University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Faculty Publications in the Biological Sciences Papers in the Biological Sciences 1911 New Elementary Agriculture Charles E. Bessey University of Nebraska Lawrence Bruner University of Nebraska Goodwin D. Swezey University of Nebraska Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/bioscifacpub Part of the Biology Commons Bessey, Charles E.; Bruner, Lawrence; and Swezey, Goodwin D., "New Elementary Agriculture" (1911). Faculty Publications in the Biological Sciences. 594. http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/bioscifacpub/594 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Papers in the Biological Sciences at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Faculty Publications in the Biological Sciences by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. New^ Elementary Agriculture EESSEY ..BRUNER-SWEZEY The University Ptsblishing Company Class _^ Book - Copyright N°_ COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. NEW ELEMENTARY AGRICULTURE AN ELEMENTARY TEXT BOOK DEALING WITH THE PROBLEMS OF THE FARM BY CHARLES E. BESSEY Professor of Botany, University of Nebraska LAWRENCE BRUNER Professor of Entomology, University of Nebraska GOODWIN D. SWEZEY Professor of Astronomy. University of Nebraska ASSISTED BY H. R. SMITH Professor of Animal Husbandry. University of Nebraska R. W. THATCHER Professor of Chemistry, Washington State Agricultural School Ninth Edition 1911 THE UNIVERSITY PUBLISHING CO. CHICAGO and LINCOLN f< V . Copyright BY The University Publishing Company 1903 AND 1904. Copyright, 1911, by The University Publishing Company All Rights Reserved. A Vj €^t ILaktsfbe ^rrss R. R. DONNELLEY & SONS COMPANY CHICAGO ©CI.A:^93823 CONTENTS CHAPTER I What is a Plant and What is It Doing? ... i CHAPTER H How THE Farmer can Use the Plant . i8 CHAPTER HI Different Classes of Farm Plants .... 27 CHAPTER IV The Important Farm Crops 39 CHAPTER V The Insects of the Farm ...... 51 CHAPTER VI Useful Insects 57 CHAPTER VII Harmful Insects 70 CHAPTER VIII Birds 100 CHAPTER IX Other Wild Animals 118 CHAPTER X The Weather of the Farm 121 IV CONTENTS ^^^^ CHAPTER XI ' The Wind . 129 CHAPTER Xn Cloudy and Rainy Weather ...•,. 135 CHAPTER XHI Storms 139 CHAPTER XIV Weather Predictions 142 CHAPTER XV The Soil 146 CHAPTER XVI Domestic Animals of the Farm ..... 156 CHAPTER XVII Cattle . 166 CHAPTER XVIII Swine 181 CHAPTER XIX Sheep .187 CHAPTER XX How to Care for Live Stock .....= 191 INTRODUCTORY This is an agricultural nation. The products of the soil are the basis of her industries and her prosperity. The children of our great Commonwealths should be familiar with our crops, our grains and grasses, our flowers and fruits, our trees and shrubs and weeds, our domestic animals and birds and insects. Our children should have a practical knowledge of the management of a farm, of the composition of the soil, and of the adaptability of the farm and its soil for the cultivation of certain plants and the counter effect of such plant growth upon the soil. They should love nature, they should be taught nature's ways and means, taught to observe her phenomena closely and in such a manner that they will learn to love her. Nearly all industries of mankind have their origin in the soil, and children should be led to see the relation between farm labor and its products and the marts of trade and commerce. Much of the work of the school, including instruction in geography, arithmetic, science, and literature might be correlated profitably with instruction in agriculture and nature study. A school garden with the actual work intelligently directed might prove an inspiration to honest toil and better living. As the effect of teach- ing vocal music daily in the schoolroom is felt in the church, the Sabbath school, in society, and in all public " Vi INTRODUCTORY gatherings, so the teaching of agrictilture and nature study will affect and improve every farm and garden and lawn and flower-box in the neighborhood. The attractions of farm life may be thus enhanced and the exodus to the city diminished. Instruction in agriculture, properly presented, will increase interest in school life and in farm life. The care of stock, the protection of insectivorous birds, the preservation of game, the engineering of the farm, the great physical universe, will appeal directly to the boys, and the domestic science, including preservation of fruit and dairying and rural economy, will interest the girls. The farm is the groundwork, the backbone, the sinew, of our health, our wealth, our happiness. It must remain so. Keep close to nature for physical, intellectual, and spiritual strength and growth. The school laws of Nebraska require teachers "to pass a satisfactory examination in the elements of agri- culture, including a fair knowledge of the structure and habits of the common plants, insects, birds, and