Fundamentals of Agriculture and Sericulture, Volume 3

As taro roots desire to grow deep, one must hoe the soil around the sides of the plant to keep the earth loose. In the event of a drought, the plants must be watered. If weeds appear, hoe them away; one should never grow weary of doing this frequently. If taro is managed in this way, the harvest will often be doubled.

The Biographies of Immortals original: "列仙傳" (Liexian Zhuan). A collection of hagiographies of Taoist immortals, traditionally attributed to Liu Xiang. states: The "Wine Guest" Jiu Ke, a legendary figure said to have excelled at making spiritual liquor. served as an envoy for the State of Liang. He urged the common people zhengmin A classical term for the "teeming masses" or the peasantry. to increase their planting of taro, warning that in three years there would be a great famine. Eventually, it happened just as he had predicted, and the people of Liang did not perish from hunger because of the taro. Record of Taro

New Book on the Essentials of Agriculture

Taro is best suited for sandy white soil. The land should be deeply ploughed. Planting during the second lunar month Roughly March is the most auspicious time. Space the plants six to seven inches apart and place one taro seed-tuber in each spot. Taro should be covered or "established" by the third month. It is said that taro thrives in places where many people pass by, where it is frequently seen, and where the sound of scrubbing pots can be heard. This folk wisdom suggests that taro flourishes near human habitation, likely because it benefits from the nutrient-rich greywater produced by washing kitchenware.