INTRODUCTION TO PLANTS 5 



hired man is plowing with a fine team of horses. In 

 the South we would find a field of cotton and one 

 of sweet potatoes, and perhaps sugar cane or pea- 

 nuts. We have not failed to notice the pig weeds 

 in the corn field nor the rag weed in the wheat stub- 

 ble, and many other weeds and grasses in the fence 

 corners. 



Perhaps we may meet the cows coming from pas- 

 ture to the stable. All the way we have been tram- 

 pling on something very important which we will 

 notice on our way back. In this field we find a 

 coarse sandy soil, in the next one a soil that is finer 

 and stiffer. The plow is turning up a reddish soil. 

 In the garden we find the soil quite dark in color. 



But these are only a few of the things we have 

 found. If you have used your notebook you will 

 discover that you have long lists of objects which 

 you have noticed, and these may be grouped under 

 the following headings : Animals, Plants, Soils, 

 Buildings, Tools, etc. 



The farmer, then, in his work on the farm deals 

 with certain agents, chief among which are Soils, 

 Plants, Animals, Tools and Buildings. Other agents 

 which assist or retard his work according to circum- 

 stances are the air, sunlight, heat, moisture, plant 

 food, microscopic organisms called bacteria, etc. 

 These agents are controlled in their relations to one 

 another by certain forces which work according to 

 certain laws and principles of nature. To work in- 

 telligently and to obtain the best results the farmer 

 must become familiar with these agents and must 



