PREFACE 
The development and maintenance of interest is the 
secret of successful teaching. Young people, who have 
become interested in their school work and have learned 
that it will be of practical value in the vocations of life, 
will continue their studies after leaving school. With the 
present crowded programs in the elementary schools, it is 
impossible for the teacher to devote a great amount of 
time and preparation for carrying on the work. This text 
is planned to aid the busy teacher and to give the pupil 
some general facts relating to agriculture. It is hoped 
that the nature and the scope of the subject-matter will 
aid in linking together the home and the school. 
After several years of experience in teaching agricul¬ 
ture, it has been found that teachers have difficulty in 
producing the desired inspiration from a mass of dry 
agricultural facts. The correlation of mind and hand 
enters so well into the study of agriculture that the 
entire course should center around doing things. Realiz¬ 
ing that the compilation of a mass of agricultural facts 
does not fulfill this ideal, the authors have selected from 
the field of agriculture those topics which are practical. 
The subject matter and practical exercises given in this 
text have been tried and have been found applicable in 
rural schools. The pedagogical principle involved in 
this text are the appeals made to the minds of the boys 
and girls by introducing those things which are most 
valuable in a well-rounded education. Every child likes 
pets. He is greatly interested in collecting and in mak¬ 
ing things. Above all, he should learn to realize the 
importance of agriculture. 
The material has been arranged so that the prospective 
and experienced teacher may carry on the work of teach- 
in 
