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transportation would materially aid. In this connection there 

 should be begun a study of the national dietary with reference 

 not only to health but as bearing upon the relation of population 

 and food supply. Such possible changes as the use of un- 

 polished rice, and the possibilities of green vegetables, are 

 illustrations. It is also interesting again to note that there are 

 many who hold that amelioration of economic conditions and 

 prevention of starvation in famines would simply lead to even 

 more rapid increase in population. 



The Factory System and the Food Supply. The factory 

 system is growing and is inevitable. It will call for workers 

 and for cheap food. The query is, can China supply this food 

 and spare the workers? It has been said that there is strong 

 likelihood that she can, because of a vast surplus of labor, and 

 the possibilities of unused areas, of better farming, of flood 

 prevention, and of irrigation. However, in all industrial coun- 

 tries the development of the factory system and of cities has 

 drained off the surplus farm workers, and, for a time at least, 

 taken too many of them. Is this likely to be the case in China? 

 The Chinese seem to avoid isolation and they may flock to the 

 cities readily. 



Village and Home Industries.- The domestic and village 

 industries help the farmers materially by offering work for 

 spare times and for certain members of the family, and will 

 survive the introduction of the factory system. But they should 

 be encouraged, if possible co-operatively organized, and at any 

 rate the aid of education given to them. Of course, the factory 

 system will crowd certain village industries and eventually 

 supplant them perhaps. All the more should aid be given the 

 villagers in the way of intelligent advice and helpful sugges- 

 tion. 



Transportation and the Food Supply. This is the key to 

 all industrial development both to the getting of cheap raw 

 material and the transportation of the finished products, as well 

 as to the supplying of cheap food. In the development of 

 railway systems, the canals should not be ignored. Railways 

 are already assisting in reforestation; they could be of very 

 great service in agricultural experiment and popular education, 

 as well as in assisting farmers to market their products. As a 

 mere matter of business it would pay the railroads to enter the 

 field vigorously. 



