University of Virginia Library

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

 

EDWIN ANDERSON ALDERMAN, D. C. L., LL. D.,

President.

                                                               

ALBERT HENRY TUTTLE, M. S.,
	Professor of Biology and Agriculture.
FRANCIS HENRY SMITH, M. A., LL. D.,
	Professor of Natural Philosophy.
JOHN WILLIAM MALLET, M. D., Ph. D., LL. D., F. R. S.,
	Professor of General and Industrial Chemistry.
FRANCIS PERRY DUNNINGTON, B. S., C. E.,
	Professor of Analytical and Agricultural Chemistry.
WILLIAM MORRIS FONTAINE, M. A.,
	Professor of Natural History and Geology.
WILLIAM HOLDING ECHOLS, B. S., C. E.,
	Professor of Mathematics.
JAMES MORRIS PAGE, M. A., Ph. D.,	Professor of Mathematics.
WILLIAM MYNN THORNTON, LL. D.,
	Professor of Applied Mathematics.
ORMOND STONE, M. A.,	Professor of Astronomy.
JAMES ALBERT HARRISON, L. H. D., LL. D.,
	Professor of Teutonic Languages.
RICHARD HENRY WILSON, M. A., Ph. D.,
	Professor of Romanic Languages.
WILLIAM HARRISON FAULKNER, M. A., Ph. D.,
	Adjunct Professor of Teutonic Languages.
EDWIN BOINEST SETZLER, Ph. D.,
	Adjunct Professor of Teutonic Languages.
LLEWELLYN GRIFFITH HOXTON, M. A.,
	Adjunct Professor of Physics.
WILLIAM ALLISON KEPNER, M. A.,	Instructor in Biology.
EDWIN PRESTON DARGAN, Ph. D.,
	Instructor in Romanic Languages.
ALBERT BUSH MANLY, E. M.,	Instructor in Chemistry.
THOMAS DWIGHT SLOAN, B. A.,	Instructor in Analytical Chemistry.
WILLIAM WILSON STANLEY BUTLER,	Assistant in Physics.

The Department of Agriculture is founded on the gift of one hundred
thousand dollars by the late Samuel Miller, of Lynchburg, Va.;
this sum having been given to establish a fund, the income of which
should be applied, as far as practicable, to the maintenance of experiments
in agriculture, training in the art of farming, and instruction
in those sciences which underlie that art, as well as in their practical
relations thereto. Since the income in question is manifestly inadequate
to provide for all these important ends in an efficient manner,
it has become necessary for those directly charged with its administration
to decide how it can be most usefully applied within the limits
indicated.

Agriculture is the art of cultivating the soil with a view to profit;
as usually applied, the term implies the successful raising and marketing
of crops of plants or of animals, or of their products. Its theory
is based directly upon the sciences of Chemistry, Botany, and
Zoölogy; and also, but less directly, upon the allied sciences of
Physics, Mechanics, and Geology. Education adapted to the prosecution
of this vocation calls, therefore, at the outset, for sound and
thorough instruction in these sciences; and subsequently for the discussion
of its principles and processes as based upon them. The experience
of some years has shown conclusively that neither agricultural
experimentation nor instruction in the routine of farm work
can be profitably conducted here with the means at command; nor
is such application of these means in accordance with the needs or expressed
desires of students who come to the University for the purpose
of entering this Department.

It seems wisest, therefore, as well as most consonant with the
other functions of the University, to apply the income of this fund
to the enlargement, as far as possible, of the opportunities here
afforded to those who desire to acquire a knowledge of the sciences on
which the art of agriculture is based, and of which it is the practical
application; to understand their theoretical principles, as well as their
economic relations; and to be capable of following their progress in
all its bearings. Instruction is therefore offered in this Department to
all who desire such training in the descriptive and experimental sciences
as this would imply, together with a knowledge of the closely affiliated
mathematical sciences, and of the modern languages of immediate importance
to the scientific student; in accordance with the following plan.

Required for Entrance Upon the Work of the Department.—The
General Entrance Examination, or admission to the University by certificate
or diploma, as stated in a preceding portion of this catalogue.

