8 FARMING 



cultivating a small field, an orchard, or a garden is 

 called horticulture, which means garden culture. 

 The growing of flowers is called floriculture. The 

 growing of trees for wood or lumber is called forestry. 

 Irrigation farming is carried on in dry regions by 

 applying water from streams to the soil by means of 

 canals or water pipes. Dry farming is carried on in 

 regions of little rainfall by special methods of culti- 

 vation which partially prevent the loss of soil 

 moisture by evaporation. 



A great industry. Agriculture is the greatest in- 

 dustry in the world. Through it we get food, clothing, 

 houses, and many other things which are necessary 

 to our comfort and happiness. 



Many farm products must be made over or manufac- 

 tured into more useful form before they can be of 

 service to man. This gives rise to manufacturing, 

 which changes raw materials into useful products. 

 Most of the raw materials in manufacturing come from 

 the farm. The two most important lines of manu- 

 facturing are the making of food products and clothing. 

 Wheat and other grains are ground into flour ; milk 

 and cream are made into cheese and butter ; cattle, 

 hogs, and sheep are slaughtered and converted into 

 beef, pork, and mutton; and cotton, wool, and flax 

 are woven into cloth. 



Commerce. Our railroad cars and ships are 

 loaded mainly with farm products or manufactures 

 whose raw materials come from the farm. Think of 



