University of Virginia Library

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

                                                               

EDWIN ANDERSON ALDERMAN, D. C. L., LL. D.,	President.
FRANCIS HENRY SMITH, M. A., LL. D.,	Emeritus Professor of Natural Philosophy.
JOHN WILLIAM MALLET, M. D., Ph. D., LL. D., F. R. S.,	Emeritus Professor of General and Industrial Chemistry.
JAMES ALBERT HARRISON, L. H. D., LL. D.,	Emeritus Professor of Teutonic Languages.
ALBERT HENRY TUTTLE, M. S.,	Miller Professor of Biology and Agriculture.
FRANCIS PERRY DUNNINGTON, B. S., C. E.,	Professor of Analytical and Agricultural Chemistry.
WILLIAM MORRIS FONTAINE, M. A.,	Corcoran Professor of Natural History and Geology.
WILLIAM HOLDING ECHOLS, B. S., C. E.,	Professor of Mathematics.
JAMES MORRIS PAGE, M. A., Ph. D., LL. D.,	Professor of Mathematics.
WILLIAM MYNN THORNTON, LL. D.,	Professor of Applied Mathematics.
ORMOND STONE, M. A.,	Professor of Astronomy.
RICHARD HENRY WILSON, M. A., Ph. D.,	Professor of Romantic Languages.
ROBERT MONTGOMERY BIRD, B. S., Ph. D.,	Collegiate Professor of Chemistry.
THOMAS LEONARD WATSON, M. S., Ph. D.,	William Barton Rogers Professor of Economic Geology.
JOSEPH HOEING KASTLE, M. S., Ph. D.,	Professor of Chemistry.
WILLIAM HARRISON FAULKNER, M. A., Ph. D.,	Associate Professor of Germanic Languages.
LLEWELLYN GRIFFITH HOXTON, B. S., M. A.,	Associate Professor of Physics.
EDWIN PRESTON DARGAN, Ph. D.,	Adjunct Professor of Romanic Languages.
WILLIAM ALLISON KEPNER, M. A., Ph. D.,	Adjunct Professor of Biology.
JOHN SHARSHALL GRASTY, Ph. D.,[72]	Adjunct Professor of Economic Geology.
DAVID VANCE GUTHRIE, M. A., Ph. D.,	Instructor in Physics.
GRAHAM EDGAR, B. S., Ph. D.,	Instructor in Chemistry.
JAMES BROOKES SMITH, M. A.,	Instructor in Astronomy.
ALBERT RONALD MERZ, B. S.,	Instructor in Chemistry.
CHARLES WATSON GIVENS, B. A.,	Instructor in Mathematics.
STEPHEN TABER, B. A.,	Instructor in Economic Geology.
EDWARD STAPLES SMITH, M. E.,	Instructor in Mathematics.
RALPH ELMER WILSON, B. A.,	Instructor in Astronomy.
THOMAS ELVIN DIDLAKE,	Instructor in Mathematics.
WILLIAM NEWTON NEFF, M. A.,	Assistant in Physics.
STANLEY REEVES, B. A.,	Assistant in Physics.
LESTER PATTON,	Assistant in Chemistry.

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 in
Agriculture will be conferred upon students who satisfactorily complete
one B course each in Physics, General Chemistry, Botany,
Zoölogy, Geology, and Analytical Chemistry; together with an advanced
course in each of any three of the Schools represented by
these courses; of one B course (to be elected by the student) from
the group of mathematical sciences, viz., Pure Mathematics, Applied
Mathematics, or Astronomy; and of the B courses in French
and German. The B courses are the same as, or the equivalent of,
the B 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.

Practical Biology and Agriculture.—For courses in Practical
Biology and Agriculture see the Miller School of Biology, p. 137.

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 1B; Physics 1B; Botany 1B;

Second Year:

French 2B; General Chemistry 1B; Zoölogy 1B;

Third Year:

German 2B; Analytical Chemistry 1B; Botany and Agriculture;

Fourth Year:

[73] Mechanics 1B; [74] Analyt. and Agri. Chem. 2; [75] Zoölogy and Agriculture.

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. 94-101.

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
courses in Zoölogy, 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,
and the remainder from any courses offered in the Academic
Schools: he is also required to act as a student assistant in the
Biological Laboratory. 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 must be announced at the beginning of
the session.