quad- rupeds," for second-grade county certificates and all grades above the second. This book has been prepared and published in answer to the direct demand resultant from the law quoted above. We believe that the art of thinking, of reasoning, and of higher and better liv- ing can have no higher source and no more pronounced results in any line of school instruction than where children are taught to look "through nature up to nature's God. The manuscript has been prepared by Dr. Charles E. Bessey, Professor G. D. Swezey, Professor Lawrence INTRODUCTORY vii Bruner and Professor H. R. Smith of the University of Nebraska, and Professor R. W. Thatcher of the Washington Agricultural College. Dr. Bessey and Pro- fessor Swezey prepared the copy on the "Plants of the Farm." The chapters on the "Weather of the Farm" were prepared by Professor Swezey. Professor Bruner prepared the chapters on the "Insects and Birds of the Farm," Professor Smith the chapters on the "Domestic Animals of the Farm," and Professor Thatcher the chap- ter dealing with the "Soils." The illustrations have been drawn from various sources, credit being especially due several government publications and the work of C. V. Riley. Credit is also due to Gray's "How Plants Grow," and to Todd's Astronomy, both published by the American Book Com- pany, for cuts which have been reproduced. William K. Fowler, State Superintendent of Public Instruction. Lincoln, Nebraska, August i, 1903. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. C. Superintendent W. K. Fowler, Lincoln, Nebraska: In reply to your letter I have to say that your propo- sition to have a book written along the lines of elemen- tary agriculture for the use of the public schools is well timed. It will meet a want that has been very pressing. If we could have school-teachers informed along these lines it would be a great pleasure to them and a great benefit to their pupils, and would train young people in the direction of the studies that will control viii INTRODUCTORY their life work. There should be a universal demand for such a publication. The gentlemen who are to write it are well known to the educators and scientists of the country, and stand high in their respective specialties. I bespeak a very cordial reception for the publication when it is issued. Very truly yours, [Signed] James Wilson, Secretary. PREFACE TO THE REVISED EDITION The demand for the New Elementary Agriculture has grown so fast that it has become necessary to publish new editions from time to time. The few errors in the first edition have been corrected, and all the plates have been carefully revised. A number of teachers and superintendents have sug- gested that exercises and questions would add greatly to the value of the book as a text. These appear in the revised edition. They are intended to help the student and also the teacher, who will use many other exercises and questions to add to the interest and value of the class work. The questions and exercises are the work of Dr. G. F. Warren, Professor of Agriculture, Cornell University; President W. M. Kern, Ellendale, No. Da.; Professor J. W. Searson, Manha,ttan, Kans. ; President C. A. Fulmer, Wesleyan University; Miss Anna E. Caldwell, Kearney; and Professor Goodwin D. Swezey, University of Nebraska. INTRODUCTORY IX TEACHERS' MANUAL Suggestions for the Teacher The following list of U. S. bulletins have been chosen with reference to their use in the public schools of this country and the Iowa and Nebraska bulletins have also been listed with special reference to the needs of those states. These state bulletins may be secured for use in other states when desired. Agriculture is so comprehensive a study that the best a teacher or text can do is to arouse an interest in the subject, and give the pupils svich direction that they can follow up their study in later life, along lines most interest- ing to their particular community. This book was designed to bridge over the space between every day life and technical Agriculture and to arouse and stimulate a personal interest in scientific farm methods. It contains that elementary knowledge of Plants, Insects, AVeather Conditions, Soils, and Animals which must be thoroughly understood by the pupil before he can intelligently study the various problems that Agriculture presents to the farmer. Since it is impossible to study intensively all of these problems in a short term of school, the authors of this book believe, that rather than to give a bare smattering of everything, the best plan to pursue is to give in the text all necessary, essential elements and to depend upon the teacher, by the use of these bulletins, to bring the subject directly home to her community. X INTRODUCTORY The successful teacher will select two or three bulletins from this list bearing on subjects of particular interest to the children of her school and will supplement the text with these bulletins.