Download or read book This Bittersweet Soil written by Sucheng Chan and published by Univ of California Press. This book was released on 1986 with total page 536 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The role of the Chinese in California agriculture during the later decades of the 19th century and early part of the 20th century was an integral aspect of the agricultural history of the western United States. Although the number of Chinese involved in agricultural occupations at one time never exceeded 6000 to 7000 workers, their lack of numbers does not diminish their impact. Author Chan, of Chinese origin, has made extensive use of census records and county archival sources to produce the first full history of the Chinese in California agriculture.