegetable plots.

Had he wished to walk the full perimeter of his domain, it would likely have stolen two or three days of his time.

He had set forth that afternoon brimming with anticipation, clinging to the hope of some wondrous surprise, yet he returned with quite the contrary—his heart heavy with a lingering despondency.

Far from reaping any pleasant revelations, he had instead unearthed a succession of deep-seated problems, concentrated most acutely within the realm of agriculture.

Luo Ning took a sip of barley tea and seated himself at his writing desk, his mind turning backward to review what he had witnessed in the wheat fields as he pondered a remedy.

"The wheat grows unevenly, undoubtedly because it is sown far too densely. That haphazard scattering of seeds has left the sprouts in utter disarray, packed so tightly together that it robs them of sunlight and stifles their growth."

"Furthermore, this stifling congestion will prevent the peasants from stepping into the fields to weed, fertilize, or water as the crop matures, and come harvest time, a portion of the ears will inevitably rot away for this very reason."

Upon deeper reflection, he realized the root cause of this predicament lay entirely within their method of sowing.

A term from his history books suddenly flickered to life in Luo Ning’s mind—the ridge and furrow method.

This was an agricultural technique wherein the arable land was carved into alternating ridges and furrows, with the crops planted atop the raised ridges.

Such a manner of cultivation offered a multitude of virtues:

For instance, by planting upon ridges elevated above the ground and separated by furrows, a proper distance between the crops was guaranteed, allowing for more abundant photosynthesis while preventing the stunting of roots that came from overcrowding;

The significant variance in height between the ridge and the furrow favored drainage to prevent waterlogging, and likewise facilitated smooth irrigation along the trenches.

That afternoon, Luo Ning had questioned several locals and learned that rainfall in Deepwood Town was quite plentiful; thus, carving furrows to aid drainage would greatly diminish the likelihood of the wheat sprouts drowning in waterlogged soil.

Beyond that, the furrows dividing the ridges provided the peasants with ample room to weed and fertilize, sparing them from the current state of affairs where there was simply no place to set a foot.

And, of course, there remained a vital point: the ridge and furrow method preserved the fertility of the soil.

This year's ridge would become next year's furrow, and this year's furrow would become next year's ridge—a covert form of crop rotation and fallowing.

"This method is well worth promoting!"

He drew forth a quill and a sheet of parchment, beginning to set the ridge and furrow method down in ink while sketching a rudimentary diagram of the cultivation process.

The night deepened by degrees, and the manservant, Galen, had long since lit the candles in the study; the soft glow illuminated Luo Ning's earnest countenance, casting a spell of rapt attention over the maidservant who waited upon him from the shadows.

She had heard tales that the nobility loved nothing but indulgence, spending their days in feasting or revelry, and that many a young lord would even summon their personal maids to their beds.

Yet the Baron before her was cut from entirely different cloth.

As the day unfolded, Bella discovered that aside from his midday rest, the Lord Baron was incessantly occupied, possessed of an endless mountain of tasks to finish and a ceaseless river of words to write.

"My Lord—"

Chahar entered the room bearing a cup of milk, and upon his arrival, Galen and Bella bowed their heads and quietly withdrew, taking their stations just outside the door.

Though the castle butler was no nobleman, he held a position of no small standing, particularly since Chahar belonged to Luo Ning's trusted inner circle.

Consequently, the newly hired servants within the castle treated Chahar with the utmost reverence and obeyed his management implicitly.

Chahar, in his own right, had finally come to taste what it meant to be a true butler.

Yet his reverence for Luo Ning had never waned; if anything, it had grown manifold.

"Ah, Chahar."

Luo Ning looked up briefly before dipping his head once more to resume his writing.

He had finished his description of the ridge and furrow method and was now charting out a plan for fertilization.

Throughout his journey, Luo Ning had noticed that whether in Wushan City, Lake Town, or his own Deepwood Town, the scenery of the streets was invariably marred by a profusion of excrement.

In the afternoon, Luo Ning had caught hold of a peasant to question him, desperate to comprehend why the farmers of this world remained ignorant of the use of fertilizer.

