[MC5 comments: This article on forests is 
significant for its date, its dialectical 
demonstration of the interconnectedness of 
life in complex causal patterns and for its 
being in the leading newspaper of the 
country.]

"The Significant Contribution of Forests to 
Developing Agriculture"
Communist Party of China
Peoples' Daily
30 April 1963, p. 5

Scientific heritage found in classics of the 
motherland

Scholar Chia Szu-hsieh of the Han dynasty 
wrote the classic Chi-min Yao-shu. 
There was a clear concept regarding the 
relationship between forestry and 
agriculture solemnly pointed out several 
times in the book. This clear concept 
was that forestry offers significant 
contributions to agriculture. In the section 
"Sho-ku-ti-erh," it was clearly stated: "The 
five woods are the predecessors of 
the five grains. In order to know about the 
five grains one would merely look at 
the five woods."

The "five woods" is a general term for all 
woods. In the four hsien in the 
southern part of Hunan there is today the 
expression "Five woods in the 
mountain," which means forest. The "five 
grains" is the general term for all food 
grains, that is, agricultural crops. (Five 
grains lead agriculture). To sump up the 
two sentences, it means: "Forestry will come 
before agriculture. If you want to 
know the condition of agriculture, you will 
merely observe the condition of 
forestry." The two maxims are simple in 
language, but exact in meaning. 
According to an investigation, these words 
of Chia Szu-hsieh originated from 
the common sayings of peasants in the Ch'in 
and Han dynasties. The common 
sayings of peasants represented a summation 
of farming experiences of 
successive generations. Today in the border 
reiongs of Kiang-su, An-hwei, 
Shan-turn, and Ho-pei provinces, we can 
still hear the common peasant saying 
that "in order to know about the give 
grains, one should first observe the five 
woods."

In another classic, UNDERLINE Nung-cheng-
ch'uan-shu END (Encyclopedia 
of Agricultural Administration), the author 
Hsu Kuang-ch'i of the Ming dynasty 
also shared this view toward the 
relationship between agriculture and 
forestry. 
For instance, in teh 37th Volume of the said 
encyclopedia, in the chapter on 
planting, Hsu Kuang-ch'i quoted an ancient 
saying (common peasant saying) 
and wrote: "The ancients said 'thousands of 
mu-nu indicates no lean year.' Mu-
nu is the term for all trees."

"Thousands of mu-nu indicates no lean year" 
was of course the prevailing 
peasant saying. This was more expressive of 
the important contribution forests 
make to agriculture. "Mu-nu is the term for 
all trees" meant that what the 
ancients referred to as "mu-nu" were trees 
of all descriptions, or in other words, 
forests. The "thousand" was meant to mean 
many trees which indicate favorable 
agricultural climate. This would eliminate 
such disasters as drought, 
innundation, hail, wind, plant disease, and 
insect pests, which could create a lean 
year. In this oldest agricultural country in 
the world, the people have long had a 
clear concept of the important contribution 
of forestry to the development of 
agriculture. Two or three thousand years 
ago, the ancients of our country had 
already described the mutual relations 
between agriculture and forestry in such 
old ancient classics as the UNDERLINE Shih-
ching END and the UNDERLINE 
Shu-ching. END They collected the songs and 
folk sayings of the broad masses 
of the working people regarding gains and 
losses, and advantages and 
disadvantages of farming in the country, and 
recorded them in the classics as the 
basis for an extensive examination to 
improve farming in the country. There 
were many songs concerning the mutual 
relations between forestry and 
agriculture. The country has a few examples 
to show that since ancient times our 
country has always held in esteem the 
contribution of forestry to the 
development of agriculture.

In the song "Shan-yu-fu-su" form UNDERLINE 
Kuo-feng END of 
UNDERLINE Shih-ching, END the people sang of 
the spreading large trees and 
tall wooded forests in the mountains which 
protected the crops requiring 
humidity on the plains, such as "Ho-hua" and 
"Yu-lung" (both are herb crops). 
In the song "Ho-ming" of UNDERLINE Hsiao-ya, 
END there was also the song 
about large trees in the mountains which 
protected the happy valley of mulberry 
trees and hemp, and joyful gardens.

