CAMPBELL'S SOIL CULTURE MANUAL 9 



a variety of results there is just as much opportunity for 

 original research. The flower garden does not contain all 

 the wonders. 



I present this Manual to the public with greater con- 

 fidence than its predecessors, because the evidence has 

 been accumulating that the secret of success in the semi- 

 arid region lies in proper fitting of the soil. To the evi- 

 dence which has come directly from the numerous exper- 

 imental farms that have been handled under my personal 

 direction has been added the testimony of scores of farmers 

 who have followed more or less imperfectly the directions 

 contained in previous editions of the Soil Culture Manual. 

 Along with this is the more important fact that every- 

 where in the states most affected there has come to be 

 general recognition of the vital truths of the system and 

 there is such a unanimous interest in the whole subject 

 that it is no longer necessary to beg for a hearing. I have 

 greater confidence also from the fact that all the time I 

 have been learning more and more about the subject, have 

 been developing my own ideas and dissipating my own 

 doubts, until I feel sure that what I am here to present 

 has far greater merit than anything which has preceded. 

 I have not done with experiments nor have I satisfied my- 

 self that I have reached the very best possible results, 

 but I do know that I have gone a long way toward per- 

 fecting a system through which the forces of nature may 

 be made to serve man at all times. 



It is not intended that this Soil Culture Manual shall 

 contain any simple code of imperative rules to govern 

 every act of the farmer in his culture of the soil. The 

 nature of the subject forbids this. What must be done 

 is to give the inquirer a clear statement of general prin- 

 ciples, with simple directions for applying the same under 



