198 DRY-FARMING CONGRESS, WICHITA, 1914 



deprived of forestation, a regulated flow of water is impossible. Conse- 

 quently droughts very often follow heavy rains. 



In the cultivation of wheat or some other small grains and in ail other 

 affairs of the agricultural life, the primitive ways of centuries past are still 

 in vogue. The seeds are poor and the implements are crude. But ir spite 

 of these shortcomings the farmer in China cultivates intensively. He grows 

 much product per unit of acre. He cannot afford to fallow the lands as 

 you do here. To raise stock is unprofitable because his farm holdings are 

 very small. Vegetables and poultry take place of dairy products and he 

 can get along fairly well without resorting to the latter. Owing to the lack 

 of facilities in transportation, many failures have resulted. 



Our attention has recently been turned towards the west and northwest 

 of China, because of the overpopulation in the east and southeast. We 

 have land, we have labor, and we are going to support the dry-land farmers 

 financially. It is known to everyone here that the principle of dry-farming 

 means better cultivation, conservation of moisture, and the introduction 

 and breeding of drought-resistant plants. In the matter of intelligent cul- 

 tivation we have nothing to worry about the Chinese farmer. The aim of 

 the Chinese ministry of agriculture is to establish as many experiment 

 stations as possible. A national forest policy is to be inaugurated and a 

 bureau of plant industry has been founded. 



Personally, I will do my best in getting all the available data and ma- 

 terial from this Exposition and Congress recommendations will be forwarded 

 to our ministry to be acted upon, and I am pretty sure that in the next 

 Congress China will be able to send over some dry-farmed products to the 

 Exposition. 



In conclusion, I would like to say that in time of war we must pre- 

 pare for peace, for only in the time of peace can we enjoy prosperity. But ii 

 case of farming we have to prepare for the worst, and look for the best. 

 Elements of uncertainty have to be considered. Dry-farming methods are 



applicable to regions having better climatic conditions, for these meth- 

 ods are preparations for the worst. When this is done we will have per- 

 manent peace and plenty; we will have then, 



"Little fields well tilled, 

 Little barns well filled, 

 Little wife well willed." 



• 



MR. MANTLE: 



I was relieved that the Chinese delegate was able to conclude his re- 

 marks without an appeal for population. As the others have pur in a bid 

 for more population, I was afraid the Chinese would do the same! 



It struck me that our friend had absolutely no chance whatever really 

 to develop the theme of Chinese agriculture, and under these circumstances; 

 but it also occurred to me that any of you who are at all interested in agri- 

 culture of other countries, would be interested in the book recently published 

 by Dr. King. This book goes into the work of the Chinese in a way in 



