Agriculture for Beginners

Although this detailed agricultural text was intended to teach farming to rural elementary school children, it is an excellent primer on every aspect of agriculture from soil analysis and propagation to animal husbandry and living in the country that even adults will benefit from. This school book from 1903 is a delightful glimpse into healthy and happy farming practices of a bygone era. The authors believe there is no line of separation between the science of agriculture and the practical art of agriculture. Indeed, 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 that may be drawn from them. Sections are included on soil structures and improvement, how plants grow, pollinate and cross, seed selection, propagation, grafting fruit trees, horticulture and market gardening, plant diseases and pests, farm and field crops, feed stuffs, horses, cattle, sheep, swine, poultry, and bees, with a separate section which gives an overview of dairying, cream and butter. The historically minded will enjoy the illustrations of the farming equipment, and the suggestions for improving the overall quality of life are as valid as the day they were written. Includes a handy glossary.