PREFACE 



The extensive use of the previous edition of Field Crops 

 indicates that it fulfilled an acceptable mission when agricul- 

 tural courses were being formulated and a text of this char- 

 acter was most needed . The study of agriculture has recently- 

 received from educators and governmental authority a new 

 impetus on account of the economic importance of crop 

 production. The study of field crops will, therefore, be 

 undertaken more widely than ever before and with a keener 

 appreciation of its value in the national welfare. 



In order to be fully apace with matters of figures and 

 fact, a thorough revision has been made of all those parts of 

 the text where experience has suggested improvement or 

 changes of statistics or conditions have made it necessary. 

 It is now believed that it contains the latest available infor- 

 mation and practice with reference to the subjects treated. 

 At no other time has there been so national a demand for the 

 specialized teaching of agriculture. It is hoped that this 

 text in its present form will commend itself anew as adapted 

 to the peculiar requirements of these intensive times. 



Field Crops has been prepared for students of high school 

 grade and for those in man}^ other public and private agri- 

 cultural schools and colleges that desire to teach practical 

 scientific courses in agriculture. Not only as regards sub- 

 ject matter l)ut with special reference also to the language 

 and style of presentation the book has been adapted to the 

 comprehension and interest of the student. It is more per- 

 sonal than bookish. 



The work is intended to cover the period of the school 

 3^ear. The time spent upon it, however, may be reduced to 

 a semester by omitting the study of those crops which f^O/if^^ 



