PREFACE 



The present volume attempts what has not yet been ac- 

 complished in elementary texts on agriculture the combin- 

 ing of real practical information with concrete home and 

 school projects to be carried out by the pupils. Agriculture, 

 of all subjects, can not be taught from within a text-book. 

 Nor, on the other hand, can it be well taught by the teacher 

 who is not a specialist without a good text-book by means 

 of which to unify the instruction and lead to an intelligent 

 interest in the farm and its problems. Unless the pupils 

 busy themselves with actual agricultural activities, the study 

 becomes mere theory and of doubtful value. This text is a 

 guide to concrete work and interest on the farm, in the 

 garden and about the home. 



Yet the text is more than a laboratory guide. It gives a 

 large amount of practical, scientific information wholly 

 without technical terms. Further, this information is al- 

 ways so immediately related to definite farm projects as to 

 have meaning and application. Scientific facts and their use 

 go hand in hand. Theory and practise are never divorced. 

 The old maxim, "Learn to do by doing," is constantly fol- 

 lowed, and the doing made natural and worth while to the 

 child by being connected with his home interests. 



Hardly a day's assignment occurs in the book, therefore, 

 that does not present some real project for the pupils to 

 carry out in connection with the farm or home life. Nor 

 are the problems set the child without the information or 

 guidance necessary to their intelligent solution. The re- 



