EDITOR'S PREFACE 



THERE are many types of text-books in agriculture. 

 Three types have now found their places in The Rural 

 Text-Book Series : One type, represented by Warren's 

 "Elements of Agriculture,-" 7 expounds the general basis 

 and practice of the agricultural pursuit; another type, 

 represented in Lyon and Fippin's " Principles of Soil Man- 

 agement," presents in detail one of the large fundamental 

 subjects; and another type, represented in the present 

 volume, explains the reasons and practices underlying the 

 raising of particular crops. 



These three honest books also represent three ranges of 

 presentation : the Warren, a high school method ; the Lyon 

 and Fippin, a distinctly college method; and the Duggar, 

 an intermediate method, designed for both advanced high 

 school and college. 



A book may be adapted at the same time to college work 

 and to reading and reference by the best farmers. The 

 practicing farmer is increasingly requesting books that give 

 him real reasons and real facts. Text-books will increase 

 in use among farmers, not only among those farmers who 

 have had college instruction, but also with those who have 

 come to their work by other routes, but who desire to proceed 

 substantially. These text-books open new fields of observa- 

 tion. How many farmers really know how the roots of the 

 wheat plant look, or what is their mode of growth, or how 

 these roots compare with those of oats ? How many know 



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