Fernand Braudel's Daily Bread

[Ricardo Duchesne]

> One major difference between wheat and rice is that the later tends to
> grow in a system of polyculture.  Along with the rice, fish or ducks
> and sometimes even pigs are grown.  Comparing grain yields can be
> misleading.

That is a major difference as I take that term to mean 
multicropping. Yields can be compared and the results are that 
China had far higher yields per area than Europe at the expense of 
higher inputs of labor but offering employment to its growing 
population and generating comparable living standards right until 
1800. But I think my name has popped out too many times in this 
list last few days.