CONTENTS 



CHAPTER I THE SOIL 



PAGE 



Section i. Origin of the soil I 



2. Tillage of the soil ... .6 



3. The moisture of the soil . . . .10 



4. How the water rises in the soil . . .14 



5. Draining the soil 15 



6. Improving the soil 18 



7. Manuring the soil 22 



CHAPTER II THE SOIL AND THE PLANT 



Section 8. Roots 27 



9. How a plant feeds from the soil . . .31 



10. Root tubercles ... -33 



11. The rotation of crops . 35 



CHAPTER III THE PLANT 



Section 12. How a plant feeds from the air . . . 41 



13. The sap current ...... 42 



14. The flower and the seed . . . -44 



15. Pollination 48 



1 6. Crosses, hybrids, and cross-pollination . . 50 



17. Plant propagation by buds . . . -54 



1 8. Plant seeding: cotton; wheat . . .62 



19. Selecting seed corn 69 



20. Weeds 73 



21. Seed purity and vitality . . . -77 



