PREFACE 



If country boys and girls are to be kept on the farm, it 

 is incumbent on parents and school authorities to enlist 

 their interest in scientific farming and stock raising at the 

 earliest possible age. A text on Agriculture for grade or 

 rural schools should, therefore, begin with a discussion of 

 farm animals, because it is vastly easier to stir up enthu- 

 siasm among children over the raising of fine stock than it 

 is over soil elements or even fine crops. 



iMany texts have reversed this order, because certain 

 farmers^ organizations have so recommended. However, if 

 education is our object, the child mind should receive first 

 consideration in presenting any subject. - 



The author was born and reared on an Ohio farm and 

 taught in rural schools for several winters. He was later 

 a supervisor of township schools. His knowledge of actual 

 farm life and rural schools on the one hand, and of the 

 child on the other, is offered in explanation of this attempt 

 to place before the children of the common schools a simple 

 and stimulating introduction to scientific farming. 



Grateful acknowledgments are due to the U. S. Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture for a number of fine photographs and 

 for much valuable material from which the author has 

 drawn freely. The author and publishers also desire to 

 express thanks to the Agricultural Extension Department 

 of the International Harvester Company for a number of 

 fine plates and half tones chiefly of animals and farm 

 scenes, selected by the author, and for valuable sugges- 

 tions. To others who have kindly aided us with photo- 

 graplis, credit has been given in the body of the book. 



William L. Nida. 



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