PREFACE 



CLIMATIC conditions in the cotton-belt states are mark- 

 edly different, in many respects, from those in any other 

 large area of the United States. For this reason the prac- 

 tices involved in the production of field crops in the cotton- 

 belt present many modifications of those of other regions. 

 In the preparation of this volume the author has endeav- 

 ored to present clearly and accurately the science and art 

 of field-crop production in the south. As the art of crop 

 production is based primarily on the sciences of botany 

 (physiological and ecological) and chemistry, the aim has 

 been to give to these subjects their proper application. 



Although this book will be of much service to farmers 

 and general readers, it has been written primarily with 

 the needs of the college student in view. Considerable 

 attention has been given to the principles of plant struc- 

 ture and nutrition, particularly with reference to cotton 

 and corn, the two leading crops in the cotton-belt. The 

 student who is unfamiliar with the crop and its life- 

 processes is ill-prepared for a proper study of the tillage 

 practices involved in the production of the crop. 



The author wishes to acknowledge here his indebtedness 

 to S. A. McMillan for many helpful suggestions in pre- 

 paring this volume, and to A. B. Conner, F. H. Blodgett, 



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