Vlll PREFACE 



progress ; she suffers now from the ruthless destruction of her 

 natural capital that went on in former ages, and groans under 

 a hot sun and badly distributed rainfall. 



I have rewritten the chapter on rubber, which well illustrates 

 the complex nature of the problems which lie before those 

 interested in agricultural progress. 



I am also accused of favouring the capitalist ; if the book 

 gives that impression it must be for want of clear expression, 

 for its main thesis is the equal encouragement of both capitalist 

 and peasant, but that they being at different stages of progress 

 need different treatment. 



For the last two years I have resided in Brazil, and am 

 pleased to find that nothing in the agriculture of this country 

 requires a revision of the main propositions of the book. 

 Brazil, in my opinion, should be the great agricultural country 

 of the tropics at some future time, provided her natural capital 

 can be saved from exhaustion, as it has been exhausted in most 

 eastern countries. 



The chief alterations will be found on pp. 5, 10, 12, 64, 65, 

 120, 136, 148, 154, 160, 213. 



J. C. W. 



May 1914. 



