PREFACE 



culture can be successfully taught without technicalities. It 

 has been their aim to present a treatment so clear that chil- 

 dren from fourteen to sixteen years of age could read and 

 profit if necessary without a teacher. They have also tried 

 to make the subject-matter so vital and helpful that all who 

 are interested in agriculture, even practical farmers, will 

 care to read it, and desire to carry out its lessons in practise. 



Teachers will recognize and welcome the attempt to use 

 the study of agriculture in bringing about a closer relation 

 between the school and the home. Not only teachers, but 

 county superintendents and agricultural agents and leaders 

 will appreciate the many helpful suggestions concerning 

 Demonstration Days, Play Contests and Agricultural Club 

 Projects ; for these are coming to occupy an important place 

 in agricultural education. The great amount of care given 

 to make the lessons teachable through the outlining of many 

 definite and practical laboratory, field and home projects will 

 appeal to all who use the text, and save much time for the 

 busy teacher. 



The authors gratefully render their acknowledgments for 

 much cordial help received from the staffs of various state 

 colleges of agriculture and the United States Department of 

 Agriculture ; from Mr. Harry Lamon, Senior Poultry Hus- 

 bandman, United States Department of Agriculture; from 

 Mr. C. B. Smith, Chief of the Office of Extension Work, 

 North and West, United States Department of Agriculture, 

 and Mr. J. A. Evans, Assistant Chief, Office of Extension 

 Work, South, United States Department of Agriculture; 

 from Mr. J. C. Hogenson, of Utah ; Mr. T. J. Newbill, of 

 Pullman, Washington ; Mr. F. L. Griffin, of Corvallis, Ore- 

 gon; Mr. B. H. Cocheron, of California, and Mr. W. E. 

 Vaplon, of Colorado. Especially valuable have been the 

 suggestions and material received from the colleges of agri- 

 culture of Iowa, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Ohio, New 

 York, Massachusetts, Alabama, Minnesota, Kansas, Utah 

 and Nebraska. 



