PREFACE 



This book is intended to supply in convenient form gen- 

 eral information regarding the subject of field crops, for 

 use in agricultural schools and in elementary courses in 

 colleges. It is in no sense a complete or exhaustive trea- 

 tise on the subject, such as would be desired for regular 

 college courses in field crops. 



In the author's judgment, the most effective method of 

 presenting the subject of field crops to students in ele- 

 mentary courses is by the combination textbook and lec- 

 ture plan, the textbook to furnish basic information, and 

 the lecture to include such specific information as the in- 

 structor cares, to give. In very elementary courses, the 

 textbook would probably furnish the principal source of 

 instruction. In presenting the subject of field crops to 

 students of short or two-year courses in agricultural col- 

 leges, it is necessary, on account of the vast amount of 

 experimental data which is accumulating and constantly 

 changing, to devote a large part of the time allowed to the 

 course to information of this sort, which leaves but little 

 time for presenting the more elementary phases of the 

 subject. A more complete and satisfactory course can, in 

 the author's opinion, be given if the student by the aid 

 of a general textbook can acquire these elementary facts 

 outside of class hours. The elementary courses may be 

 made very complete, if desired, by the use of such a text- 

 book, and the devoting of the major part of the lecture 



