4 INTRODUCTION 



volumes was originally written by experts and is now abridged by 

 experts. It therefore follows that these volumes represent the best 

 and most practical portions of what has been accomplished for the 

 husbandman by the Departments of Agriculture and the numerous 

 Experiment Stations of both the United States and Canada. 



While the compilation was being made the following positive in- 

 struction was given to the abridgers: (1) To make no original state- 

 ments or conclusions whatever, but to use solely and wholly matter 

 prepared by the Agricultural Departments and the Experiment Sta- 

 tions of the two countries; the only variations from these instructions 

 were a few extracts from reading course proceedings, lectures on agri- 

 culture or minutes of farmers' societies or institutes. (2) To consult 

 all available authorities on each subject before making a selection. 

 (3) To select extracts, if deemed advisable, from several authorities 

 on the same subject and join them together in connected and prac- 

 tical form. (4) To select only what is of practical value to the hus- 

 bandman and his family in their everyday occupations. (5) To 

 duly weigh the writings of all authorities and use extracts only from 

 the latest and best. (6) To make the interests of the farmer para- 

 mount during all steps of abridgment. (7) To give the Departments 

 of Agriculture and the Experiment Stations due credit for the ex- 

 tracts. (8) To cite all authorities, so that farmers wanting any com- 

 plete bulletin can secure it. 



