The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-09-11


general misconception of the nature of the
course, which may here be briefly ex-
planned.
In the first place, for decency's sake and
the general reputation of the university,
its graduates in all departments must be
able to express themselves clearly and for
chilly in their mother tongue. To this end
there is required the entrance standing in
English and such a reasonable subse-
quent training in that branch as shall
give them the necessary power of
expression, and which incidentally adds to
their equipment familiarity with the
masterpieces of English literature and
such tastes as are engendered thereby. In
the next place Is required such reading
knowledge of one or two modern languages
as will open to the graduate the agricult-
ural literature and experience embodied in
those languages, and which he will often
| find essential to supplement the expert
ence of English-speaking people. Still an
other advantage IS such moderate knowl-
edge of mathematics and physics as will
enable him TO comprehend and cope with
such purely physical laws as are involved
in the growth of plants and animals and
the mechanical operations of the farm.
There are also included thorough element
airy courses in botany, geology, chemistry
and entomology.
All the above knowledge is preparatory
to the strictly agricultural work. and is es-
sential to its successful prosecution; it oc-
cupies the first years of the university
course, and is acquired in the appropriate
departments of the university. The con-
Guiding years are occupied in the appllca-
ton of this elementary knowledge to the
special problems OF agriculture-such as
the analysis of soils and their reclamation
when out of condition; artificial fertiliza-
ton; plant growth and. disease: insect
pests and the methods of combating
them; economic value of plants and their
products, and the best methods of deriv-
ing profit from their cultivation and ma
nipulation.
The university does not teach how to
pillow and Dig which if not understood can
be more cheapIY learned elsewhere; but
it does teach the proper care of growing
plants, and the best methods of propagat-
ing and pruning them, for which the ex-
pertinent station affords the necessary
facilities.
Now the necessary cost Of such an edu-
cation extending over at least seven years,
including the preparatory work, cannot be
placed at less than $4,000, with free tuition,
but including some allowance for the
students time. This cost, of course, puts
it beyond the reach of the majority but
there is doubtless a question even in the
minds of those who can afford 1t whether
the investment is justified as part OF the
permanent plant of the ordinary farm.
Whether it is or not doubtless depends
on the farm and on the man. 1t is doubt
less the case that we can spend money IN
cultivating poor land with poor brains
with net loss on the result. The world is
full of educated men who can make no
profitable use of their knowledge. One
cause, also, undoubtedly, of the barren
ness of agricultural colleges in the pro-
duction of actual working, educated
farmers is the requirement of tastes by
undergraduates in the process OF
education which they come to be-
lieve that farm life under present
agricultural conditions will not supply the
means of gratifying. 1t is probable that
this view, ii even correct, will soon pass
away, as the extreme pressure now felt by
farmers everywhere is certain before long
to bring demand for relief from the only
quarter from which it can possibly come,
which is the same application of science
to agricultural operations which is en-
ployed in other pursuits. AT the same
time, it is true that the full equipment of
a graduate in agriculture can hardly be
employed with profit in the conduct of an
ordinary farm. He will have of necessity
learned much that he will have no OPP
portunity to practice. The analysis of
soils, for example, requires not only
costly preparation but expensive facilities
which will not be at his command and
1t will not pay to learn all this merely as
farmer when the few analyses which any
farmer will ever desire to make can be
made for him far more skillfully in the
laboratory of the university. The same is
true of many other things. Ii one is to be
fruits grower he does not need to study
the Hessian fly, or if dairyman the cause
and prevention of couture does not par
ticularly concern him.
With thier rough common sense the peo-
pie have felt this and accordingly what
demand there has been for agricultural edu-
cation,,as such has come mostly in the form
for requests for special instruction, which
is freely given to all with the necessary
Elementary knowledge, and which consti-
tutes the main instruction work OF the uni
versity staff. AT the conclusion of any
special work undertaken by the student
his record in that work is given him,
which he can use for whatever it is worth
to him.
1t is felt by the staff of the Agricultural
College that there is need of asystematized
short course, not exceeding two years,
whereby students will gain most of what
as farmers they will have daily occasion to
apply, and which the resources of the
English language will afford. 1t is to be
hoped that before long the regents will es-
tablish such course, to be followed by
such certificate of proficiency as will form
AS the University of California is paid
for by the people it should be the study of
each citizen how he can get back from the
university the money which he con-
tributed to its support with good round
profit thereupon. No college of applied
science has any reason for existence if there
is not money profit in its work which can
be traced and definitely located. 1t would
be no trouble to figure up enormous money
profits which have accrued to the people of
California from the work of the College of
Agriculture, but the benefit that has been
divided is a mere bagatelle compared with
what might have been obtained had farm
ers generally availed themselves of it's
services. That they do not more generally
do this is most certainly not the fault of
the staff; by every means in their power
they have made and are continuously
making known to the farmers the facul-
ties at their cammand and their readi-
ness to employ them in the farmers SER
vice, but if a twenty-acre farmer will per-
sst in spending time and money in trying
to do what the university could tell him
cannot be done. or would be improbable
if done, it is not their fault.
Perhaps no part of the work of the uni
yersity is more valuable than the unprofit-
able enterprises which it prevents. For