The First Book of Farming

First Book of Farming, by
Charles L. Goodrich

Project Gutenberg's The First Book of Farming, by Charles L.
Goodrich This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and
with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away
or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net
Title: The First Book of Farming
Author: Charles L. Goodrich
Release Date: October 18, 2005 [EBook #16900]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE FIRST
BOOK OF FARMING ***

Produced by Audrey Longhurst, Jeannie Howse and the Online
Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net

The First Book of Farming
[Illustration: THE FARM EQUIPMENT--PLANTS, SOILS,
ANIMALS, TOOLS, BUILDINGS.]

The First Book of Farming
By
CHARLES L. GOODRICH
Farmer
Expert in the Bureau of Plant Industry, United States Department of
Agriculture, Washington, D.C.
Illustrated
GARDEN CITY NEW YORK DOUBLEDAY, PAGE & COMPANY
1923

1905, by DOUBLEDAY, PAGE & COMPANY PUBLISHED
MARCH, 1905

PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES AT THE COUNTRY LIFE
PRESS, GARDEN CITY, N.Y.

PREFACE
The most successful farmers of the present day are those who work in
harmony with the forces and laws of nature which control the growth
and development of plants and animals. These men have gained their
knowledge of those laws and forces by careful observation, experiment
and study.
This book is a result of the author's search for these facts and truths as a
student and farmer and his endeavor as a teacher to present them in a
simple manner to others.

The object in presenting the book to the general public is the hope that
it may be of assistance to farmers, students and teachers, in their search
for the fundamental truths and principles of farming.
In the first part of the book an attempt has been made to select the most
important and fundamental truths and principles underlying all
agriculture and to present them in the order of their importance,
beginning with the most important.
An endeavor has been made to present these truths to the reader and
student in a simple and interesting manner. As far as possible each
advance step is based on a previously stated fact or truth. A number of
side truths are introduced at various places.
A number of simple experiments have been introduced into the text in
the belief that they will make the work more interesting to the general
reader, and will aid the student in learning to make simple
investigations for himself.
The author recommends all who use the book to perform the
experiments and to make the observations, and so come actively in
touch with the work.
The observations begin on the farm. The author considers the plant the
central and all-important factor or agent on the farm.
The root is regarded as the most important part of the plant to itself,
and consequently to the plant grower.
The general truths or principles which state the conditions necessary for
the growth and development of plant roots are regarded as the
foundation truths or fundamental principles of all agriculture. These
truths are as follows:
The roots of farm plants need for their best growth and development:
A firm, mellow soil.

A moist soil.
A ventilated soil.
A warm soil.
A soil supplied with plant food.
The first two chapters lead the reader quickly through logical reasoning
to these fundamental truths, on which the remainder of the work is
based.
A study of soils is made in connection with the root studies, as the two
are so closely related.
After the study of roots and soils the other parts of the plant are
considered in the order of their importance to the farmer or plant
grower. The aim is always to get at fundamental facts and principles
underlying all agricultural and horticultural practice.
The author regards the conditions necessary to root growth and
development as the important factor constituting soil fertility, and in
the last ten chapters takes up the discussion of certain farm operations
and practices and their effects on these necessary conditions, and
consequently their effect on the fertility of the soil.
The author extends gratitude to all who have in any way assisted in the
preparation of this book, whether through advice, preparation of the
text, preparation of the illustrations, or any other way in which he has
received assistance.
C.L. GOODRICH.
GLENNDALE, Prince George Co., Maryland, January 21, 1905.

CONTENTS

PART I
GENERAL PRINCIPLES UNDERLYING PLANT CULTURE

Chapter Page
I.--INTRODUCTION TO PLANTS 3
II.--ROOTS 9 Uses of roots to plants 9 Habit of growth of roots 11
Conditions necessary for root growth 20
III.--SOILS 23 Relation of soil to plants 23 Classification of soils 26
How were soils made? 30