Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1905-04-12
ire STUDY OF AGRICULTURE
xpt.. and Comments ON COLES.

Notes and Comments on Colleg
Work-Mnny More Students.
DIR. Allen Of the Office of experiment
stations has recently made some inter
esting statements and commentator TIL
status Of agricultural training TO
young men as shown by the record,
of the past season. At hardly any
time, he says, since the stations were
organized and fairly running has there
been a greater call for men of various
grades and qualifications. A part OF
THIS call has risen from the growth OF
agricultural instruction and the re-
organization of several institutions on
a broader basis.
A notable feature Of the present de-
mand is credited to the "high degree
Of efficiency which is called for. In
many cases specialists are desired who
bring to their work a combination Of
special training and experience not
easily acquired at college. frequently
such men have had to be trained for
the work after leaving college, and,
while this will probably be inevitable
for certain positions, the enlarging of
the facilities at the agricultural col
leges. in teaching force and equipment,
anu the provision for more efficient
postgraduate work will enable the
training in special lines to be carried
much farther"
Ipr Allen notes that with a growing
appreciation of trained men for agrl-
cultural pursuits has come a greater
interest in agricultural education on
the part Of young men, as strictly in
dichted by the attendance at many of
the leading agricultural colleges now.
As a rule, the number in the en-
tersng class who have elected agricul-
ture shows marked increase, often
far in advance OF previous years. The
University of Illinois, for example, re-
ports 1870 agricultural students in its en- |
tering class as compared with 1873 in
the, whole college Of agriculture two
years ago; Iowa Agricultural college
entered 155 as compared with 1913 last
yeaf; Massachusetts, Is; Michigan, AZ
IN the freshman and In the subfresh-
man classes; Missouri, GO as compared
WITH A last year; Ohio, 45; Texas,
20 ds compared with Is last year. The
lbore figures apply to students in the
classes who have elected the
our year courses in agriculture and
Other colleges report q marked In
;rease in the total number Of agricul-
ur;il students. At Cornell university
he number has increased about 30 per
,ent, making the total IT'S; at the Ala
,ama college the total is about 1876 as
olnbared with 125 last year; at Glenn
on college, South Carolina, 1877, con-
idetable increase. and at the Univer-
ity of Wisconsin there are 8S students
n the long course against 60 last year.
While these numbers are not large
they indicate a marked
hahge over conditions a few years
CO. and 1t should be noted that In the
Majority Of cases the registration has
lcr4ased in spite Of more and more
Igid requirements for admission,
'hidh are now as strict as for any 9TH
r course in the institutions mentioned. .
he differentiation Of the agricultural
purse is now so much more complete
ian formerly that in most instances
lie men who elect agriculture do so
ecause they are seeking an agrlcul-
lral education and not because they
e forced TO take this course in order
get IL training In general science, as
as frequently the case few years
70. or because 1t furnishes an easier Q
ad to a degree. This adds fierce to d
q figures presented above and indi-
les that the placing Of the agricultur- .
coarse OH level with other college
urses in point of entrance require a
ents and grade of work is meeting a
18th very encouraging results.
The two year courses and the short o
inter courses are serving q most adj a
IraRle purpose and are increasing the y
my, OF trained agrlculturists who put 4
e teachings Of the agricultural col
yes and the experiment stations and y
her agencies for agricultural advance "
snt into practical application.