Crop production; an agricultural text for schools

Preface

The method of teaching agriculture by means of projects is one of the most important steps in recent educational progress. In the educational sense a project has been defined as "a definite piece of productive work with a real thing in which the end is seen by the pupil from the beginning." This method thus takes the pupil away from symbols to the things for which they stand and when intelhgently used is of greatest value in vitalizing the study of subjects which have been too long taught from books.

The project method is insufficient, however, unless it is used as a basis for fuller knowledge than the pupil can get from his own experience. This experience is an admirable foundation upon which to build and the intelligent teacher will utilize all available means of making the superstructure complete and harmonious.

This book is an application of the project method to the study of Crop Production. It furnishes the teacher with an abundant series of simple outhnes for each pupil to work out before taking up the study of the text. The latter gives the most essential facts concerning the characteristics, history, culture, varieties and enemies of practically all our crops.

In the carrying out of this plan the various project outlines are placed before the text in order that it may

IV

PREFACE be clear that this work with real things is to be done by the pupil in advance of any serious study of the text. In this respect the book differs from practically all others as yet published. The projects thus given beforehand enable the pupil to visualize the text.

Sweet Clover