In particular, UNDERLINE Kuo-feng END was a 
book on customs of various 
feudal kingdoms. There were many references 
to the significant contributions 
made by forests to agricultural development, 
as well as to the important role 
played by forests in the clothing, feeding, 
and housing of the people. For 
instance, in the "Shan-yu-chu" of UNDERLINE 
Kuo-feng, END it was sung 
there were Chu trees in the mountains and Yu 
trees in the plains to provide 
leaves for silkworms, which in turn produced 
silk for clothing. There were Kao 
trees in the mountains and Chiu trees in on 
the plains for timber used in building 
houses. There were Chi trees in the 
mountains and Shu trees on the plains used 
for food and for producing wine. (Their 
seeds were ground for flour and used in 
making wine.)

Regarding the functions of forests in 
improving agricultural weather, there were 
also many general descriptions in the 
UNDERLINE Shih-ching, END which 
explains the contribution to agriculture. 
Furthermore, the UNDER Shih-ching 
END also contains descriptions of the 
relations between forests and animal 
husbandry, forests and sericulture, forests 
and hunting, and forests and some 
sideline production. These will not be 
quoted here.

Evidence of current facts

In our country, the mountain ranges and 
rivers run mainly in the direction from 
the northwest to the southeast. This permits 
the penetration of moisture from the 
southeast ocean through the seasonal winds 
(this superior condition is absent in 
Europe, America, and Africa), and enables 
many forest areas in a complex 
topography of mountains and rivers to 
receive and store moisture for the three 
changes in the states of water (moisture, 
rain, and frost and snow) to form a 
regional balance of cyclic transformation of 
water. This has created superior 
weather conditions for a small region. For 
this reason, in a year when the 
atmospheric conditions bring on drought, 
superior weather conditions exist in 
small areas in many forest grounds which 
protect nearby crops from drought. 
For instance, in the vicinity of Peking, 
villages such as Huang-t'a, Chang-chia-
p'pu, Ma-chia-pu, and Pei-chuan-t'a located 
in the forest areas near the Ch'ing-
shui River to the west of Peking never 
experienced drought. Such small regions 
which have superior weather are distributed 
consistently in all forest regions 
throughout the country. In particular, such 
areas of superior local weather are 
distributed even more extensively in the 
forest regions of Wu-ling. Even in the 
northwestern part of our country, which 
lacks forests, a small patch of isolated 
forest of about 100,000 mou would be 
conspicuously effective in inducing 
clouds and rain. This has been the case in 
Liu-kuei-wan (Shensi), Yu-wang 
(Ninghsia), and Ching-tai hsien and Hsing-
lungshan (Kansu). However, to those 
who have never observed the inland, the 
extensive facts of a conspicuous 
increase in rainfall in the various areas 
mentioned above would be incredible. 
The following are some examples quoted for 
the purpose illustration. 

Take the Liu-kuei-wan first as an example. 
This is a newly established, small, 
and isolated forest area. Before the 
liberation, the weather was very 
disagreeable, with the crops producing as 
low as only 10 chin per mou. Each 
year, three or four sowings in the spring 
were required before the shoots would 
reluctantly appear. The population 
settlement in the area gradually decreased 
from over 210 households to 7 households. 
Eleven thousand mou of arable land 
was enentually buried by sand. After the 
liberation, since 1950, afforestation has 
been carried out year after year. By 1961, 
the acreage afforested totalled in 
excess of 100,000 mou. In 1956, the weather 
began to show conspicuous 
improvement and the crop output per mou 
gradually increased. In 1958, the 
output of food crops was 83 chin per mou. 
Wheat was harvested for the first 
time. (Prior to 1956 only buckwheat could be 
cultivated in the area).

