Based on a large historiographic material of the 18th-20th centuries, the book for the first time in historical science provides the most complete description of the features of slash-and-burn agriculture in contrast to field arable farming. The work not only fills a gap in the history of the national economy, but also contains criticism of some erroneous provisions in theoretical issues of the history of the development of society. The monograph has significant historiographic value, since it provides an overview of a large number of published works on slash-and-burn agriculture. The book is intended for specialists in the field of history, archeology, ethnography, agriculture, forestry, students of history departments of universities and pedagogical institutes, as well as agronomic departments of agricultural and forestry institutes.