 | University of Virginia |  |
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.
| ALBERT H. TUTTLE, M. S., | Professor of Biology and Agriculture. |
| FRANCIS P. DUNNINGTON, B. S., | Professor of Analytical Chemistry. |
| WILLIAM M. THORNTON, LL. D., | Professor of Applied Mathematics. |
| JOHN W. MALLET, M. D., Ph. D., LL. D., F. R. S., | |
| Professor of Chemistry. | |
| FRANCIS H. SMITH, M. A., LL. D., | Professor of Natural Philosophy. |
| WILLIAM M. FONTAINE, M. A., | |
| Professor of Natural History and Geology. | |
| HORACE W. JONES, President. | |
| GEORGE W. PALMER, | CHARLES E. VAWTER, |
| RANDOLPH HARRISON, | JOHN B. MOON, |
| JOHN M. WHITE, | GEORGE PERKINS, |
| R. T. W. DUKE, Treasurer. | |
| R. T. W. DUKE, Jr., Secretary. | |
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.
The establishment and maintenance, by the national
government of large and well-equipped experiment stations
in each state has made far better and more extensive provision
for the first of these interests than could here be
so applied. The work in this direction which was begun
here before the establishment of the Virginia Experiment
Station at Blacksburg, and for some time maintained, has
been discontinued.
As regards the second of the objects above named,
experience has shown that those who desire training in the
details of the various processes involved in the art of farming
do not seek it at institutions of learning. Throughout
the whole country excellent facilities for such instruction
exist, far in excess of the demand. Here, again, the field is
well occupied by a state institution established, equipped,
and maintained for this and kindred purposes. The University
has not now, rarely if ever has had in the past, and
is no more likely to have in the future, any students pursuing
distinctive courses in Agriculture.
It therefore seems wiser, as well as more 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 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. Young men who desire such a
scientific education in order that they may intelligently
pursue the vocation of a planter have sought the University
for this purpose in the past and will doubtless do so in the
future, although at the present time this calling does not
loudly invite followers, either educated or uneducated.
Instruction is therefore offered in this Department in
the Schools named above, the second and third of which
are in part and the first wholly maintained from the income
of the Miller fund. In all of these schools courses of instruction
are given whose substance is essential to the educated
man who pursues agriculture as a vocation; and in the first
three, special courses are yearly offered devoted to the discussion
of the sciences in question in their practical relations
courses in question will be found in the pages devoted to
these schools in a preceding portion of this catalogue.
MILLER SCHOLARSHIPS.
A scholarship is awarded at the end of each session to
the candidate who at that time passes the graduating
examinations in the B. A. courses of Botany, Chemistry,
and Physics with the highest aggregate of marks. The
scholarship is tenable for the next 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.
| University of Virginia | |