PREFACE 



THIS book is intended to suit the needs of rural schools 

 of all kinds, and graded^ village and city schools chiefly below 

 high-school rank. It is believed that many high-schools 

 wanting a less advanced course in agriculture than is offered 

 in more difficult books will find this text helpful. It is 

 hoped that farmers and others pursuing a short course, a 

 reading-circle course, a correspondence course, or a home- 

 reading course will find this volume of value. Such persons 

 should read the exercises but probably omit the trial of some 

 of them. 



In the preparation of this book the writer has been aided 

 very materially by a number of people- The ever-present 

 memory of the boys and girls with whom the writer has 

 associated as a schoolmate or as teacher in the rural schools 

 and graded schools has been an inspiration and help in pre- 

 paring every lesson to be studied by other such boys and 

 girls. The many teachers of both rural and graded schools 

 who have criticized the lessons as they have been presented 

 by the writer have spurred him on to do his best in the mak- 

 ing of this book. It is to such teachers and such boys and 

 girls that this book should be dedicated, for they have been 

 in the writer's mind every moment of the time. 



Special acknowledgment is due to a number of persons 

 who have helped in the preparation of the whole book or of 

 special chapters. Professor Dick J. Crosby, Specialist in 

 Agricultural Education of the United States Department 

 of Agriculture, has read the first manuscript of the whole 

 book and parts of the second draft. His suggestions and 

 help have been so valuable that his name should go on the 

 title page if he would allow it. He has read the proofs, and 