At present the output of farm products 
continues to increase with each passing 
year in Liu-kuei-wan. The per acre output 
and the acreage of arable land 
likewise increases each year, as well as a 
considerable increase in domesticated 
animals, fruits and willows. The rainfall, 
moisture content, and temperature 
undoubtedly also increase in Liu-kuei-wan, 
while incidents of winds and sand 
storms, drought, innundation, hale, frost, 
plant disease, and insect pests likewise 
decrease year after year. There is another 
example here showing the conspicuous 
influence of a forest region and a nonforest 
region upon agriculture. We shall 
quote the figures of an area which has long 
been under observation, that is, the 
northern slope of Wu-ling. On the northern 
slope of Wu-ling there is a forest 
area of the most beautiful trees, called 
Chiang-hua (Ling-tung). Neighboring the 
forest area (with a mountain range in 
between) is the farming area, called T'o-
chiang (Ling-hsi). Ling-tung is entirely 
forest and total in acreage 1,650,000 
mou. Ling-hsi is all farmland, totals in an 
area of 410,000 mou, with only 
sparsely located small patches of woods. A 
meteorological observation station is 
located in T'o-chiang in the farming region 
of Ling-hsi, and another station is 
located in Shui-k'ou of the Ling-tung forest 
region (on the perimeter of the forest 
area), with only a distance of 45 kilometers 
separating them. A very obvious 
distinction between them is the great 
difference in the amount of rainfall. As of 
1962, the annual average rainfall in T'o-
chiang was 1,422 millimeters, and that 
in Shui-k'ou was 1,644 millimeters, with an 
average annual difference of 220 
millimeters. There is also a conspicuous 
difference in the annual average relative 
humidity between the two areas. As of 1962, 
the annual average relative 
humidity was 74.2% in T'o-chiang and 85.8% 
in Shui-k'ou, with an average 
annual difference of 11.6%. The annual 
average temperature was 18.3 degrees 
centigrade in T'o-chiang and was 19.5 
degrees in Shui-k'ou, with an annual 
average difference of 1.2 degrees between 
them.

The contrast of meteorological factors 
between the Chiang-hua forest area and 
the T'o-chiang nonforest area fully complies 
with the laws regarding the 
capability of forests in increasing 
rainfall, and in raising humidity and 
temperature, and especially an oustanding 
increase in rainfall. This is obviously 
a point of great difference from the high 
latitude areas, grassland areas, desert 
areas, and some areas of low rainfall in 
other countries. Due to the difference in 
meteorological factors between the Chiang-
hua forest area and the T'o-chiang 
nonforest area, the output of paddy rice in 
the forest area and the surrounding 
vicinity, in general, would be 20 to 50 chin 
higher per mou than that in the 
nonforest area. Moreover, during a year of 
drought in the nonforest area, a 
normal harvest can be expected in the forest 
area.

The evidence of facts as listed above serves 
to illustrate the significant 
contribution of forestry to agricultural 
development. In order to have good 
agricultural harvests and to stabilize 
bumper harvests, it may be said that water 
reservoirs and irrigation canals are 
measures of immediate treatment. However, 
if the mountainous areas of water sources 
are denuded of forests, then the water 
sources will eventually be exhausted, and 
the water reservoirs and irrigation 
canals will dry up, thus eliminating the 
source of water available for storage and 
irrigation. 

There is no doubt that forests can induce 
superior agricultural weather. Deprived 
of the weather adjusting functions of 
forestry, superior agricultural weather will 
inevitably be disrupted, thus leading to a 
decrease in the agricultural harvest, or 
even making farming impossible.

