20 



pressure for new enterprises will come only as the farmers 

 become conscious that co-operation is the only way to gain their 

 ends. The success of both India and Japan in starting farmers' 

 co-operation, indicates that the principles is as applicable in the 

 East as in Europe or America. 



There can be little doubt that the great mass of unorganized, 

 unprotected, illiterate farmers suffer from the impositions of 

 other groups, more intelligent and organized. Instances may 

 be cited as follows: 



Were landlords have associations and agree upon terms of 

 rental or other matters of similar concern to them. 



Where a fruit guild buys of the farmers over a large area 

 and of course fixes the price. 



Where the law, by forbidding farmers to have silk-cocoon 

 ovens, compels them to sell when cocoons are ready, at buyers' 

 prices. 



Where farmers are obliged to sell rice at low prices in order 

 to pay rent to the landlord, who demands rent as soon as the 

 crop is gathered. 



Where cotton buyers offer a low price to growers, at a date 

 considerably before picking time, advance small payment 

 toward the crop, and thus secure the product at a figure 

 really below its value. It is said that mills would willingly buy 

 of the farmers if the latter would co-operate in grading 

 and handling the crops properly. 



E Some Major Problems Briefly Stated 



Flood Prevention. Great floods, over vast areas, are 

 recurring disasters in China, in the face of which the farmers 

 are practically helpless. The main cause is, in part, excessive 

 rain fall during a brief period, in part the too rapid filling of 

 rivers by water from denuded hills, in part the silting up 

 of rivers with soil washed from the hills and the plains. It is a 

 joint problem for the engineer and the forester as experts; and 

 only the government can supply remedies at all adequate. 



Reforestation is another of the great needs of China. 

 There seem to be three main problems. 



(a) The reforestation of river sources, both for timber and 

 for the prevention of floods. 



(b) The growing of trees for oils and nuts, with a 

 subsidiary use for preventing floods. 



