2 ELEMENTS OF AGRICULTURE 



every science that deals with the factors of plant and 

 animal growth contributes to the science of agriculture. 

 It involves more problems than any other occupation, 

 unless it be housekeeping. It used to be said that any one 

 could farm. But this was merely another way of saying 

 that farming was such a difficult study that no one knew 

 much about it, and that all, therefore, stood on an equal 

 footing. Now we say that it requires as much mental alert- 

 ness and education to be a good farmer as to be a lawyer, 

 doctor, or merchant; which is another way of saying that 

 much is now known about agriculture, so that one who 

 does not avail himself of this knowledge is handicapped. 



2. Divisions of Agriculture. Agriculture has many sub- 

 divisions. The more important ones are: 



(1) Crop-growing (or crop husbandry), including grain- 

 growing, forage-cropping, fruit-growing, forestry, floricul- 

 ture, cotton-growing, vegetable-gardening, and the like. 



(2) Live-stock-growing (or animal husbandry), as cattle- 

 raising, horse-raising, swine-raising, sheep-raising, poultry- 

 raising, apiculture, fish-culture, etc. 



(3) Manufacture (or agricultural technology'), as butter- 

 making, cheese-making, cider-making, canning, evaporat- 

 ing, and such other manufacturing as is done on the farms 

 or in close association with farms. 



3. Forces Controlling Plant and Animal Growth. There 

 are two forces that control all plant and animal growth: 

 heredity and environment. Heredity is the transmission 

 of characters from the parent to the offspring. Environ- 

 ment includes all the external influences and conditions, 

 such as heat, light, food supply, struggle for existence. 



4. Heredity. A cauliflower seed looks just like a cab- 



