INTRODUCTION TO THIRD EDITION. 



The author of this little book is gratified and feels a reason- 

 able pride that his modest, though most earnest work has 

 proved useful to and been approved by the farming com- 

 munities of our country, as appears quite evident from the fact 

 that all of the first two editions have been sold, while the work 

 is still called for ; hence, this third and improved edition is 

 now offered to the public, hoping it will be acceptable. 



That large and growing Order of farmers, " Patrons of Hus- 

 bandry," will find this volume a valuable work to be owned 

 and read in all of the Granges of the country a useful guide 

 and manual for all who thoughtfully read it. The same sug- 

 gestion is applicable in reference to that other growing organ- 

 ization, the " Farmers' Alliance." In fact, the information it 

 contains will be equally useful to all Farmers' Clubs and Socie- 

 ties in every part of the country where our wheat is much 

 grown. Our country cannot easily produce too much wheat; 

 the populations of the world bread eaters are constantly 

 increasing, while the surface of the earth, the numbers of acres 

 of land, cannot be increased, but remains stationary ; the only 

 way to enlarge the capacity or field for production is to increase 

 the productiveness of the present limits of our land by im- 

 proved systems of cultivation ; making two blades to grow 

 where but one grew before, as it were. 



As it appears from various data, the entire amount of wheat 

 produced per annum in this country during the last six or eight 

 years, ranges from three hundred millions to four hundred and 

 forty-five millions. The average yield per acre has been from 

 about twelve to fourteen bushels throughout the country, 

 higher than that in some States, lower in others, which is less 

 than half of what it should and could be with reasonable, skill- 

 ful management ; for it is a fact that many wise, careful grow- 

 ers, in different States, obtain as high as from thirty to fifty 

 bushels per acre, on large fields of only fairly good lands, from 

 year to year. [Growers will find it instructive and interesting 

 to carefully read page 61 of this work.] 



(v) 



