tised to a small extent; there are few large
herds of cattle or flocks of sheep, nor are there any large meadows,
natural or cultivated. In Sze-ch'uen yaks, sheep and goats are reared in
the mountains, and buffaloes and a fine breed of ponies on the plateau.
Cattle are extensively reared in the mountainous districts of
Kwang-tung. The camel, horse and donkey are reared in Chih-li. Forestry
is likewise neglected. While the existing forests, found mainly in high
regions in the provinces of Hu-nan, Fu-kien and Kwei-chow, are
disappearing and timber has to be imported, few trees are planted. This
does not apply to fruit trees, which are grown in great variety, while
horticulture is also a favourite pursuit.

The Chinese farmer, if his methods be primitive, is diligent and
persevering. In the richer and most thickly populated districts terraces
are raised on the mountain sides, and even the tops of lofty hills are
cultivated. The nature of the soil and means of irrigation as well as
climate are determining factors in the nature of the crops grown; rice
and cotton, for example, are grown in the most northern as well as the
most southern districts of China. This is, however, exceptional and each
climatic region has its characteristic cultures.

Soils.

The loess soil (see Sec. _Geology_) is the chief element in determining
the agricultural products of north China. Loess soil bears excellent
crops, and not merely on the lower grounds, but at altitudes of 6000
and 8000 ft. Wherever loess is found the peasant can live and thrive.
Only one thing is essential, and that is the annual rainfall. As,
owing to the porous nature of loess, no artificial irrigation is
possible, if the rain fails the crops must necessarily fail. Thus
seasons of great famine alternate with seasons of great plenty. It
appears, also, that the soil needs little or no manuring and very
little tillage. From its extremely friable nature it is easily broken
up, and thus a less amount of labour is required than in other parts.
The extreme porosity of the soil probably also accounts for the length
of time it will go on bearing crops without becoming exhausted. The
rainfall, penetrating deeply into the soil in the absence of
stratification, comes into contact with the moisture retained below,
which holds in solution whatever inorganic salts the soil may
contain, and thus the vegetation has an indefinite store to draw
upon.[