River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1896-11-12
Notesfrom our Agricultural College.

Notes from our Agricultural College.
BYPEoF. W. A. HRSRY. MADISON, WIS.
The I3tn Annual Report OF the Ex-
pertinent Station, now nearly ready
for distribution. wiz DE sent to about
5000 farmers of this state whose
names are on our mailing list. Among
the subjects treated are: Comparative
value of whole corn and cornmeal Tor
feeding hogs: feeding lambs for the
market; seeding grass-lands without
nurse crop: the bacteria of cheese:
tuberculosis of cattle; Babcock Milk
Test; Moisture in cheese curing rooms:
influence Of sub-soiling on soil
moisture; experiments in irrigation:
notes on fruits; composition of feed
ing stuff with colored chart: soil
fertility: mails of Wisconsin: and
other topics. There are many illustra-
tions.
Wisconsin farmers not now re-
ceiving our reports and bulletins can
have them without charge by sending
in their names.
The nelr Horticultural agricultural Physics
y aiding.
Citizens interested in agricultural
progress viii be pleased to learn of
the completion of our new building
devoted TO horticulture and agri-
cultural physics and mechanics. This
building OF brick is three stories in
height, having frontage of I3 feet
80 feet in depth. with glass houses in
the rear S. KS feet. The right wing,
erected three years ago. is devoted to
plant life and horticulture. Here
Prof. GofT teaches the young farmer
many facts and practices of great
importance concerning farm plants,
much time being devoted to corn aud
clover. In the glass houses, no matter
how cold outside, instruction in graft
ing, budding and planting of trees
and crops proceed as in summertime.
The wing just completed is devoted to
the physics and mechanics of the
farm. On the lower floor may be
found the various pieces of machinery
common to large farms. There is a
threshing machine engine which the
student is taught to operate; also a
power Windmill, gasoline motors;
valve, rotary and centrifugal power
and hand pumps for irrigation and
farm water supply. The next floor is
devoted to the study of the soil, soil
water and other important farm
problems. The third floor also con-
tains a lecture and apparatus room.
Back of this wing is a large glass
house where corn, potatoes and other
farm plants are found growing in
winter. Here also arrangements are
very complete for the study of drain
age, irrigation, blowing, tillage and
other farm operations. The building
with equipments represents an outlay
of over S4O,0 200, the gift of generous
state for the advancement of agricul-
ture.
Other Short Course Branches.
Stock judging is taught by Prof.
Craig; this year Short Course students
Judge live stock at 80 Wisconsin fairs.
Stock feedingis taught by the writer
DR.. Laws teaches scores of useful
things concerning the disease of farm
animals and their cure, and especially
how to manage animals to prevent
disease.
Agricultural chemistry is taught by
DR.. Babcock, inventor of the Milk
Test. Instruction in farm carpentry
and black-smithing is given by Prof.
c. L. King. Much attention is given
to farm dairying in this course under
the guidance Of Mr.. Sales. Recognize
ing that our students should be
leaders in farming communities,
there is careful drill in essay writing,
defamation and especially parlia-
mentary practice, by Mr.. Moore.
The Short Course Lengtheaed.
To complete the Short Course
heretofore required two terms of
twelve weeks each; we have now
heightened il to two terms of four
teen weeks each. Formerly we began
January LIST: now the term opens
December LIST. At this writing 80
applications have been received from
young men who will be with us the
coming winter. Students from New
York to California are represented.
thirteen applications being registered
from Illinois alone.
The expenses of the course are
light: $4,000 should cover all outlay
Many members of the class are young
men who have earned every dollar
working as month hands on farms;
these realize that they can secure
better positions and command higher
wages by studying with us. Others
are young men whose parents wish
them to take charge of the old home
stead, while still others can get a
little help from home in purchasing a
tract of land. A fair percentage of
students are city born, having an
ambition to live in the country. Our
students range from l6 to 60 years of
age. Those who have had experience
in the management of farms are the
best students and generally express
themselves best pleased with what
they learn.
1g1icult,ral Education Gaining Friends
A Belgian farmer living in Ke-
waunee county came to US last year at
the opening of the term, saying: Here
is my third son to attend the Short
Course. ! have one more at home
and VIII send him as soon as he is old
enough. EXT rience has shown me
that il pays" One of Rock county'sI
best farmers has sent US three sons.
Another evidence of appreciation is
the fact that each year we have a
goodly number of applications from
owners Of farms and estates who wish
us to send them pratical young
students TO work with them, or care
for their property. Any one sixteen
wears of ace can attend the Short