Based upon this preparation the degree of Bachelor of Science will be
conferred upon students who satisfactorily complete one B. S. course each
in General Biology, Botany, Physics, General Chemistry, Zoölogy, Geology,
and Analytical Chemistry; together with an advanced course in each of

any two of the Schools represented by these courses; of one B. S.
course (to be elected by the student) from the group of mathematical
sciences, viz., Pure Mathematics, Applied Mathematics, or Astronomy;
and of the B. S. courses in French and German. The B. S. courses are
the same as, or the equivalent of, the B. A. courses described in a previous
portion of this catalogue; the advanced courses in the various scientific
Schools have also been previously described.

Agricultural Chemistry.—There is offered in connection with the
graduating course in Analytical Chemistry a course of lectures in
Agricultural Chemistry, including a discussion of the chemical and
physical properties of the atmosphere, of soils, and of plants; the
chemistry of the processes of vegetable life so far as they are related
to Agriculture; the chemical composition and preparation of manures;
the chemistry of stock feeding, and of fungicides and insecticides.
This course is open without charge to students who have registered in
Analytical Chemistry, to Virginia students, and to farmers who are not
matriculated students.

For Reference: Johnston's Elements of Agricultural Chemistry, 17th
Edition; London, 1894.

In addition to the courses in Biology described in a previous portion
of this catalogue, there is offered in the School of Biology and Agriculture
the following course, which provides for the discussion of the relation
of the biological sciences to the art of Agriculture.

Practical Biology and Agriculture.—The relations of Biology to
Agriculture are so manifold, and the subdivisions of the latter subject
so numerous, that it would be impossible to exhaust the discussion of
either in the work of any one year. A course consisting in part of
lectures and in part of an equivalent amount of practical work and
collateral reading will be offered yearly. It will include the discussion
of selected topics pertaining to Economic Botany (such as the bacterial
and fungous diseases of plants, the natural history of cultivated
varieties, and the like); to Economic Zoölogy (such as the life-history
and treatment of injurious or beneficial insects, external or internal
parasites, the special anatomy and physiology of the domestic animals,
etc.); and to questions connected with the Principles of Agriculture
(such as the laws of growth and nutrition of crops, the drainage and
tillage of soils, systems of rotation and allied topics). The topics discussed
in such a course will be, to some extent, selected in accordance
with the objects in view of those electing it in any year. The following
literature will indicate a possible arrangement of subjects.

Text-Books for 1906-1907.—Sorauer's Physiology of Plants (Weiss tr.);
Tubeuf's Diseases of Plants induced by Cryptogamic Parasites (Smith tr.);
Chauveau's Anatomy of the Domestic Animals (Fleming tr.); Vorhee's Principles
of Agriculture.

Candidates for a diploma of graduation in Biology and Agriculture
are required to complete the courses in Botany, Zoölogy, and Comparative
Anatomy, and also the course in Practical Biology and Agriculture
above described.

In this Department, as in the College, the order in which studies
shall be taken is left largely to the discretion of the student (subject
to the restriction that not more than three classes may be undertaken
in any one session without the consent of the Faculty): the following
is, however, suggested as a convenient arrangement of a four
years' course for this degree; and as one of several combinations of
subjects possible under the requirements above stated.

               

	First Year:
Geology 1;	Physics 1;	General Biology 1;
	Second Year:
French 2;	General Chemistry 1;	Botany 2;
	Third Year:
German 3;	Analytical Chemistry 1;	Zoölogy 3;
	Fourth Year:
[6] Mechanics 1;	[7] Analyt. and Agri. Chem. 2;	[7]Agriculture 1.

EXPENSES.

The necessary expenses at the University of a student in the Department
of Agriculture may be estimated at from $290 a year upwards,
according to the mode of living. A fuller statement of expenses, including
the conditions under which Virginia students are entitled to free tuition,
may be found in a preceding section. (See pp. 94-104.)

MILLER SCHOLARSHIPS.

A scholarship is awarded at the end of each session to the candidate
who at that time passes the graduation examinations in the B. S.
courses of General Biology, Chemistry, and Physics with the highest
aggregate of marks. The scholarship is tenable for the following two
years. The emoluments consist of $250 a session, with free tuition in
the Schools of the Department of Agriculture. The holder of a Miller
Scholarship is required to elect at least one-third of his work in Biology
and Agriculture, Analytical Chemistry, or Applied Mathematics. The
tenure of the scholarship depends upon the good conduct and studious
diligence of the scholar, the Faculty being authorized to withdraw its
benefits from any student who does not avail himself of the opportunities
for study which it is intended to secure. Candidacy should be announced
at the beginning of the session.