In a detailed and innovative account, Y.Y. Kueh provides a scholarly and authoritative study of the performance of the agricultural sector of the Chinese economy over the past sixty years. Based on detailed statistical data and other source material, Kueh analyzes the interrelationships among natural, economic, and institutional factors which lie at the heart of China's agricultural performance. He describes policy changes, technological advances, and natural factors, and distinguishes the effect of each factor on the level of agricultural production. Through his analysis, Kueh predicts future trends in Chinese agriculture that will be valuable information for all those interested in Chinese economic development and comparative economic history.