Zuo Menggeng doesn’t know much about farming, but he knows how to build a greenhouse.
Because the technical content of greenhouses is not high.
An earthen wall is built around it with soil, and the overall shape is rectangular.
The earthen wall on the south side is slightly shorter, at the same level as a person's shoulder. The earthen wall on the north side is slightly higher, about two and a half meters.
This forms a gentle slope that is high in the north and low in the south.
The entire greenhouse is in the shape of a long strip from east to west, with a width of about four meters and a length of more than 30 meters.
On the built earth wall, set up a wooden frame, and then install the glass on it.
In this way, the greenhouse can be fully protected from sunlight in winter.
There are four greenhouses in a group, divided into two in the front and two in the back. In this way, a boiler room can be built in the middle to evenly transport heat to the four greenhouses through pipes.
The pipes are arranged around the four greenhouses, which will provide sufficient heat and can well resist the cold in winter.
Zuo Menggeng ordered people to spread sand on the floor of the greenhouse, which made everyone confused.
"Vegetables in greenhouses cannot be grown on the ground. Otherwise, the cool air from the ground will freeze the vegetables to death. We build a frame like this, fill it with soil, fertilize it first, and then we can plant vegetables.
"
Everyone was amazed at his idea. But since it was a new thing, everyone had no choice but to obey his orders.
The fact of growing vegetables instead of on the ground soon spread throughout Zuozhuang. So many people came to see the novelty, even soldiers on vacation.
After each large wooden plate was ready, Zuo Mengeng asked someone to bring back the best soil, then raised earthworms in it and added fertilizer.
After more than two months of cultivation, the soil fertility in these racks is unprecedented, and good crops can be grown at a glance.
However, Lao Qintou told Zuo Mengeng that such soil would burn seeds and seedlings to death.
So these retting fertilized soils were mixed with ordinary soil before they could be used as vegetable planting trays.
A total of 400 greenhouses have been built on one hundred acres of land, and each greenhouse can grow about 100 trays of vegetables.
According to Lao Qintou's estimation, if it really succeeds, at least one hundred thousand kilograms of vegetables can be harvested.
The most important thing is that this greenhouse is not just about harvesting one crop. Instead, it can be planted continuously and picked multiple times.
When the greenhouses start to raise seedlings, the potatoes and corn in the fields are also harvesting.
This time, Zuo Mengeng made a huge splash.
Not only Qu Shichun and other government officials were invited, but also all the major families in Linqing were invited.
"The most important thing in the world is farming. Countless people have starved to death due to disasters in recent years. I believe everyone has also been harmed."
The current head of the Lu family, the largest family in Linqing, is named Lu Xun, and he feels this the most.
"During the disaster, farmers and tenants fled in all directions. Now half of my Lu family's fields have been abandoned."
Zhang Zonghuan looked at the different crops in the field and guessed that Zuo Mengeng's purpose was not simple.
"My nephew plans to use exotic crops such as these to increase production and income?"
As soon as this statement came out, everyone couldn't help but look over.
Nowadays, everyone understands the preciousness of food. It can be said that whoever can solve the food problem will be the winner of the world.
Zuo Mengeng deliberately pretended not to see these meaningful glances.
"Today is the day when these exotic crops are harvested. Whether these crops that have traveled across the ocean can take root in our land of China will soon be known."
Liu Yiyuan looked at the lush cornfield and felt relaxed and happy.
"Then what are you waiting for? Let's do it."
The farmers had been waiting for a long time, received the order, and started harvesting immediately.
The heads of each family observed carefully and found that it was very easy to harvest corn. Because the ears of corn grew on it, farmers could pick it off as soon as they walked by.
Zuo Mengeng acted as the best lecturer.
"Corn can be used as a staple food. Although the taste is not as good as rice and flour, it is better than millet. In addition, corn stalks can also be used as livestock feed after being crushed. Even if they are dried, they can be used as firewood."
After hearing what he said, everyone couldn't help but pay attention.
Food and gold are expensive these days, and so is feed.
The consumption of raising cattle, sheep and horses has become increasingly urgent as land is developed on a large scale.
The reason why horse administration went bankrupt in various places in the late Ming Dynasty was that in addition to ordinary people being unable to afford the cost of raising horses and government exploitation, the inability to find enough feed was also an important reason.
While talking, one acre of corn has been harvested.
