NATURE-STUDY AGRICULTURE 



CHAPTER ONE 



THE NATURE OF PLANTS 



Thou lift'st more stature than a mortal man's, 

 Yet ever piercest downward in the mold 



And keepest hold 

 Upon the reverend and steadfast earth 



That gave the^ birth ; 

 Yea, standest smiling in thy future grave, 



Serene and brave, 

 With unremitting breath 

 Inhaling life from death. 



SIDNEY LANIER, Corn 



THERE is a pretty story of a Roman emperor who gave 

 up his power and went to live in the province of his 

 birth. When a friend wrote a letter urging him to be- 

 come emperor again, he answered : "If you were but 

 to come to Salona and see the vegetables that I raise in 

 my own garden and with my own hands, you would 

 talk to me no more about empire." 



For us the choice is not between an empire and a 

 farm ; but many of us might choose between life in the 

 city and life in the country. Attractive as city life 

 may be, there "is a pleasure in being face to face with 

 nature, as in the country. We learn much on the farm 

 that we could not learn in the city, and, like the Roman 

 emperor, we find joy in securing the direct reward of 

 our own labor. 



The farmer of all men needs to know many things. His Three 

 business is far from simple. To manage a farm success- 

 fully it is necessary to understand the crop plants and 



