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.
ROBERT MONTGOMERY BIRD, B. A., B. S., Ph. D.,	Collegiate Professor of Chemistry.
THOMAS LEONARD WATSON, M. S., Ph. D.,	Professor of Economic Geology.
WILLIAM HARRISON FAULKNER, M. A., Ph. D.,	Adjunct Professor of Teutonic Languages.
LLEWELLYN GRIFFITH HOXTON, M. A.,	Adjunct Professor of Physics.
EDWIN PRESTON DARGAN, Ph. D.,	Adjunct Professor of Romanic Languages.
WILLIAM ALLISON KEPNER, M. A.,	Instructor in Biology.
HARRY CLO, M. S.	Instructor in Physics.
WILLIAM WILSON STANLEY BUTLER, B. A.,	Instructor in Physics.
THOMAS DWIGHT SLOAN, B. A.,	Instructor in Chemistry.
JOHN JENNINGS LUCK, B. A., M. A.,	Instructor in Mathematics.
WILLIAM BEVERLEY STONE, B. A., M. A., Ph. D.,	Instructor in Mathematics.
JAMES NEWTON MICHIE, B. A.,	Instructor in Mathematics.
CHARLES WATSON GIVENS, A. B.,	Instructor in Mathematics.
STANLEY REEVES, A. B.,	Assistant in Physics.
JOHN WINFREE WEST, M. E.,	Assistant in Physics.
CHARLES METCALF BYRNES, B. S., M. D.,	Assistant in Chemistry.
BERNARD HEWETT KYLE, B. S.,	Assistant in Chemistry.
TURNER MOREHEAD HARRIS, A. B.,	Assistant in Chemistry.
CHARLES MACKENZIE MACKALL,	Assistant in Chemistry.
STAPLETON DABNEY GOOCH,	Assistant in Chemistry.
JOEL HILL WATKINS,	Assistant in Economic Geology.
CHARLES POLLARD OLIVIER, B. A.,	Assistant in Astronomy.

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 1907-1908.—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 1B;	Physics 1B;	Biology 1B;
	Second Year:
French 2B;	General Chemistry 1B;	Biology 2;
	Third Year:
German 3;	Analytical Chemistry 1;	Biology 3;
	Fourth Year:
[10] Mechanics 1B;	[11] Analyt. and Agri. Chem. 2;	[11] 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. 91-95.)

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 dilligence 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.