PREFACE. 



The purpose of ihis book is to aid the reader and student 

 in acquiring a knowledge of the science of agriculture as dis- 

 finct from the art of agriculture ; that is, a knowledge of the 

 " why," rather than a knowledge of the " how." The science 

 of agriculture may be said to consist of a mingling of chemistry, 

 geology, botany, entomology, physiology, bacteriology, and 

 other sciences, in as far as they have a bearing upon agri- 

 culture. The aim has been to include but the first prin- 

 ciples of these various sciences, and to show their application 

 to the art of agriculture. In a field so wide, and with so 

 limited a space at the author's disposal, this work claims to 

 deal only with the simple first principles of agricultural science. 

 It is hoped, however, that the beginning here made will lead 

 to a further study of what is one of the most interesting and 

 most profitable sciences one that is at the present time 

 making most wonderful advance. 



From his expeiience of several years teaching at the Ontario 

 Agricultural College the author believes that the rational 

 teaching of agriculture in Public and High Schools is not only 

 possible, but would be exceedingly profitable. An intelligent 

 understanding of the science underlying the art of agriculture 

 will add much interest to what is otherwise hard work, and, as 

 a natural consequence, the pleasure of such work may be 



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