INTRODUCTORY VIEW 



9 



the sugar beets, while considered as field crops, are grown 

 under rather intensive systems of culture. Tobacco, 

 also, is a field crop that requires intensive culture, while 

 on the other hand, vegetables and fruits are frequently 

 grown in comparatively large areas. The student of 

 field crops is interested in the study of all plants grown as 

 field crops, and in their culture, harvesting, storing, market, 

 and uses. Closely re- 

 lated to the study of 

 field crops are the 

 problems of soil fer- 

 tility. Frequently 

 these two subjects 

 are grouped under 

 the same term, agron- 

 omy, which means 

 culture of the fields. 

 The agronomist, 

 therefore, may be a 

 student or an inves- 

 tigator of problems 

 relating to both soil 

 fertility and farm crops, or he may confine his attention 

 more especially to one or the other of these two branches. 

 12. Classification of field crops. — For convenience 

 in study and in describing general methods of culture, 

 the various field crops may be grouped into several classes. 

 The classification of the subject which will be followed in 

 this book divides them into grain, forage, fiber, root, and, 

 related crops, and miscellaneous crops. In this classifi- 

 cation the grouping of the crops is based in part upon 

 the most important parts of the plants, and in part upon 

 the uses made of them. This method of classification, 



Fig. 1. 



- Comparative value of crops in 

 the United States. 



