ABSTRACT
The classical English subdivision of Asia is the tripartition into the Near East, the Middle East, and the Far East. This nomenclature reflects conditions of a century or more ago, but popular usage adheres to the terminology for the very good reason that it still gives a clear subdivision of those parts of Asia. On the whole Outer Mongolia is the more fertile of the two. Especially in the northernmost parts experimental farming has shown good results. In Inner Mongolia conditions are much less favourable. The layer of mould is very thin, but still for the last century or so the southern fringe of the steppe has been steadily encroached upon by the advance of Chinese colonisation. The natural products of the soil of that country are really only two, namely grass and salt. The latter article can be had along the shores of the numerous stagnant lakes that usually form at the end of the Summer Rivers.