Another group of people immediately stepped forward and began to weigh the corn.
In order to seduce these local wealthy people, Zuo Mengeng must produce real results.
If it will take some time for the corn fields here to bear fruit, the potato fields on the other side are much more conspicuous.
When the seedlings were pulled out, the large bunch of potatoes hanging below were floating like bells, each one about the size of a fist.
Lao Qintou took a seedling and showed it to everyone at close range.
"There are at least eight potatoes on this plant, which weighs almost three or four kilograms."
Lu Xun took it over and tried it himself, and found that it was indeed the case, and his expression turned serious.
This seedling can produce about four kilograms of potatoes, so how much land should there be in this acre?
The most important thing is, what is the use of this thing?
Zuo Mengeng asked Lao Qintou to take down the potatoes, peel off the soil, and throw them directly into the fire nearby.
"Potatoes are a multi-purpose crop. They can be used as a staple food, as a dish, and as a vermicelli."
This is the first time everyone has heard of crops that can be used as both food and vegetables, and they can't help but marvel.
When the potatoes from an acre of land were weighed, everyone fell silent.
A full 570 pounds!
What does this output mean?
Today's productivity means that one acre of land costs about two shi, and the average weight of one shi is about 184 kilograms.
In other words, the best fields today can only produce about 360 kilograms of grain.
The yield of potatoes is 210 kilograms more than that of rice.
If it is true that potatoes can be used as a staple food as Zuo Mengeng said, then how many more people will be fed by the extra 210 kilograms?
Just when everyone was amazed, Zuo Mengeng was very dissatisfied.
"The yield of potatoes is definitely more than this. When you plant it again in the future, you must sum up your experience and strive to exceed one thousand catties."
He didn't know whether the potato output in this era could exceed one thousand catties. Anyway, it was common in later generations, and the peak could even reach eight thousand catties.
Everyone was frightened by his words.
Lao Qin's head and feet went limp, and he fell to his knees.
"Master, can this thing really produce a thousand catties per acre?"
Zuo Mengeng still has this confidence.
"As long as you take good care of it and master the correct planting methods, there will be absolutely no problem."
While talking, Zuo Mengeng thought of the potatoes thrown into the fire and hurriedly went over to pull them out.
Everyone couldn't help but frown when they saw a few dark balls, feeling a little disappointed with the potatoes.
Zuo Mengeng squatted down happily, carefully peeling the potatoes regardless of whether they were dirty or not.
When the burnt skin is peeled off, a rich aroma quickly spreads out.
"Huh……"
Zhang Zonghuan and Qu Shishi ignored the appearance and hurriedly came closer, as if they wanted to have a better look.
In front of the two of them, Zuo Mengeng put a piece of potato into his mouth.
The hot soft glutinous rice spread quickly in his mouth, and the familiar taste in his memory almost made him cry.
After swallowing the potatoes in a few gulps, Zuo Mengeng handed the remaining portion to the two of them.
"Mingfu, Uncle Zhang, you guys should try it too."
Seeing that he had eaten them all, Qu Shichun and Zhang Zonghuan had nothing to fear. Each took a piece and as soon as they put it in their mouths, their expressions changed immediately.
"Oh, it's quite fragrant. Well, the rosin is soft and plump. It should satisfy your hunger."
"Sure enough, the taste is stronger than that of millet, and the yield cannot be underestimated. Hey... hot, hot, hot!"
Seeing that both Zhizhou and Zhang Zonghuan agreed, the others couldn't help it.
"Let's try it too."
The heads of various families who were usually aloof and well-dressed squatted in the fields, peeled potatoes with their own hands, and ate the simplest baked potatoes.
This scene made the farmers extremely surprised. At the same time, they also realized that the crops being harvested seemed very remarkable.
The best way to make people in this era fully understand the benefits of new crops is to have a meal.
That night, in Zuozhuang, Zuo Mengeng took charge of cooking a dinner made entirely of Western crops.
Scrambled eggs with tomatoes, fried pork with peppers, shredded hot and sour potatoes, mashed potatoes, potato pancakes, boiled corn, corn stewed pork ribs, assorted corn kernels...
Even though everyone here was from a well-off family, they were still a little confused looking at such a table of weird dishes.
But after eating it, there is nothing more to say.
After having enough wine and food, Zuo Mengeng knew that his plan could start when he looked at everyone's eagerness to try.