2 Elementary Principles of Agriculture 



for profit is a matter of business Knowing how these 

 things are done, how to control the natural forces so 

 that certain results are secured, are matters of knowl- 

 edge. When all this knowledge is systematically ar- 

 ranged, we have a science. As it is about agriculture, 

 it is agricultural science. 



3. Natural Science is organized knowledge of the 

 phenomena of natural objects. The soil, the plants and 

 the animals with which the farmer works are natural 

 objects. A knowledge of the science of the natural ob- 

 jects of the farm serves to guide the farmer in the 

 practice of his craft. Knowing how plants grow is not 

 only interesting, but also useful information to persons 

 who grow plants. The same is true of animals. To know 

 something of how plants grow is to have a knowledge 

 of botany. To know how to grow plants is to have 

 some knowledge of agriculture. 



4. A Knowledge of the Science of Agriculture is de- 

 sirable. Ability to work amounts to little without the 

 application of knowledge. We may know how, or possess 

 the skill to do a certain kind of work, without knowing 

 the reason for doing it in that particular way. A man 

 may guide a team and hold a plow so that it runs 

 smoothly, and yet not know why, or when, or how to 

 plow, to secure a desired result. Hence, we have an art 

 of doing things, and a science of why, when and how. 

 The master workman must possess the scientific knowl- 

 edge that underlies his trade. 



5. How a Knowledge of Agriculture is Gained. Knowl- 

 edge comes by exact observation and correct thinking. 

 Observations are sometimes incorrect or incomplete. 

 As a basis for correct thinking, we must have accurate 

 observation. Books are merely the printed statements 



