CONTENTS 



PART I. FARM CROPS 



Chapter 1. CROP IMPROVEMENT . 19 



Plant selection — Kinds of variation — Hybridization — Choice of varieties. 



Corn. 



The ear-row method — Ideals in selection of corn. 



Wheat, Oats and Barley. 

 First year — Second year — Third year — Fourth year — Fifth and succeeding years 

 — Crossing of varieties in small grain breeding. 



Potatoes. 

 Production of seedlings — Hill and tuber selection— Opportunities in crop improve- 

 ment. 



Chapter 2. THE ROTATION OF CROPS 28 



Rotations defined — Purpose of rotations — Maintain good physical condition of 

 soil — Conserve organic matter and nitrogen — Provide for extermination of weeds 

 — Lessen insect depredations — Reduce plant diseases — Improve environment of 

 crops — Rotations insure returns — Prevent reduced crop yields — Rotations 

 systematize farming — Rotations distribute labor — Essentials of a good rotation 

 —Sequence of crops — Length of rotations — What crops to grow — When to apply 

 manure and fertilizers — Some suggested rotations — Methods of planning and 

 recording rotations. 



Chapter 3. CORN (ZEA MAIZE) 39 



Classification of corn — Varieties of corn — The chief corn-growing states — Soil 

 and climatic adaptation — Crop rotation for corn — Plowing for corn — Manures 

 and fertilizers for corn — Time and method of planting — Rate of planting — Depth 

 of planting — Preparation of seed for planting — Cultivation of corn — Methods 

 of harvesting — Storing corn — Shrinkage of corn — Market grades of corn — 

 Composition and feeding value of corn. 



Corn Improvement. 

 Securing seed — Selecting seed — Care of seed — Germination test — Germinating 

 box — Improvement by selection and breeding. 



Chapter 4. WHEAT (WINTER AND SPRING) 59 



Wheat production in the United States — Climatic and soil adaptation — Rotations 

 — Preparation of the seed-bed — Fertilizers for wheat — Time of seeding — Rate 

 of seeding — Grain drills — Winter killing — Wheat districts — District No. 1 — Dis- 

 trict No. 2 — District No. 3 — District No. 4 — District No. 6 — Wheat improvement 

 — Harvesting — Cost of producing wheat — Enemies of wheat: Weeds — Insects 

 — Fungous diseases — Treatment. 



Chapter 5. OATS, BARLEY AND RYE 72 



Oats. 

 Soil and climatic adaptation — Classes and varieties — Seed oats and their prepara- 

 tion for seeding — Preparation of the seed-bed — -Fertilizers and manures for oats 

 — Time, rate and manner of seeding — Oats as a nurse crop — Harvesting, shock- 

 ing and threshing — Storing and marketing— Composition and feeding value — 

 Value of oats for hay and soiling purposes — Oat straw and its utilization — Cost of 

 producing oats — Oat improvement. 



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