Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-10-20

stated that the officials of the Univer-
sity believe they will be called on to
provide for the accommodation of from
1900 to 100 students in the College of
Agriculture alone the present year. 1t
is nov understood that this number
| can be we'll taken care of although
when building the new and cOmmOdiouS
quarters now occupied by this depart
ment the intention was to accommo-
| date only 500 or 800 students. 1t is
| plainly evident that the next few years
| must Sc" the buildings and equipment
Of Cornell College of Agriculture eX-
| pahded to about double their present
capacity if those desiring assistance in
| this avenue Of instruction are to be ac-
commodated.
As an indication of how the impetus
| for the study of farm subjects and
those related thereto is growing the
following figures speak vOlulnns Il
was expected that perhaps 800 would
desire instruction in General Biology;
instead this class was overwhelmed
with over 300. The estimate for the
class in parasitology-a comparatively
new field Of investigate n-was for only
II or 10 students, but there are already
over so enrolled and more to follow in
! the last half year.
| Not only is the fact being made evi-
dent that systematic study OF the SCI
| ence of agriculture is becoming pOpl;-
| lar, but better still, a eOodly number OF
| those here taking regular ard speciai
| courses are farmers sons and farmers
| themselves who have had plenty of
farming experience to enable them to
get the fullest practical advantage
| from the study and investigation avail
able. After conversation with a large
number of those taking work in the
College of Agriculture, it is made clear
that farming along lines like stock,
husbandry, poultry, orchardins. small
fruit and potato growing is looked up
on by these men as a better avenue a,
present in which to employ the equip
ment that college training affords, thar,
can be furnished by the so-called high
er professions. 1t is true that the other
colleges of the university are growing
in enrolment but in no such ratio as
the College of Agriculture
| Another fact of interest here present
ed. IS the considerable number of mer
| from the much doomed territory of the
Northwest and Southwest who are talk
ing regular and special work in the COT
legc of Agriculture with view of Sc
curing definite knowledge of the agri-
culture of the East in order to better
understand the commercial and mar
ket side of the industry in its broades,
sense. Several of these have informed
the writer that they have been strange
iy miSinformed concerning the East and
its farming possibilities and can scarce
ly credit the fact that orchard and Spc-
cial purpose farm land capable of
yielding such good revenue, is yet In
the market at such low prices.
| An oregon graduate student of Hor-
ticuit"rc. right from the heart of the
Hood River apple section. freely admit
ted that in his Judgment New York
and New England orchardists only
need to employ the same scientific or
chard management as is followed in
Hood River t" obtain results uniform
" as good and likewise enjoy the ad
vantage of being 2o0o miles nearer mar
ket. This gentleman knows the situa-
ton fully in oregon and here and has a
complete knowledge of the orchardng
business in both sections. In his own
words: "OrchardinG followed according
to tho best light is immensely profitable
in Oregon. 1t does not do to say just
how profitable it is. for Eastern people
refuse to believe the statements that
are true
=, Verify it is good to see agriculture
taking such an influential place in the
educational work of a great institution
like Cornell University and even more
to observe the enthusiasm of those en-
gagged in the work of the courses com
pretending rural affairs. 1t does not
need prophet to see that agriculture
is on the eve of coming into its own.
b. +. w. THORPE
Cornell University, Ithaca, n. Y
Oct. Is, 1909.