PREFACE. 



following pages are intended to make clear to 

 practical farmers the broad principles of scientific 

 manuring, and their use in every-day farm work. Farmers 

 need have no fear that scientific farming goes beyond their 

 powers of understanding. It is plain and simple, and does 

 not call for extra outlay in time or money ; but it must be 

 studied carefully. The scientific farmer knows why he 

 does things, hence he is always able to make the best of a 

 good season, and also of a bad season. When a certain 

 plan of working fails after many seasons' successful use, 

 there must be a cause for the failure. The science of 

 farming aids the farmer in studying out such causes, so 

 their presence may be known in time and the danger of 

 failure checked^ that a whole season's work may not 

 be loft 



