INTRODUCTION 



WHERE it is possible, we believe it is desirable to have the 

 student gather the materials used in the laboratory. In some 

 cases it is even more desirable to have the greater part of the 

 laboratory in the fields near or on the agrostology plots. 



There is no reason why each high school that carries a course 

 in field crops, should not have a few agrostology plots where 

 materials that are difficult to obtain can be grown, thus afford- 

 ing fresh material for the work. Suggestions and plans for 

 this may be obtained from your state experiment station. 



Each student should provide himself with a large loose-leaf 

 notebook, one dozen sheets of cross section paper, one-half 

 dozen sheets of medium grade drawing paper, and a note paper 

 filler. 



All exercises should be followed in sequence of relationship, 

 and each written up in full as soon as completed. A plan which 

 proves satisfactory to both teacher and student is to require 

 the description of each experiment, as completed, to be handed 

 in for approval or correction. It should be returned at the 

 opening of the next laboratory period. 



A list of selected references bearing on the subject is given 

 at the close of each practicum. From a thorough study of 

 these the student will get reliable information on each topic 

 and it will serve to open up the vista for that subject. 



It is assumed that the student has some knowledge of botany, 

 and this course should illustrate and clarify biological principles 



learned in his previous study. 



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