Middletown transcript., 1900-11-17
AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT DELA-
WARE COLLEGE.

this country have been laborlng, often
comparative obscurity, always facing gre
difficulties, and sometimes organize
opposition to build up system of educ
ton whereby the producing classe
might be supplied with educated leade
and thinkers.
The rapid increase and enormous d
velopment of the great industrial estal
lishments and transportation interest,"
has caused demand for young men edr
Gated in certain technical lines, the bet
of whom might eventually be called upo
to manage large undertakings in whic
there is great pecuniary compensatiol
for the successful ones.
All of our young people get larg
share of their equipment and ideals TO
life, through their school training.
That the farmers appreciate education
as highly as do many other classes o
people is shown by the fact that one hal
of the students in our colleges and uni
versities are from the farms. In year
past too small proportion of these sedu
Gated young people have returned tt
farms
The State Colleges, or as they are Otter
called Agricultural Colleges have beer
in the front ranks of the workers fol
carrying higher education out to tht
people and have established many
courses of study and training for special
lines of work which are available to those
who have not time or opportunity for an
extended course of general training.
The unusually rapid increase in the
number of students in the Agricultural
courses of the colleges, during the past
three or four years, is . most hopeful
sign. Between the years 1898 and 1895
the number of students in the Agricul'
tural courses increased 1925, or So per cent,
During the last two years certain insti-
tutions have seen an increase in their ag-
ricultural students of 80 and 100 per cent.
1t is possible that this is direct result OF
the efforts that have been made during
the past few years to introduce Nature
Study into our common schools. At any
rate, it was believed by those who have
been most interested in developing that
movement, that such 9 result would
follow.
Already the colleges had arranged short
courses of instruction in agricultural sub
jects and means were needed for causing
the farmers to have better appreciation
of what these courses could do for them.
Seven years ago Delaware College ad-
ded to her regular course in Agriculture
two shorter courses which ought to prove
of the greatest value to the farmers of the
State.
There are many young farmers who,
having gotten what they can from the
public schools, feel that they would like
some special knowledge by which they
may be better fitted to successfully carry
on farms. 4.
To these the College offers, entirely
free Of any charge for tuition, course of
instruction in practical Agriculture and
Horticulture which has already been
taken and found useful by some who are
now farming successfully.
In order to make the Course useful to
IS large a number rs possible, no en-
rance examination is required, but the
College welcomes any young man who
s heartily interested in farming and has
Utilized the public schools well enough
% prepare himself for the work offered.
The range Of topics considered in the
course covers most of those with which
he farmer comes in contact in the grow
ng of crops and handling of animals.
Courses Of practical talks, in fruit-grow-
ng, stock-raising and feeding, dairying,
treatment of injurious insects and plant |
diseases, use of fertilizers, cultivation of |
he soil, preservation of manures, &c. (,
&C., are given by the members of the
Experiment Station staff and College
aculty; each one teaching his own spec
atty.
The course is placed at that time in the
rear when farmers sons can easiest be
pared from home, and when, in fact,
many of them have little work to be done
hat is of a pressing nature, viz; the
months Of January, February and March. |
1t is hoped that this winter will see |
arger number than ever taking advant-
ge of what is 30 freely offered in this |
Erection.
There Is yet another class of young |
armers whom the College ID trying TO |
'eneft, namely, those who wish more |
xtended knowledge and more mental
raining than can be had through three
months course of study.
For the young man who expects to
tay on the farm, but who wishes more
ducation than can be given by the dis
rict school, the two years course in
agriculture in the College offers . rare
pportunity for obtaining the benefits
Thich come through educstionsnd ct the
anne time obtaining training and knowl-
dge of special value TO the farmer.
Iearly all of the time in this course is
iven to Agriculture, Horticulture and
hose branches of science, pure and ap-
lied which pertain directly to farm life.
For one with limited time at his dis
osai and who expects TO live on . Del
ware farm there is no educational course
tered in the State which viii prove so
aluable. II
1t is confidently hoped that yet larger
lumber OF Delaware boys will enter these
purses and fit themselves thereby for 9
lost useful and enjoyable life work.
Finally, there is open to those who
lsh all the advantages of full college
purse and also wish to work either on
le farm or in some line of allied scien-
nc work four years course Of training
Agriculture which includes the general
aiming that Aveyv ...1,.c.4.5 -. .,.,,ht {