Scientific Bases

1. Forestry can expand the scope of spring 
germination of crops.

All strains or varieties of crops require a 
certain temperature for germination in the 
spring. If the temperature is inadequate at 
the time of the spring germination, 
regardless of how luxuriantly the young 
shoots may grow, they will not mature to 
blossom and form seeds. This is especially 
true in food crops. If the temperature is 
inadequate during the time of the spring 
germination, a lean year may follow. For 
example, the spring wheat currently sowed in 
Peking (semi-winter strain), requires a 
temperature for its spring germination of 3 
degrees to 15 degrees centrigrade which must 
last for a period of 20 to 30 days. The 
spring barley (spring strain) requires a 
temperature of 5 degrees to 20 degrees 
centigrade for a period of 15 days to 
complete the spring germination. The 
temperature and period required for spring 
germination of these two types of spring 
wheat in Peking is adequate. If these crops 
are sown on the same latitude and elevation 
in the not far away Shan-kan-ho River area 
(upper reaches of Yung-ting-ho River) they 
cannot successfully pass the period of 
spring germination and form seeds, because 
that area--an ancient battlefield with all 
trees destroyed--lacks for that area--an 
ancient battlefield with all trees 
destroyed--lacks for forests which would 
adjust the weather. It is thus a barren area 
with drastic changes in temperature. In the 
spring, a freezing temperature (0 degrees 
centigrade) frequently appears in the 
morning and at night, while at noon the 
temperature is usually high, exceeding 20 
degrees centigrade. Furthermore, summer 
comes fast (after a very short spring), 
depriving the spring wheat and spring barley 
of the opportunity for spring germination. 
For this reason, it is impossible to 
cultivate spring wheat in the broad 
nonforest area in the upper reaches of the 
Yung-ting-ho River, while cultivation of 
winter wheat is even less feasible. Only 
buckwheat can be cultivated.

With forests cultivated, it is possible to 
chagne the temperature in the area. This is 
because forests mildly absorb and generate 
heat, and thus can change the inclement 
weather of drastic heat and cold to an 
extent that wheat can easily pass the period 
of spring germination. For instance, forests 
in Yenan were entirely destroyed during the 
war and the area was made unsuitable for 
wheat and cotton cultivation. Since the 
victory of the liberation war, forests in 
the vicinity of Yenan have grown 
increasingly more luxuriantly and have 
expanded in acreage. Today, wheat and cotton 
can be cultivated, and they also show good 
harvests.

Forests can balance the heat on the ground 
surface.  During the summer months which 
have the highest temperature, in the forests 
of the subtropical and temperate zones of 
our country, the temperature is usually 
about 10 degrees (centigrade) lower than 
that outside the forest area, thus easing 
the very hot temperature.  In the coldest 
month, the temperature in the forest is also 
usually about 5 degrees (centigrade) higher 
than that outside the forest area, thus also 
easing the severely cold weather.  
Accordingly, forests can serve to ease a 
drastic rise or fall in temperature, enlarge 
the scope of the temperature for the
spring germination of crops, and assure the 
proper temperature required for various 
crops to germinate, grow sufficiently, and 
yield bumperharvests.

2. FORESTS CAN PROVIDE THE HUMIDITY FOR 
SUFFICIENT GROWTH OF CROPS.
All crops require proper humidity for their 
growth at various stages.  For example, at 
the aforedescribed stage of spring 
germination, besides the proper temperature 
for growth it is also necessary to have the 
appropriate humidity.  Taking wheat as an 
example, in North China generally the winter 
wheat will begin spring germination in about 
50 days . For each 20 chin of seeds sown in 
the soil (about 1 mou), during the period of 
spring germination, it requires about 63% of 
relative humidity in the air, and about 74 
chin of water in one day and one night 
(computed with humidity transformed into 
water). When the humidity in the air is 
inadequate, spring germination will be 
impossible.  In its type of growth, the 
winter wheat of Peking is of the 
intermediate growth type, that is, the 
forest and grassland type.  In any severe 
felling of forests, or exhaustive cutting 
which leaves only a grassland climate, 
without the conservation of moisture by 
forests to adjust the climate, mountain 
floods will inevitably break out during the 
rainy season of the summer and air will be 
very dry during the drought season of the 
fall and winter.  This would lead to a 
change into the aforedescribed dry climate 
in the Shan-kan-ho River area, where wheat 
does not have the 63% of relative humidity 
needed to begin spring germination.  The 
only alternative would be cultivation of the 
more drought resistant buckwheat.

