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AN Appreciation of China.
For most of my life I have been interested in China. The
church that I attended as a boy had sent 7 missionaries to
China. However, it was not until I read the book,
Farmers of Forty Centuries by F.H.King D.Sc.. published
by Organic Gardening Press. Emmaus Pennsylvania, that I
became enamoured by some of the glories of their past.
There greatest glory appears to be the way they have
preserved their farm lands, for the quality of our food is
life itself.
Prof. King died before he was able to finish the last chapter
which was to be called Message of China and Japan to the
World. He wrote the book possibly 80 years ago. The book
was finally published. It includes Korea.
I read this book over and over and have talked about it for
years.
The history of China is one of glory and tragedy. But until
Mao came along, the farmers had not been destroyed
or attempts made to wipe out their ancient culture.
It is estimated that 50 millions or more small farmers were
executed. Stalin killed off most of the farmers in the
Ukraine. Neither country has recovered. They are both
hungry nations. China is a starving country. It shows in
the faces of the people. Visitors to China, for some years,
have noticed seeing so many old people and are shocked to
find that they just look old.
People, every where, should study the history of China and
learn how they preserved their farm lands for 4000 years.
Other countries could achieve the same results with much less
hand labor.
We might study the glories and tragedies of ancient China and
not just the wreckage brought on by Mao. We should also
keep in mind, that they are the only big nation, that has so
courageously faced up to over population.
I list some other books that have helped me to better
understand China.