After a brief inquiry, he discovered that the people here had not been entirely blind to the concept of fertilizer, but their methods of application were grievously flawed.

The man recounted that when they cast nightsoil and urine onto the earth, it failed to make the crops thrive and instead resulted in scorched seedlings.

Because of this, they came to view excrement as a hazardous substance that must never be cast into the arable fields, thereby rendering it utterly worthless.

A thing devoid of value naturally invited no management; the nobility ignored it, and the common folk regarded it as refuse, culminating in the present state where the streets were littered with waste.

How to properly utilize this waste was the very problem Luo Ning was currently pondering.

Fortunately, he had been born to a farming family back in his earthly homeland and had witnessed many an elder tilling the soil in his youth; moreover, having studied the sciences through high school and university, he understood chemistry and microorganisms.

To properly utilize human and animal waste, one could employ composting, decomposition, and fermentation.

Spreading this method across his domain would not only resolve the shortage of fertilizer and maintain a certain richness in the soil, but it would also remedy the squalid sanitary conditions born of poor governance.

Once the peasants realized the worth of excrement, they would no longer relieve themselves indiscriminately.

To Luo Ning, this was a masterstroke that killed two birds with one stone.

Yet neither the ridge and furrow method nor composting could be adopted by everyone overnight on the merit of a single command.

Luo Ning intended to select two individuals and set aside two specific experimental plots to validate his theories.

If these two methods proved effective in this otherworldly realm, they could be promoted on a grand scale during the spring plowing of the coming year.

"My Lord, you have been laboring the whole day through; it is time you took your rest!"

Chahar placed the milk beside Luo Ning's hand, offering a tender and thoughtful plea for his master to sleep early.

"I am not yet weary."

Luo Ning set down his quill and lifted the cup, taking a draught of the milk.

The milk of this alternate world did not possess a particularly pleasant flavor, bearing even a faint, gamey twang.

Nevertheless, fresh milk was not a luxury just anyone could enjoy; it remained a rare and precious commodity.

"How fares the arrangement of the other servants in the castle?" Luo Ning inquired casually.

"All is proceeding smoothly!"

Chahar the butler was exceedingly pleased with the new arrivals; at the very least, they earnestly sought to learn the words he spoke and the lessons he taught, acquitting themselves well.

"Rest assured, My Lord, in a month at most, the servants of this castle will rival the standards of Wushan Castle."

Luo Ning let out a hearty laugh. "Bear in mind my previous warning: the sanitation of the castle must be kept pristine. Any damp areas must be tended to swiftly; I do not wish to look upon rats or insects within my own keep."

"Have no fear on that account, My Lord, I have impressed this upon them repeatedly, and I make a daily circuit of every sector to ensure that no issues arise!"

"I rest easy leaving the matters of the castle in your hands."

Luo Ning spoke with a smile. "Have Wilson the administrative officer come see me tomorrow morning; I have a task for the two of you to undertake together."

Chahar was somewhat taken aback; what manner of business would require the castle butler and the administrative officer to join forces?

"Understood, My Lord. I shall personally notify Wilson tonight."

"Let Galen deliver the word. As for you, find me a rather large earthenware jar; I shall require it tomorrow morning."

Chahar found himself perplexed once more; what did his master intend to do with such a thing? He could not fathom his master's thoughts in the slightest, and there were moments he truly doubted his own competence as a butler.

Yet he also understood that certain matters required no prying questions; it was enough to execute his master's charges precisely as commanded.

"As you wish!"

Chahar led Galen away from the second floor, departing to resume his duties.

Luo Ning, meanwhile, returned to his designs, bending over his papers once more.

He instructed Chahar to prepare clay pots with a simple purpose: to build the most primitive toilets within the castle.

Since they planned to collect feces for fertilizer, the necessary facilities had to be provided, and toilets were indispensable.

Luoning considered designing a flush toilet, but it would be a time-consuming and labor-intensive task. Moreover, he had yet to formulate a clear idea about how to design the pipes.

He could only settle for a compromise by constructing primitive toilets first. Then, he would gradually promote the benefits of fertilizer, ensuring everyone had a basic understanding before introducing toilets to improve sanitary conditions.

(End of chapter)