When the crops begin the photosynthetic 
period they require an even greater amount 
of humidity for growth.  In particular, in 
forest and grassland regions (such as the 
northwestern part of Hopei) if forest was 
not there to adjust the weather, there would 
exist a continental grassland weather, with 
a considerable decrease in humidity.  Under 
the circumstances, even if the crops have 
successfully passed the stage of spring 
germination, the stage of spring 
germination, they cannot begin the 
photosynthetic stage and gain maturity.  For 
example, after the stage of spring 
germination, the winter wheat would begin 
the photosynthetic stage after the vernal 
equinox.  At this time it requires a greater 
amount of humidity, which will be far beyond 
what the grassland weather will be able to 
provide.

Since humidity is an important factor at the 
various stages of the growth of crops, in 
order to stabilize bumper harvests of crops, 
it is necessary to have a definite, long 
lasting, and adequate humidity which does 
not vary greatly. In order to meet this 
indispensable requirement it is necessary to 
depend upon forests to conserve moisture and 
to maintain humidity.

3. FORESTS CAN INCREASE PRECIPITATION.

Regarding this question, some facts have 
been cited before and will not be repeated 
here. However, as this is now the crux of 
current discussion, it seems necessary to 
discuss the question further for a study and 
clarification.

Some person have pointed out that forest can 
only increase an insignificant amount of 
precipitation, and they also recalled 
Stalin's plan for transforming nature as 
proof of this. They claimed that the Soviet 
Union began afforestationi in 1950 in the 
northern dry tundra region where the annual 
precipitation was only about 150 milimeters. 
After 11 years of afforestation, the annual 
precipitation increased only between 20 and 
60 millimeters.

However, we should realize that an increase 
in the amount of precipitation of between 20 
and 60 millimeters is quite effective in an 
area where the annual precipitation was only 
150 millimeters. If this figure of increase 
can be applied for computation in Peking 
where the annual rainfail is 623 
millimeters, the rainfall here will reach an 
annual amount of 872 millimeters (that is an 
increase in the annual rainfall of 249 
millimeters). This is the proof of the fact 
that through afforestation it is possible to 
improve the Peking and northern Hopei region 
to the extent that it will become an area 
having an agricultural climate free from 
inundation and drought.

The contemporary facts also prove this 
point. For instance, several weather 
stations located in the Pai-hua-shan Forest 
Ground in Peking measured precipitation and 
obtained figures compatible with this rate 
of increase. In other words, the rainfall in 
the vicinity of the forest is more than one 
third higher than within the city of Peking.

In surveying the increase in precipitation 
near forests, this writer has reached a very 
evident law, that is, the effect of forests 
upon increased precipitation will become 
greater towards the south of our country. 
For instance, in the An-ting hsien of Hainan 
Island, in two adjacent areas of the same 
topography, the area which contains forests 
will have twice the amount of rainfall of 
the area which does not have forests. For 
this reason, we cannot compare the grassland 
country or grassland and forest country in 
Europe or America with our country of 
complex mountains and rivers.

Regarding the fact that forests can increase 
precipitation and improve agricultural 
weather, as mentioned before, a clear 
concept in this respect has long been 
established in our country. This writer 
recently came upon an ancient stone slab of 
the Han dynasty in Chiu-i-shan on the 
northern slope of Wu-ling.  The slab was 
inscribed by Ts'ai Yung. The first part of 
the writing on the slab sang the praise of 
the mountain for its effect of drawing 
clouds and precipitating rainfall for the 
benefit of the people, and the latter part 
praised the Emperors Yu and Shun.  The first 
part of the inscription is quoted as 
follows: "The lofty Chiu-i-shan is built by 
heaven.  The rocks are cut for the benefit 
of farming.  There are timely winds and 
auspicious rain for the benefit of the 
people.  The vast southern land sings the 
praise of the Emperors Yu and Shun for their 
sacred virtue and illustrious deeds.".

