Agriculture for Beginners | Page 2

FEEDS FROM THE AIR 39
XIII. THE SAP CURRENT 40
XIV. THE FLOWER AND THE SEED 42
XV. POLLINATION 46
XVI. CROSSES, HYBRIDS, AND CROSS-POLLINATION 48
XVII. PROPAGATION BY BUDS 51
XVIII. PLANT SEEDING 59
XIX. SELECTING SEED CORN 66
XX. WEEDS 69
XXI. SEED PURITY AND VITALITY 72
CHAPTER IV.
HOW TO RAISE A FRUIT TREE
XXII. GRAFTING 78
XXIII. BUDDING 81
XXIV. PLANTING AND PRUNING 83

CHAPTER V.
HORTICULTURE
XXV. MARKET-GARDENING 89
XXVI. FLOWER-GARDENING 108
CHAPTER VI.
THE DISEASES OF PLANTS
XXVII. THE CAUSE AND NATURE OF PLANT DISEASE 122
XXVIII. YEAST AND BACTERIA 127
XXIX. PREVENTION OF PLANT DISEASE 129
XXX. SOME SPECIAL PLANT DISEASES 130
CHAPTER VII.
ORCHARD, GARDEN, AND FIELD INSECTS
XXXI. INSECTS IN GENERAL 144
XXXII. ORCHARD INSECTS 152
XXXIII. GARDEN AND FIELD INSECTS 165
XXXIV. THE COTTON-BOLL WEEVIL 173
CHAPTER VIII.
FARM CROPS
XXXV. COTTON 180

XXXVI. TOBACCO 189
XXXVII. WHEAT 192
XXXVIII. CORN 197
XXXIX. PEANUTS 202
XL. SWEET POTATOES 204
XLI. WHITE, OR IRISH, POTATOES 206
XLII. OATS 209
XLIII. RYE 213
XLIV. BARLEY 215
XLV. SUGAR PLANTS 217
XLVI. HEMP AND FLAX 226
XLVII. BUCKWHEAT 229
XLVIII. RICE 231
XLIX. THE TIMBER CROP 232
L. THE FARM GARDEN 235
CHAPTER IX.
FEED STUFFS
LI. GRASSES 238
LII. LEGUMES 244
CHAPTER X.

DOMESTIC ANIMALS
LIII. HORSES 262
LIV. CATTLE 270
LV. SHEEP 276
LVI. SWINE 279
LVII. FARM POULTRY 282
LVIII. BEE CULTURE 286
LIX. WHY WE FEED ANIMALS 290
CHAPTER XI.
FARM DAIRYING
LX. THE DAIRY COW 293
LXI. MILK, CREAM, CHURNING, AND BUTTER 297
LXII. HOW MILK SOURS 302
LXIII. THE BABCOCK MILK-TESTER 304
CHAPTER XII.
MISCELLANEOUS
LXIV. GROWING FEED STUFFS ON THE FARM 309
LXV. FARM TOOLS AND MACHINES 313
LXVI. LIMING THE LAND 315
LXVII. BIRDS 318

LXVIII. FARMING ON DRY LAND 323
LXIX. IRRIGATION 326
LXX. LIFE IN THE COUNTRY 330
APPENDIX 339
GLOSSARY 342
INDEX 351

TO THE TEACHER
Teachers sometimes shrink from undertaking the teaching of a simple
textbook on agriculture because they are not familiar with all the
processes of farming. By the same reasoning they might hesitate to
teach arithmetic because they do not know calculus or to teach a
primary history of the United States because they are not versed in all
history. The art of farming is based on the sciences dealing with the
growth of plants and animals. This book presents in a simple way these
fundamental scientific truths and suggests some practices drawn from
them. Hence, even though many teachers may not have plowed or
sowed or harvested, such teachers need not be embarrassed in
mastering and heartily instructing a class in nature's primary laws.
If teachers realize how much the efficiency, comfort, and happiness of
their pupils will be increased throughout their lives from being taught
to coöperate with nature and to take advantage of her wonderful laws,
they will eagerly begin this study. They will find also that their pupils
will be actively interested in these studies bearing on their daily lives,
and this interest will be carried over to other subjects. Whenever you
can, take the pupils into the field, the garden, the orchard, and the dairy.
Teach them to make experiments and to learn by the use of their own
eyes and brains. They will, if properly led, astonish you by their efforts
and growth.

You will find in the practical exercises many suggestions as to
experiments that you can make with your class or with individual
members. Do not neglect this first-hand teaching. It will be a delight to
your pupils. In many cases it will be best to finish the experiments or
observational work first, and later turn to the text to amplify the pupil's
knowledge.
Although the book is arranged in logical order, the teacher ought to feel
free to teach any topic in the season best suited to its study. Omit any
chapter or section that does not bear on your crops or does not deal
with conditions in your state.
The United States government and the different state experiment
stations publish hundreds of bulletins on agricultural subjects. These
are sent without cost, on application. It will be very helpful to get such
of these bulletins as bear on the different sections of the book. These
will be valuable additions to your school library. The authors would
like to give a list of these bulletins bearing on each chapter, but it
would soon be out of date, for the bulletins get out of print and are
supplanted by newer ones. However, the United States Department of
Agriculture prints a monthly list of its publications, and each state
experiment station keeps a list of its bulletins. A note to the Secretary
of Agriculture, Washington, D.C., or to your own state experiment
station will promptly bring you these lists, and from them you can
select what