vi Preface 



must apply the best knowledge and the shrewdest skill to the 

 soil. 



To meet the new demands, many texts are appearing. The 

 present book is one of the contributions to this rapidly enlarging 

 field, drawn from several years' experience as a teacher of 

 agriculture in both high school and college. It aims to present 

 instruction in practical agriculture in such a way as to be read- 

 ily understood by both pupil and general reader, and to be 

 directly adaptable, at the same time, to the needs of the class- 

 room and laboratory. 



Agriculture is a subject of great variety. One person cannot 

 cover it all. As indicated in certain parts of the text, some of 

 the matter has been compiled from publications of the United 

 States Department of Agriculture and the state experiment 

 stations. This form of compilation suggests the kind of valuable 

 information that can be gleaned from these publications. Too 

 few teachers realize the great extent of practical teaching- 

 material in these bulletins and circulars. 



In writing a text-book, an author must now call on many 

 persons. Appreciation is expressed to the following individuals, 

 public departments, and firms for aid and for criticism of the 

 manuscript and for many of the photographs used in making the 

 illustrations : L. H. Bailey, C. H. Lane, E. A. Miller, F. E. Heald, 

 W. R. Barrows, M. A. Carleton, Joseph A. Arnold, C. C. Cleve- 

 land, A. E. Young, J. E. McClintock, O. C. Peck, G. E. Stayner, 

 P. G. Holden, M. A. Blake, M. B. Waite, John W. Roberts, 

 J. F. Jackson, H. K. Bush-Brown, Charles Gray, J. W. Clise, 

 S. C. Hallock, M. V. Richards ; the United States Department 

 of Agriculture, Ohio State University, the experiment stations 

 of Iowa, Illinois, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Ohio; Cut- 

 away Harrow Company, Emerson-Brantingham Implement 

 Co., International Harvester Co., The Avery Co., Southern 

 Railway, Central of Georgia Railway, Janesville Plow Co., 

 Aspinwall Manufacturing Co., The Deming Co., Thoroughbred 

 Record, Arabian Horse Club, Acme Harrow Co., Moline Plow 



