CONTENTS. 



PART I. GENERAL AGRICULTURE. 



Farming as an Occupation. 



Agriculture tne basis of civilization and wealth of a country Its aim and scope compared with other 

 avocations. Dignity of farm labor. Its relation to physical, mental, and moral culture Its 

 influence upon National industry and prosperity Original calling of mankind Independence of 

 the farmer Advantages of a farmer being educated to his business Old and new methods of farm 

 ing compared Elements of success in farming Farming can be made profitable. 3 



Soils. 



The origin of soils The constitution and texture of soils Their classification Clay soils and their 

 management Gravelly soils Loamy soils Marly and calcareous soils Silt and alluvial soils 

 Muck Peat soils and their cultivation Sub-soils Friableness of the soil Light colored clays 

 Marls and sands Color of soils The Dew Point Analysis of various soils Analysis determines 

 the constituents of a soil, but not its mechanical condition Analysis of plants more satisfactory 

 than that of soils Both are aids when combined with experience and observation. 10 



Fertilizers. 



Elements of plant food Elements necessary to supply soils Organic and inorganic elements Plant, 

 life and plant food General propositions concerning plant food Exhaustion of soil by farm crops 

 Materials removed from the soil by various products Deficiency of potash in common fertilizers 

 and in soils Common manures and commercial fertilizers Barnyard manure and its value Poul 

 try manure Night soil and poudrette Sewage as a fertilizer The sewage of Paris Sail in a Paris 

 sewer Composts Their value How to construct a compost pile The value as fertilizers of flesh 

 Blood Hair Horns Hoofs Fish Fish Guano, &c Cotton seed as a fertilizer Castor and 

 Linseed Pomace Animal dust Peruvian Guano Rectified Peruvian Guano American Guano 

 Lime Ground Limestone and shells Gas Lime Wood ashes Coal ashes Soot Charcoal dust 

 Peat and peat ashes Sea-weed and sea-weed ashes Bones Marl Gypsum Salt as a fertilizer 

 Potash Sources of supply of potash The Stassfurt potash mines Composition of German Potash 

 salts How to use potash salts as a fertilizer Leaves of trees as fertilizers Manuring with green 

 crops Clover for vegetable manure Various crops for green manure Sod Special fertilizers for 

 various crops Stockbridge Formula for Wheat, Indian Corn, Fodder Corn, Rye, Oats, Buck 

 wheat, Potatoes, Field Beans, Swede Turnips or Rutabagas, Onions, Hay. Application of 

 manures Quantity to be used The fallow system. 29 



Tillage. 



The advantages of- tillage It aids in supplying plant food Objections to tillage answered Judgment 

 and skill necessary to successful tillage Different soils require different methods Tillage should 

 always be adapted to the wants of the crops cultivated and the character of the soil The best im 

 plements essential The plow the principal reliance of the farmer in the labor of tillage The plow 

 should be suited to the kind of work required, a light plow should not be used for heavy work, 

 nor a sub-soil plow for light work Sulky and Gang plows, Chilled plows, &c Lands that should 

 be plowed in the fall Lands that should be plowed in the spring Best method of fall plowing 

 Ridging Manner of plowing a field Deep and shallow plowing Depth of plowing must depend 

 upon different conditions, such as the character of the soil and the crops to be cultivated Subsoil 

 plowing The principal material for plant food is to be found in the surface or agricultural soil 

 When desirable to break up the subsoil A knowledge of the character of the subsoil essential to 



