PREFACE 



A FEW years ago the study of agriculture was introduced into common schools as 

 an experiment; now, in most states it is on the list of required studies a place to 

 which its importance well entitles it. The subject is as interesting and as teachable 

 as it is important, dealing in a practical way with the elementary principles of many 

 sciences. 



The purpose of teaching agriculture is not to make a farmer of each child, any 

 more than the purpose of teaching literature is to make an author of each one. The 

 study is, however, especially useful to children who will some day be men and women 

 with good farms to maintain or poor ones to improve. The knowledge of the forces 

 and laws which control plant and animal development raises the daily round of farm 

 tasks from drudgery to intelligent labor. As labor is better informed, it is better 

 directed; it brings larger returns in dollars and in happiness. 



The aim of this book is so to state the scientific facts and principles which under- 

 lie the processes of agriculture that they will be intelligible and interesting to young 

 people. These principles are stated briefly but clearly; illustrations and examples 

 are drawn from common crops and methods. The constant effort is to bring the stu- 

 dent in contact with nature, to have him observe for himself how plants live and 

 develop under various conditions, to learn by these observations and by simple ex- 

 periments the relation of the soil and its elements to crop growing, and to understand 

 how the processes of nature may be influenced and aided by man. By means of the 

 experiments described and suggested, every student can use to advantage the great 

 laboratory of nature. 



It is believed that the full experiments and exercises on every topic, the orderly 

 arrangement of subjects, the clear chapter outlines, and the full index make this book 

 especially valuable for class-room use. The appendix supplies useful tables and sug- 

 gestions for supplementary study of special subjects. No pains has been spared to 

 make the illustrations really illustrate the text, and thus add to the value as well as to 

 the attractiveness of the book. 



The authors and publishers desire to make acknowledgment to the Department 

 of Agriculture, Washington, D.C., for the use of numerous illustrations belonging to it. 

 For photographs, information, and other assistance, thanks are due to Professor 

 W. B. Alwood, Miss S. B. Sipe, to many persons connected with the Department of 

 Agriculture, and to the directors of various State Agricultural Experiment Stations. 



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