PREFACE 



This publication represents a desire on the part of the 

 senior author to present a iirst study in agriculture for rural, 

 grade, and high schools, based upon sound educational* 

 principles. 



An enumeration of a few of these principles will serve as 

 a key to the plan of the book : 



1. Pupils must be led by easy steps from the known to 

 the unknown. 



2. One thing at a time must be taught and this one thing 

 must be thoroughly understood. 



3. Real progress in education depends upon a pupil's 

 ability to discern agreements and differences. 



4. A teacher should stimulate and direct, but all educa- 

 tion comes from the pupil's voluntary effort. 



Our purpose in the pages that follow is to stimulate and 

 direct the pupils in such a manner that they will proceed by 

 " easy steps from the known to the unknown " and that 

 their mental powers will be developed by their own volun- 

 tary efforts. 



If this book is to be merely one from which a certain 

 number of pages are assigned to-day to be recited in a 

 parrot-like manner to-morrow, it must prove a complete 

 failure. 



If the exercises are performed as the authors have in- 

 tended, a few — and only a few — set rules will be observed : 



First. — The pupil must understand clearly before begin- 

 ning just what he is setting out to do. 



Second. — He should follow the directions carefully. 



Third. — In his conclusion, he should be expected not 



