PREFACE. 



THE purpose of this book is to state in logical order 

 the elementary principles of scientific agriculture, and 

 to show the relation of these scientific facts to farm 

 practice. The need of such a book has been strongly 

 felt by the author in his work as a teacher, not only of 

 college students, but of those already engaged in farming. 



His experience, both as a practical farmer and as a 

 teacher of the theory and application of agricultural 

 science, leads him to believe that the principles and 

 relations of scientific agriculture, if set forth clearly and 

 in a scientific manner, can be successfully taught in our 

 country district schools. It is here that such education 

 must begin, if it is to reach and influence the mass of 

 farmers, upon whom rests the chief burden of irrational 

 practice, and through whom must come any direct pro- 

 gress in the true development of the farming industry. 



In the preparation of the book no attempt has been 

 made to cover the whole field of the various sciences 

 in their relations to agriculture ; in many branches, only 

 simple facts are stated, though it has been the aim to 

 make the book scientific as far as it goes, and thus a 

 safe guide to practical men in their farming operations, 

 as well as a foundation upon which further study may 



be based. 



3 



