The First Book of Farming

The book presents fundamental principles of practical agriculture, beginning with plant biology—root structure, seeds, leaves, stems, and flowers—and their relationship to soil properties such as texture, water, temperature, and ventilation. It explains soil formation and classification, sources and forms of soil water, and factors affecting soil fertility. The second part considers farm practice: tillage, planting depth, cultivation, manures and green-crop husbandry, commercial fertilizers and mixing, crop rotation, and after-cultivation techniques, with simple experiments and observational exercises intended to guide farmers, students, and teachers toward practices that conserve moisture, maintain fertility, and promote healthy plant growth.