Introduction to agriculture, practical studies in crop production

Preface

The art of agriculture is based upon the production of crops. Consequently, it seems highly desirable that the study of agriculture should be begun by a general survey of the field of crop production. By such a survey the student acquires a general knowledge of the many kinds of crops grown in America. He is thus able to supplement by a broader view the knowledge gained in the comparatively narrow field of personal experience.

In this book the attempt has been made to carry out consistently a method of teaching which has led to successful results through many years of use. It is a combination of the laboratory and the project methods in which personal experience with real objects precedes the study of each crop considered. So far as possible these laboratory and project outlines are made so simple that they can be carried on in connection with any school. While the book is especially intended to meet the needs of the Junior High School, it should also prove serviceable in other schools.

The book furnishes the teacher with an abundant series of simple directions for work for each pupil to follow 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. There are in addition many charts which show the total production of the various crops in the world as a whole, as well as the production in the United States and in special states.

In nearly all cases more outlines are given than are necessary for an adequate study of the text, hence the teacher iv PREFACE

need not feel that it is essential that every set of directions should be carefully followed. There is, however, so little duplication that all of the directions may be followed without detriment to the pupil. The work should be especially valuable in connection with those schools that are carrying out project methods with the home or school garden.

The book is divided into live main parts treating respectively Vegetable Crops, Flower Crops, Fruit Crops, Farm Crops, and the Soil, its Origin and Improvement. It is by no means necessary that this order should be followed. The topics can readily be taken up in any other sequence, but our experience indicates that the order here given is likely to yield the most successful results and to fit in best with the calendar of the school year. An exception may well be made, however, in connection with the soil, and lessons on this subject may be taken up at various times in connection with some of the crops.

The authors' desire is to place especial emphasis upon the importance of having the pupils get a foundation of personal observation in connection with each crop before they study the text. By so doing, they come to the latter with knowledge and experience which enables them to visualize the discussion instead of merely learning so many words and phrases. In this respect the book differs from most others and it is believed that for this reason it will yield more successful results in real knowledge than is the case where the pupil simply goes through a few observations as a supplement to the lessons studied.