EVIDENCE OF HISTORY 267 



Thus, one unconsidered factor nullifies the 

 value of this classic experiment. 



China, as we have said, presents a history 

 of four thousand years for the study of the 

 agricultural scientist. So closely does this na- 

 tion press the limit of her acres that floods 

 or prolonged droughts spread famine in their 

 wake. The soils of China are capable of sus- 

 taining her population, more than fifteen times 

 as dense as our own, when the weather factor 

 does not swing too violently to one side or the 

 other. 



The evidence seems undeniable that her soils 

 are more productive to-day than they were 

 four thousand years ago. One-half an acre 

 supports one human being in peace and con- 

 tentment; we use 10 acres for the same task. 



We are told that the Chinese are careful to 

 return all waste to the soil. So far is this 

 carried, Professor King tells us (Farmers of 

 Forty Centuries), that the water is not fit to 

 drink without boiling. The Chinese drink tea 

 not because they like tea better than water, 

 but because boiled water is not palatable, and 

 the Chinese hit on the idea of flavoring it with 

 the leaves of a shrub that grows on their soils 

 in great profusion. 



