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 Soil texture 37
IV.--RELATION OF SOILS TO WATER 39 Importance of water to plants 39 Sources of soil water 40 Attitude of soils toward water: Percolation Absorption from below Power to hold water 40 The effect of working soils when wet 45
V.--FORMS OF SOIL WATER 48 Free water 48 Capillary water 49 Film water 50
VI.--LOSS