Daily inter mountain., 1900-12-24
SHORT AGRICULTURAL COURSE,
Offered by the Montana State Agricul-
tural College tBozeman.

Inc foloWing is an outline or the short
course IN agriculture which is offered by
the college of agriculture and mechanic
arts at Bozeman through the winter
months. from January until the end of
March:
This course is offered tor the benefit
Of the young men of Montana whose
work on the farm prevents them from
leaving ii except for a short period dur
ing the winter season, and also for those
of our towns and cities who wish to be-
come acquainted with the more prac-
teal phases of agricultural work. In
announcing such a course we feel that
we can make il thoroughly practical and
at the same time present the scientific
side OF each subject in such a way as
to render il both educational and useful.
The course consists of d series of poh-
ular lectures along lines intended to aid
the farmer. Stock-raser and dairyman,
eNen to the detal work relating to these
branches. In addition to lectures, prac-
tical work will be given under the direc-
tien of experts. who will strive to render
the work useful hy adapting it to the
needs of each particular individual as
far as possible. Little time win be spent
in purely theoretical discussions or in
veStgationS.
There will be no preparatory test as
10 qualification, and no special prepara-
ton will he necessary as the instruction
will he given largely hy lectures and
practical work. Any intelligent young
man can undertake this course and
profit by it,
The college and experiment station
libraries. which will be available to all,
furnish an important source of informa-
tion to those taking this course. Among
the 400 we'll selected volumes of the
former are to be found the latest works
on agriculture and those sciences most
closely related to it. In addition to this
the station library contains complete
files of journals devoted specially to
agriculture, live stock, dairyins, horti-
culture. poultry, etc. and many to par
ticular divisions of these branches. These
not only represent the state. but are
gathered from all parts of the Union
as well. The bulletins of all the eNperi-
ment stations are kept on file. in con-
venient form. and will always be avail
able to those wanting to use them. An
effort will be made to direct the reader
along those particular lines which will
bring him closely in touch with the pro-
gressive work that is being done in the
particular branch in which he is inter
eSted.
The agricultural subjects presented by
Prof. X. S. Shaw will include dairyng.
live stock, feeds and feeding and the
cultivation of farm crops The dairy
work will require each student to- be-
come familiar with the most improved
appliances and methods used in the care
of milk. cream separation and ripening,
churnins. sailing. working and different
methods of printing or packing for mar
ket. The work will nearly all be of
practical nature.
The live stock work will consist in a
study of breed types. with animals used
for purposes of illustration as far as
possible. Much attention will be given
to the selection of animals best suited
for beef and dairy productions. Feeds
and feeding will include study of
methods by which Montana farm prod
ucts can be most economically converted
into beef mutton and pork. This will
be partly based on work done by the
experiment station. as the data obtained
are of practical nature and applicable
to state conditions.
The cultivation of farm crops will in
clude methods of cultivation and man
agement of all the grain. grass and
forage crops which can be grown in
Montana. Special attention will be Civ
en- to crop rotation and the Importance
of the clover and alfalfa in SUCH
In connection with these subjects work
will be given along veterinary lines, on
the comparative anatomy of domestic
animals The more common diseases
to which they are subject, with cause
course and treatment.
lrrigation-This work. which will be
presented by Director Fortier, comprises
only the more practical features of the
subject. BY means of lecture talks,
models, diagrams and assigned reading.
an effort will be made to give the stu
dent some knowledge of the proper man
ner to appropriate. convey and apply
water for irrigation purposes Among
the topics to be considered are measure
ment and division appropriation crop
requirement, levelIing, building of farms,
| head gates dams and small earthen
reservoirs, seepage losses and how to
] lessen them; the drainage of alkali
| lands
Economic entomology-By Prof. R. A.
! Cooley. The external anatomy, life his
| tory and habits of the different orders
of insects will be taught by lecture and
in the. laboratory. The aim being to
enable to student to recognize the differ
ent orders Of insects and appreciate the
reason for adopting the various methods
Of restraining the injurious sjecies. The
most noted and destructive insects
which trouble Montana farmers will be
specially considered. Several lectures
will treat of insect control.
A series of illustrated lectures will be
given by DR.. F. w. Traphagen. treating
of the origin. composition and physica
properties of Soils conservation of mois
ture and plant food.
The principles of rotation of crops ani
tilage. The atmosphere as a source o
plant food. The chemical elements con
tained in the SOIL their relation to plants
method and manner of assimilation o
plant food. The relation of water to TIL
soil, soil temperature, action of frost
wind and climate on crops.