i8 



INTRODUCTION 



the choice of the seed which he plants. He must under- 

 stand how to encourage that invisible plant life in the soil 

 which helps his crops, and how to combat that parasitic 

 plant Hfe above the soil which injures his crops by causing 

 crop diseases. 



4^-.v^'5^"^l.^*-^--^| 





Wheat in Montana ready for threshing. 



Such an understanding of plants is one of the necessary 

 first steps in scientific agriculture, and it is also one of the 

 principal things which this book seeks to give you. 



Part II — The Study of Plants 



6. Reasons for It. — You are entitled to know why you 

 are to study this subject, just as you are entitled to know 

 why you study any subject. Much of your time in the 

 next few months is to be devoted to it. You have the 

 right to know and should know why the study of plants 

 is considered a good investment of this time. We are 



