First published in 1926, this classic survey, which includes nearly 250 photographs, examines the traditional farming methods of the densely populated lands of China, Korea and Japan and shows how fertility can be maintained over many centuries through conserving and utilizing natural resources. In the Introduction, the author notes: ‘The United States as yet a nation of but few people widely scattered over a broad virgin land with more than twenty acres to the support of every man, woman and child, while the people whose practices are to be considered are toiling in fields tilled more than three thousand years and who have scarcely more than two acres per capita, more than one-half of which is uncultivable land.’ Researchers and scholars in the fields of human geography, regional studies and earth sciences, as well as social and economic history will welcome this landmark study being returned to print.

This work is an excellent first-hand report documenting organic agriculture as practiced in the far east over a hundred years ago before the invention of artificial fertilizers. This book follows the trip of some travelers through various Asian countries around 1909. Writing about the traveler's observations, the author describes the agricultural activities they encounter in those countries. The author discusses the traditional farming practices of the densely populated lands of China, Korea, and Japan and shows how they maintained fertility over many centuries by preserving and using natural resources. It helps understand how the Asian countries grew crops on the same small area of ground without any pesticides and chemicals. This book contains well-written descriptions of their lands and techniques and more than two hundred illustrations that help readers learn about the subject more effectively.

Reproduction of the original.

Reproduction of the original: Farmers of Forty Centuries by F.H King

We in North America are wont to think that we may instruct all the world in agriculture, because our agricultural wealth is great and our exports to less favored peoples have been heavy; but this wealth is great because our soil is fertile and new, and in large acreage for every person. We have really only begun to farm well. The first condition of farming is to maintain fertility. This condition the oriental peoples have met, and they have solved it in their way. We may never adopt particular methods, but we can profit vastly by their experience. With the increase of personal wants in recent time, the newer countries may never reach such density of population as have Japan and China; but we must nevertheless learn the first lesson in the conservation of natural resources, which are the resources of the land. [From the Forward] Get Your Copy Today!

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