AG'RICUL'TURE (tilling- of land, Lat. agri, gen. of agrr, field, 4- cultura, tilling, cultiva tion). In a broad sense of the word, the science and art of the production of all plants and ani mals useful to man. More or less intimately connected with agriculture itself has been the preparation of its products for mall's use. Again, till' spinning of fibres and the \VP:1\11)g of cloth, the tanning of leather, the making of butter, cheese, wines, cider, vinegar, etc., have been largely done by fanners. t,lradually, however, these occupations have been specialized and re moved wholly or in part from the farm. Thus, the production of forest trees has been special ized as forestry, and the production of fruits, vegetables. and ornamental plants has formed the subject of horticulture. Such occupations as breeding live stock, raising poultry, bee-keep ing. and tish culture are also pursued independ ently of general agriculture. The term agricul ture has, therefore, been gradually restricted to the production of a limited group of plants and animals, such as may be brought together on single farms in a system of mixed husbandry.
The particular animals and plants included in agriculture in this narrower sense will vary with the and a variety of circumstances. For example: in some regions the sweet potato is raised in a small way in gardens and is there considered a horticultural plant, while in regions where it is raised in large fields it is con sidered an agricultural plant. In the present ar ticle the term agriculture will be used in a some what, broad sense, and the sketch will be confined to a brief outline of the historical development of agriculture, general statistics of a few of the mon' important agricultural prod nets, and ref cremes to parts of the more general literature of agriculture. Information regarding partic ular plants and animals. or special agricultural industries, may be found in other articles in this Encycloptedia.