ABSTRACT
The Chinese, from the first day of their known history, appear as an agricultural people. No doubt the raising of crops was of more importance formerly than in our day : but it was by the culture of cereals that the ancient Chinese gained a livelihood, as did the populations bordering their country, whom they considered Barbarians. Certain forays undertaken by the Ti (in 601 b.c. for example) are explained by the drought which had ruined their crops. 1
