economic bases. I trust, however, that I have written in the 

 scholarly spirit, and not to establish a thesis. Upon some 

 controverted topics I have thought best, without expressing 

 my own opinion, to present the essence of the argument on 

 both sides. I have tried to do so fairly, and think I have 

 succeeded. There are, however, popular delusions which have 

 taken strong hold upon many excellent men, as to which I 

 felt that one has no right to suppress convictions approved 

 by universal business experience, and the teaching of all 

 economists. 



Having prepared the book mainly for farmers, I was desir- 

 ous that farmers should read it. The farmer, however, is 

 seldom a free book buyer, and I was persuaded that, except by 

 the kindly ministrations of the canvasser — a capacity in which 

 I began my own business life — the most of those for whom the 

 book was especially intended would never see it. I therefore 

 decided to publish by subscription. 



Possibly it is desirable that an unknown author should 

 state his experience, and the environment wliich influences 

 him. I was once a farmer of the old school, and led the life 

 described in the first chapter of this volume. Then followed 

 twenty-five years of business life, for the most part dealing with 

 affairs of some magnitude. Then, retiring from business, were 

 three years of active cooperative work. I now live upon my 

 farm, where I am permitted to act as agricultural editor of a 

 daily journal. For a short time I was connected with the 

 University of California, as Organizer of Farmers' Institutes. 

 My pecuniary interests and my sympathies are with the 

 farmer. 



Mr. L. A. Clinton, assistant agriculturalist in the College of 



Agriculture of Cornell University, has been kind enough to 



prepare for me a chapter upon "The Study of the Farm," from 



a standpoint which I could not take— that of a farmer and a 



man of science. 



Edward F. Adams. 



Wrights, Californiaf May, 1899. 