Chiu-i-shan is where Emperor Shun's 
mausoleum is located.  Cutting of the 
forests in this area has been forbidden for 
successive dynasties.  The trees grow 
luxuriantly there and the humidity 
frequently reaches the saturation point.  
There is the saying of "five winds and ten 
rains." The circle of rain extends to 
several hsien on the Hunan and Kwangsi 
border.  Due to the dual effect of forestry 
and the topography, the principal peak San-
feng-shih has become the most extensive 
topographic precipitation line of Chi-tien, 
Ming-chu, and Tu-lung in our country.  It is 
regretable that trees were cut excessively 
in late years, and thus rainfall has 
decreased and humidity has also been 
reduced.  If a large-scale State forest farm 
could be established here to join the 
Chiang-hua and Ching-chu forest grounds, it 
would be very easy to have the weather of 
"five winds and ten rains" (because of the 
favorable topography), to increase the 
amount of precipitation in the broad area, 
and thus to raise the agricultural output.

4. FORESTS CAN REDUCE AND CONTROL 
METEOROLOGICAL DISASTERS.
In recent years, there have been some 
changes in the agricultural weather in our 
country.  For instance, in the suburban 
areas of Peking, during the season of spring 
farming and sowing, the soil humidity showed 
a general decrease of from 5% to 10%.  The 
overwhelming majority of peanuts sowed last 
year did not grow properly, as part of them 
did not develop shoots.  Besides drought, 
there was also inundation (in the low areas 
and along the Yung-ting-ho River), hail 
(centered to the west of Peking), frost 
(general), and sand storms (centered in 
Huang-to-kang and Huang-tsun to the 
southwest of Peking.)

In order to eliminate the disasters of 
drought, inundation, hail, frost, and sand 
storms, apart from utilizing forests to 
regulate weather, there is no better method.  
Taking the case of Liu-kuei-wan 
(representative of the vast regions-of the 
Northwest and North China) --a serious area 
of disasters of drought, inundation, hail, 
frost, and sand storms--as an-example, it is 
understandable how forests can alleviate all 
meteorological disasters affecting 
agriculture.

In the old era before the.liberation, 
the all-year-round drought in Liu-kuei-wan 
was reflected in an annual rainfall of only
about 200 millimeters and an output of food 
grains of about 20 chin per mou. The land 
was sandy, without any suitable farmland.  
However, its entire annual rainfall of only 
200 millimeters was precipitated in a 
concentrated few days during July and 
August, thus resulting in an inundation in 
an otherwise desert-like region.  Hail was a 
frequent occurrence during every summer, 
differing only in the extent of the damage 
inflicted.  The frost season lasted until 
the middle of May each year, while the 
growing period for crops was frequently less 
than 120 days in a year.  The disasters of 
sand storms menaced all year long.  Over 
forty years ago, there were more than 14,000 
mou of farmland in Liu-kuei-wan and 210 
households. With the Kuomintang troops 
destroying forests, at the eve of the 
liberation there were only seven households 
left eking out a living in poverty from a 
few sandy areas.
After the liberation afforestation 
began in 1950, and has expanded the forest 
acreage year after year.  Consequently, the 
annual rainfall has increased from the 200 
millimeters (before the liberation) to 250 
millimeters ( in 1952), 384 millimeters (in 
1957), 457 millimeters (in 1958), and 526 
millimeters (in 1959).  The growing period 
for crops likewise increased from 125 days 
(before the liberation) to 137 days (in 
1957), 142 days (in 1958), and 157 days (in 
1959), attesting to the decrease of frost.  
In the forest areas, hail has virtually 
disappeared (since 1957), while sand storms 
have also considerably eased.  More than 
11,000 mou of farmland have been reclaimed, 
and another 10,000 mou of farmland newly 
created.  Drifting sand has been checked in 
50,000 mou of land, and the height of sand 
lowered from one to two ch'ang.  The 
population has increased to more than 360 
households.  With an acreage of 100 000 mou 
of forests, Liu-kuei-wan has gradually 
eliminated all meteorological disasters 
affecting agriculture in a desert areas 
which has long suffered from natural 
disasters.  In view of the proof shown in 
these acts, our confidence has been further 
strengthened in utilizing the
effect of forests to consolidate 
agricultural bumper harvests.

