ELEMENTARY PRINCIPLES 

 OF AGRICULTURE 



PART I 



CHAPTER I 



AGRICULTURE AND KNOWLEDGE 



1. Agriculture and Life. "The object of agriculture," 

 says Professor Johnson, " is the production of certain 

 plants and certain animals which are employed to feed, 

 clothe, and otherwise serve the human race." Every 

 American should understand the elementary principles 

 of agriculture, because it is our country's most impor- 

 tant industry. Whatever materially affects the pro- 

 ductions of the farms and ranches also affects the trades 

 and professions, for the latter are the chief consumers 

 of agricultural products. 



2. The Three Phases of Agriculture. There are three 

 phases of agriculture: first, the business phase; second, 

 the arts or crafts phase; and third, the scientific phase. 

 Agriculture, as a means of making a living, is a business. 

 Growing crops and stock, and the manufacturing of 

 these raw materials into finished products, are neces- 

 sary arts, based on a knowledge of the working of natu- 

 ral forces. The giving of milk by a cow, or the develop- 

 ment of a peach from a flower, are natural phenomena. 

 Increasing the flow of milk, or increasing the fruitful- 

 ness of a plant, are natural arts. Doing these things 



A (1) 



