THE IMPORTANCE OF AGRICULTURE. 11 



the state and commands the principal attention of the lead- 

 ing men. Here the citizen is less closely iavolved in the 

 affairs of government, and looks after his own class inter- 

 ests himself. An American citizen glories in his indepen- 

 dence, but in this case he suffers considerably as compared 

 with farmers in other countries. There is then all the more 

 need of private and personal enterprise among farmers. 

 American farmers are better educated, read more and 

 are better able to advance their own interests by skillful 

 industry and untiring energy than any others. Hence, 

 technical literature of the highest class abounds, and agri- 

 culture is well represented in it. And these pages are of- 

 fered as a modest contribution of a farmer and student to 

 this literature, and to his brother farmers and students. 