5. FORESTS, AND THEIR UNDERBRUSH, AND WEEDS 
CONSTITUTE THE ONLY FINE TOOLS FOR 
PRESERVING WATER AND SOIL
From a scientific point of view, in 
order to preserve water and soil for the 
consolidation of agricultural production it 
is necessary to cultivate forests of 
appropriate structure in all land where 
erosion may appear.  By appropriate 
structure is meant forests capable of 
conserving water.  First of all, there 
should be an appropriate extent of density, 
with spreading tall and medium size trees, 
and underbrush, as well as ferns and other 
vegetation cover.  This is the best type of 
a forest for the preservation of water and 
soil.  It can serve to avoid an outbreak of 
mountain flood, which occurs after sudden 
stormy precipitation and continuous 
rainfall.  The many layers of these forests 
can successfully obstruct the runoff flow 
during precipitation, while the organic 
matter and humus of the vegetation cover in 
the soil will also store considerable water.  
During the entire process of rainfall, they 
serve to prevent soil erosion.  Even after a 
torrential rainfall, the streams in the 
lower parts of the valleys will continue to 
flow gently.  At a time of long drought, the 
water level likewise will seldom decrease, 
but will continue to be adequate for the 
irrigation of the farmland.

The attempt to solve the problem of water 
and soil erosion by such methods as erecting 
flood-controlling dams and filling-up 
sedimentary land is only an immediate 
treatment not a fundamental treatment.  This 
has been the main reason for the failure of 
water control in successive dynasties. (The 
vast wind-laid loessland of our country is 
unique in the world.  The methods for 
treating mountain areas and water, 
therefore, should be different from those in 
other, countries.)

Soil and water are important elements in 
agriculture.  Through continuous erosion., 
water and soil are lost in rivers and seas.  
In other words, the basic elements of 
agriculture are subject to constant 
destruction.  There are those who think that 
the soil on the ground is thick and 
plentiful.  After the top layer is gone,
there is another layer below.  However, the 
top layer is the humus created in forests 
and is the most fertile soil with the best 
physical properties for farming.  In losing 
this layer of soil, not only fertility 
decreases, but also the ability of soil to 
store water and resist drought disappears.

It is thus apparent that apart from active 
afforestation of the waste mountains, with 
the whole country devoted to the protection 
of forests, there is no other better method 
to preserve water and soil, and to avoid 
erosion.  Water ponds, dams, ditches, and 
weirs are tools for economizing water 
resources, and are not implements producing 
water resources.  Only forests, and their 
underbrush, and weeds are the sole tools for 
preserving water and soil, and for 
cultivating water resources.

The aforediscussed was but a brief reference 
to the classics of successive generations in 
our country, in conjunction with common 
peasant sayings, and illustrates that for 
several thousands of years our farming 
experiences and our scientific heritage have 
invariably clearly established the concept 
that forestry plays a significant role in 
agricultural development.  The historic 
facts of several thousand years and the 
current examples of farming losses and 
gains, such as in the changes in Liu-kuei-
wan, also adequately serves to prove the 
functions of forestry to the development of 
agriculture. The afore-discussed also 
touched upon the question on the basis of 
the modern sciences.  In terms of 
meteorology, agrology, and agronomy, the 
conclusion would invariably be identical.

In order to apply the "Eight-character 
Agricultural Charter," as pointed out by 
Chairman Mao, to stabilize agricultural 
bumper harvest it is necessary to carry out 
an intensive study of the individual 
elements of meteorological factors, water 
and soil factors, and manpower factors 
(including plant protection).  The first 
major problems encountered will be 
improvement of the meteorological factors 
and protection of water and fertile soil.  
Under all existing conditions, it is then 
the task to study application of scientific 
and technological measures to stabilize the 
bumper output.  Regarding the first two 
major problems, in terms of the current 
level of scientific knowledge, only on the 
basis of utilizing the enormous functions of 
forestry for adjusting weather and 
protecting water and soil will it be 
possible to consolidate the foundation for 
agriculture and to enable the scientific and 
technological measures to enhance their 
expected effect.