PREFACE 



The art of agriculture is based upon the production of 

 crops. Consequently, it seems highly desirable that the 

 study of agriculture should be begun by a general survey 

 of the field of crop production. By such a survey the stu- 

 dent acquires a general knowledge of the many kinds of 

 crops grown in America. He is thus able to supplement 

 by a broader view the knowledge gained in the compara- 

 tively narrow field of personal experience. 



In this book the attempt has been made to carry out con- 

 sistently a method of teaching which has led to successful 

 results through many years of use. It is a combination of 

 the laboratory and the project methods in which personal 

 experience with real objects precedes the study of each crop 

 considered. So far as possible these laboratory and project 

 outlines are made so simple that they can be carried on in 

 connection with any school. While the book is especially 

 intended to meet the needs of the Junior High School, it 

 should also prove serviceable in other schools. 



The book furnishes the teacher with an abundant series 

 of simple directions for work for each pupil to follow out before 

 taking up the study of the text. . The latter gives the most 

 essential facts concerning the characteristics, history, culture, 

 varieties, and enemies of practically all our crops. There 

 are in addition many charts which show the total production 

 of the various crops in the world as a whole, as well as the 

 production in the United States and in special states. 



In nearly all cases more outlines are given than are neces- 

 sary for an adequate study of the text, hence the teacher 



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