Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-11-08

college have IN IL past given the peo-
pie Of the State the best hey could
consistent With The meaus which the
people have given them. Ard had i
rot been for the new endowment to come
from the General Government the col
Isge at Orooo woaId still be in no
cosaiition to enlarge its sourses Or
give adequate instructions Ia new
branches however desirable It
seems that they should all be Included
Ia the curriculum IT college where the
leading object IA TO teach branches Of
knowledge Especially related 10 agri-
culture and the mechanic arts
The scheme suggested for the en-
Iarged Institution embraces course
In horticulture, one in dairying
and one 10 general agriculture.
With the former 10 to be q pro-
fessor Of horticulture and practical
horticulturist, with greenhouses and
other accompaniment TO illustrate all
operations In garden and orchard, un-
der. glass and out door culture, a. we'll
~ all the phases Of plant life under both
the above named conditions. The course
In dairying shouId embrace the
entire round Of the dairy economy from
the rearing Of the dairy breeds TO the
manufacture Of dairy products by all
the most approved modern appliances.
In general agriculture the course would
include Illustrative az well as practical
work in field and stable, with all breeds
Of cattle, all crops grown in Maine and
Instruction In the best and most
approved practice, both Of the farm and
sehoofroom.
According TO the plan presented at the
recent conference Of the college faculty
and trustees their outline Of new courses
would render IL necessary that the force
Of instructors be extended so as to
include; !, professor Of horticulture
and botany, and an assistant who should
be practical horticulturist; 2,
Il lecturer on dairy economy
and an assistant practical oper-
ator who should be familiar with all
the manipulations of the cheese vat and
modern butter making appliances; 3,
one or more professors OF agriculture,
with such assistants in the farm, stock
and experimental branches as the
demands upon the several chairs would
make necessary.
In suggesting these changes in the
Orono curriculum the managers of the
State College are but simply fol-
lowing that OF the best and most
sbandantly equipped colleges Of agri-
culture In the country. Michigan
has an agricultural course of four years
with an elective course of two years
and faculty Of twenty-three professors
and assistants. fifteen of whom have
duties especially pertaining 10 the agri-
cultural course. Massachusetts, has a
four years agricultural course, and a
staff of eleven professors and Instructors.
Cornell University has elective courses
ia agriculture and horticulture, botany
and aoboriculture, entomology and
zoology, and veterinary science--both
summer and winter courses, with the alb
lest and most extended faculty of any Of
the colleges established under the Morrill,
law Of 1862. These three are among the
foremost Of the agricultural colleges of
the United States and their courses In
the strictly agricultural branches. had
we space to refer to them in detail,
would be found to be among the broad
est and most enlightened Of the agricul-
embrace all the branches included 10 the
new scheme for Orono, besides
vastly many others, which is in fact
the case with most of the Morrill, bill
colleges. Our own has long been be-
hind those of many of the other states
la this respect. In u strictly agrieultur-
al state It's agricultural college has
been only such in name. There
have been few to take the agricultural
such as it was, because the course
had few attractions, teachers who had
little enthusiasm over their work, and
students who knew enough to want a
course in the science and prae-
tice of agriculture knew enough to know
that that they could not obtain 1t at
Orono. IL has not been the fault Of the
trustees or faculty. They have
done the best with what they had
to do with. Now. when the State is to
be asked for no appropriation to carry
out this plan. but when an endowment
from the General Government makes it
possible for the trustees to do so, is Just
the time for the changes to be adopted
It will give the college greater strength
among our farmers. increase its number
of pupils and add to its efficiency. Now
let the coming Legislature declare for
its students free tuition, and its future
success il assured.