Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1918-04-26
WOMEN STUDENTS
TAKE AGRICULTURE
Forty-seven of Fairer Sex Answer
Country's Call fer Increased
Production

increased production this year by TAX
ing work in the College of Agricul-
ture. Many of them will go out this
summer into various parts of the
state and apply the technical knowl-
edge they are acquiring in actual
work on farms and in gardens and
homes.
Five years ago this was an un-
dreamed of condition. A few brave
women did venture into the part of
Science hall then sacred to agricul-
ture. and we're greeted with more
surprise than enthusiasm. In class
room and in laboratory the men as
sumed a protective and patronizing
attitude, which was overcome only
with difficulty when the semester was
nearly finished. On the campus
might often be heard the question
DO you know the girl who is taking
Ag?" or the explanation, Il mean
the girl who took Ag. last year" She
was a person apart.
But this year there is no such feel
ing, and women are taking the work
side by side with men, and taking
1t with an earnest desire to do some
thing to help while the men are
away. Five women are studying gas
engine operation and repair, and will
go out fitted to operate the station
AIRY engines, which are being used so
commonly on farms to run pumps,
churns, lighting systems, feed mills,
washing machines, cream separators,
and other machines. One young wo-
man may be seen guiding a tractor
over the college farm with ease and
confidence. and she expects to help
her father in this way when she goes
home for the summer. Another is
studying farm machinery
In the departments of soils and
farm crops five women are preparing
to teach agriculture in high school
or do boys and girls club work, and
one is taking the course in Methods
of Teaching Agriculture which, un-
der the new federal regulations,
promises a splendid opportunity for
trained women. In this department
is offered work in grain grading
The Department of Forestry has
three women enrolled, and the Ami
NAL Husbandry departm ent claims
two. Horticulture has the largest
number of women in any one depart
ment. Here sixteen are learning the
principles of Horticulture, Rural
Landscape Art, Vegetable Gardening,
Fruit Growing and Plant Propaga-
ton. Many of them will work in
their own gardens, orchards, and
yards. while some expect to teach
this work, There are many positions
open in the state for horticultural
inspectors and there seems to be no
reason why women cannot fill them
as acceptably as men in the future.
Perhaps the Department of Poultry
Husbandry can make the best show
ing this year. OF the twelve women
taking this work. two will go on to
poultry farms of their own One has
a position with the Extension depart
ment of the college, and one has left
recently to conduct boys and girls
clubs in the city of Tacoma. One has
dropped her student work to become
superintendent of the college poultry
plant and will thus do her share to-
ward winning the war. Still another
will work on a poultry farm. Mrs.
Whitaker now has calls for WON en-
to fill such positions, and has two
especially desirable openings in an
other state. This is one of the most
important lines of farming that wo-
men can enter now.
A great many questions have been
asked on the campus and over the
state as TO the position in which
girl finds herself in these classes.
While a few years ago the men in
this kind OF work might favor her
in every possible way, now she is
admitted on exactly equal terms with
them. Her work is judged on the
same basis. and while the courses
have been framed especially for men,
the woman who is willing to work
can succeed. though she may be ham
dicapped by her different background
of training and experience. She has
yet to help overcome the prejudices
and traditions which have so long
existed, but which are slowly and
surely slipping into the past In a
sophom ore Ag. class recently a heat
ed discussion was taking place re-
garding the desirability of woman s
taking agriculture as vocation, or
as a means of helping her father or