BKED TESTING 4 * 151 



PART V.— Farm Crops 



CHAPTEB XXVIII.— Seed Testing 



140. Primary Object of Agriculture. — Professor S. 

 W. Johnson, one of our foremost writers on agricul- 

 tural subjects, thus defines the object of agriculture: 

 • The object of agriculture is the production of certain 

 plants and certain animals which are employed to 

 clothe and otherwise serve the human race. The first 

 aim, in all cases, is the production of plants."* The 

 successful farmer should then strive to produce, at the 

 smallest possible cost, the largest crops of certain 

 plants. In order to produce the largest crops he must 

 know something of the habits and needs of the plants 

 in question. It would be unwise to attempt to grow 

 rice or cotton in Maine, or sugar beets in Florida; nor 

 would it be advisable to attempt to grow celery in I 

 (In. sand} soil, or sweet potatoes in a cool, damp soil. 

 Bach plant has its preference in regard to soil and 



climate, ami each requires for its proper growth and 



-pment certain kinds of plant food. The Btudy 



of agriculture among other things endeavors to find out 

 the various requirements of different farm crops, and 

 to make rules for their cultivation which, if properly 

 observed, will produce the largest possible crop at the 

 lead cost. 



•How Crops Grow, by 8. W. Johnson, page L 



