ELEMENTS 



or 



SCIENTIFIC AGRICULTURE. 



CHAPTER L 



INTRODUCTION. ORGANIC ELEMENTS OF PLANTS. 



Tru« meanini; of the word agruulturt : how much more it meuM 

 than U conimooly undfr^tood. Plant* divided into an organic 

 and inorganic part t these words. Names of organic 



element! : Carbon a •Ttiea; hydrogen and its proper- 



ties-, oxygen and its )iro]><-riies-, nitrogen and its properties, 

 with modes for obtaining all. Importance of these bodies. 



8ECTKM I. DEFINITION OP AGRICULTURE 



Agriculture, according to the usually accepted 



nMWi^'"g of the word, signifies the art of cultivating 



the wuL It is unnecessary to sav that this is its 



true meaning, and yet how few ol those who would 



promptly give the above definition seem to have any 



idea of all that is involved in the words " cui- 



the soil." 



\ i I that i.s cxdtivated, is thoroughly and more or 



icvs d' iply ploughed according to the situation, is 



mellow, is free from stumps and large stones, is dry 



and clear of hurtful weeds. How many fields in this 



condition are to be seen in most American villageil 



Are they in the majority, or do they constitute a very 



small minority? It is to l)e feared that there are few 



hoodsy even of liraitetl extent, fitt«il to chal- 



1 ■ liispection. 



1 



