Chapter 9 Barrier 1
There was only half a bag of pea seeds. Lawrence took turns holding pea seeds from the bag and spreading them on the field.
Before sowing, the soil must be loosened and the weeds and soil clods in the field must be broken up. The main physical work is such trivial tasks as weeding and picking.
Sowing seeds is much simpler.
Andrew introduced to Lawrence: "Just scatter these beans. We will fetch water later. Water is needed for planting anything."
Lawrence looked down at the pea seeds in his hand. Many of these seeds were shriveled particles.
In fact, peas are not suitable for continuous planting. Lawrence did not understand this before, but after observing it on his own farm for several years, he discovered that continuous planting of the same crops will reduce the yield a lot.
Agriculture in this era is very dependent on the weather, and the annual harvest is not fixed. Everyone's daily life is very tiring, and there is no one who specializes in summarizing agricultural knowledge. It often takes decades and hundreds of years to just rely on farmers' own summaries. It will take a hundred years.
Fortunately, farmers also have their own coping methods. Just like Andrew, if the potato harvest is not good this year, they will not plant it next year.
If it is a matter of life and death for a family, we will never fight to the death, but we will not choose unfamiliar plants either. We usually choose several common crops in rotation.
Although I didn't understand the principle, I vaguely did things that conformed to the rules.
Lawrence has a prophetic thinking that does not belong to the ignorant era, and he does not want the farmland of the Andrew family to be affected.
"Andrew, many of these seeds are bad seeds. Why not choose some good seeds to plant?"
Andrew showed a strange expression. "Just sow them all. The seeds that cannot survive will rot in the ground. No. They need to be picked out."
Lawrence explained: "Can you pick out healthy seeds and then plant only these good seeds?"
Andrew shook his head quickly, "I think many seeds can produce peas. If they are not planted, Isn’t that a waste?”
Salil was sowing seeds in the field, using a wooden rake to pull the surrounding soft soil to cover the scattered seeds.
She didn't seem to like talking when she was working. She was quietly doing the farm work she had been familiar with for more than ten years. Although she heard the conversation between Lawrence and Andrew, she did not express any opinions.
Lawrence argued: "It's actually very simple. You just need to use a bucket of water and soak these seeds in the water. The ones that float up must be the shriveled bad seeds, and the ones that sink are the plump good seeds." Andrew didn't understand Lawrence
. The practice is, "If it is a good seed, you will know it just by planting it. Why bother?"
Even bad seeds are still seeds, and sowing more seeds means more harvest.
Andrew's stubbornness and thinking made Lawrence politely stop the debate. After all, the two parties were not relatives, and they had not known each other for a long time. They should not make rash comments on the way of survival that others have insisted on for decades.
Andrew can rely on his own experience and strength to make a full meal, and he is currently, to put it mildly, relying on others.
"I want to try it. It's not a bad thing to try. It doesn't need much, just two steps of land. I want to plant the seeds I selected here." Lawrence still wants to try it, not just a
suggestion Andrew, it is also an attempt and experiment for his future agricultural development.
The cost of the experiment is not much, just a piece of four square meters of land and a handful of seeds.
Andrew said helplessly: "I still have to work, whatever you want."
As long as the seeds are planted in the field, Andrew has nothing to say.
Lawrence said happily: "Andrew, maybe you will feel that your decision is very wise next summer!"
Andrew had already gone to work in the fields. After hearing this, he was still helpless, "I hope so."
Lawrence quickly went to the river While fetching water, Andrew's family relies on rivers formed by rainwater and snow on the mountains for drinking water. The water quality here is quite good and crystal clear, but there are no fish or shrimps in sight, and there is no way to fish.
By the time they came back from fetching water, Salil and Andrew had almost finished the work in the fields.
Lawrence found that Salil had gone back to mind her own business, and it seemed that the relationship that had eased slightly had become cold again.
Andrew came over and asked curiously: "If you throw peas in cold water, won't the seeds get damaged?" Lawrence suddenly couldn't answer this practical question. After thinking about it for a while, he said uncertainly: "Pea seeds shouldn't be that bad." Fragile."
Andrew asked curiously: "Why is it the habit in the city that seeds in water are good seeds?"
Lawrence thought for a second, "Hmm."
Then added: "Maybe next year we can grow peas in When mature, keep the pea pods and peas intact and cultivate specially planted seeds."
Andrew showed an unexpected look, and after thinking about it, he said: "Sounds very troublesome."
Lawrence was speechless for a while, and now Andrew's planting technology Although he is lagging behind, he does not feel that he is lagging behind.
Andrew should be very satisfied with the current harvest and his own agricultural technology. He does not want to take risks and make changes, nor does he want to do more troublesome things.
If you have that free time, it is much better to sit down and rest for a while than to waste food indiscriminately.
Science and technology need to be promoted by external factors. If it is accumulated by luck without motivation, it usually takes a long time.
This external cause is usually war.
Andrew felt bored after watching it for a while, but he still watched.
Lawrence planted all the peas with Sophia's help, and then the three of them went back to eat together.
There was an extra egg in the meal today, one for each of Lawrence and Salil, but none for herself.
Although Lawrence didn't help today, Sophia helped Salil work in the fields for a long time.
At three or four o'clock in the afternoon, Lawrence went out for a walk without anything else to do. As soon as he went out, he saw Andrew sitting at the door playing with wood.
"Andrew, what are you doing?"
Andrew replied: "The hoe I used these days is broken. I am making a new hoe."
There is no iron hoe. Andrew makes a wooden hoe. This kind of hoe is used for several times. There will be gaps in the sky due to constant bumps and bumps.
Lawrence asked: "How long can this new one be used?"
"It usually lasts a month." Andrew used an iron knife to peel a piece of wood the size of a shoe sole and process it into a suitable size.
Iron tools were very rare in this era, and the most common iron tools besides kitchen knives were farm tools and daggers.
Because the quality of iron tools is very low and the consumption is very high, and things like armor and crossbows can only be purchased by the great nobles.
This place is even more backward than the Middle Ages, and productivity and science and technology are basically in the slave period.
There was nothing interesting about the making of tools, and Lawrence quickly wandered around again to familiarize himself with the environment.
"I'm going to see if there's anyone in the trap."
"Okay." Andrew responded and continued busy with his own affairs.
If you want to have a full stomach in the mountains and forests, you can't be idle most of the time. There are many, many things to do every day.
Lawrence didn't understand this, but Andrew wasn't in a hurry.
"I hope Sariel can get along with Lawrence soon, alas..."
Andrew is only concerned about his daughter's marriage now, and is very worried.
(End of chapter)