author
F. H. (Franklin Hiram) King
1848–1911
Best known for linking careful field observation with practical farming advice, this pioneering agricultural scientist helped readers see soil, water, and farm design in a new way. His writing still stands out for its curiosity, clarity, and respect for long-tested farming methods.
1 Audiobook
Farmers of Forty Centuries; Or, Permanent Agriculture in China, Korea, and Japan
by F. H. (Franklin Hiram) King
About the author
Born near Whitewater, Wisconsin, in 1848, Franklin Hiram King was an American agricultural scientist, educator, and inventor. He studied at Whitewater State Normal School and later at Cornell University, then built a career focused on making farming more efficient and more scientifically grounded.
King taught agricultural physics at the University of Wisconsin and later worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. He became known for practical innovations including the cylindrical tower silo and a gravity ventilation system for dairy barns, along with influential work on soils, water movement, and farm engineering.
He is especially remembered by modern readers for Farmers of Forty Centuries, a book published after his travels in East Asia and after his death in 1911. In it, he described farming systems in China, Korea, and Japan with unusual care and admiration, and the book remains widely read for its early attention to sustainable agriculture and soil stewardship.