Montana State University Bozeman - Montanan Yearbook (Bozeman, MT)

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from the horticultural department. These departments of the agricultural work are what may be called units, and the expansion from this will be in these departments, by the addition of assistant helpers. Another thought in the organization was the division of the lines of work to be undertaken. At the head of the college work in agriculture is a department of research, the Experiment Station, which has a separate staff of workers with a separate head known as the Director, who is charged with the responsibility of so using the funds placed at his disposal, and so organizing the working force as to accomplish the largest possible amount of accurate work in original investigations in the agricultural field: and to seeing that the facts worked out are presented clearly and comprehensively to the people. The Experiment Station is endowed with funds given especially for its work. From the U. S. Government $24,000 is received each year and this in three years becomes S30.000. From the State S7.500 is obtained for maintenance : $4,000 for dry farming experiments and Si,500 per year for horticultural work. In addition to this, about $6,000 per year is obtained through co-operative work undertaken with the railways, with the U. S. Department of Agriculture, and with communities in the state; and about S5.000 is obtained from produce sold from the farms. The whole making about $48,000 per year. This is nearly three times the income of the Experiment Station six years ago. The next division in the agricultural work is the college department of agriculture, through which it is aimed to reach and educate along scientific and practical agricultural lines the young people who come to us for such information. The college takes the facts of scientific agriculture as elucidated by this and other experiment stations of the world and moulds them into pedagogic form for the information, training and development of the students. The next division in the agricultural work is the college department is grouped under the head of Agricultural Extension, through which it is endeavoring to bring the work of the Experiment Station and the college in a clear and practical manner home to the people of the state. Through correspondence in answer to inquiries for information, through the Farmers Institute work, popular bulletins on practical agricultural topics, farmers' reading courses, rural school leaflets, etc., the latest facts and the best practices in agriculture are brought into the homes of all the people who ask for information and help. With the organization worked out and the direction of our endeavors laid down, the next thought was to provide the equipment and buildings necessary to make the plans possible. When funds are dependent upon popular support and the amount available is limited, very careful planning has to be done to get needed buildings and equipment, 17

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The student who is given practice in forming scientific opinions, based on observed facts, and who approaches each problem with a desire for truth and an open mind, is cultivating a true scientific spirit. Even in a technical school many of the best students should be attracted to the study of pure science for the sake of science itself. However, most of the science subjects are taught, necessarily, as prerequisites to studies in the technical courses. The benefits to be obtained by the student of applied science, either in Agriculture or Engineering, will depend, to a very large degree, upon the foundation that has been laid in the study of the pure science subjects of his course. The students of this institution should feel proud of the fact that those in authority, throughout the history of the college, have insisted that the fundamental sciences upon which the technical courses are based, should be well supported and that the instruction in these lines should be thorough and genuine. The excellent equipments in biology, chemistry, physics and geology give abundant evidence of the desire to make these subjects fulfill their true part in the kind of learning this college attempts to impart. As to the efficiency of the instruction given, each individual student can decide for himself by measuring his own progress and development under the system of science teaching which prevails in this institution. AGRICULTURE Perhaps the work and aim of the agricultural department of the college can best be described by calling attention to the plans and development of this department during the past five years. At that time the department had an existence largely in name only. Its buildings, live stock and equipment were not equal to what a good farmer would consider necessary to his success, and there were not enough men at the head of the work to do properly what was expected of them. In building up this department two main objects have been kept in mind: first, to provide men, specialists in the various phases of agriculture ; and second, to provide buildings, live stock and equipment adequate for the work to be done. This is the age of the specialist: even the successful farmer has to specialize. He is a grain farmer, a dairyman, a sheepman, a cattleman, a hog raiser, or a gardener or a fruitman. The agricultural teacher and investigator must, of necessity, meet the farmer on his own ground, if he is going to succeed, then he must also be a specialist. The three primary divisions of the agricultural work are: agronomy or field agriculture, animal industry, and horticulture. The first addition to these would probably be dairying, from the animal industry; next agricultural mechanics, from the agronomy department; and forestry. 16

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and often an indirect rather than a direct route must be taken to get to the point aimed at. The leaders in thought and endeavor in Montana believe in agricultural education and in the potentiality of a strong agricultural department in building and developing the agriculture of the state. The line of least resistance, therefore, was towards providing live stock and live stock buildings. Thus a dairy building, a granary, a cattle barn, a hog house, poultry buildings and a horse barn have been built, and finally an agricultural building provided for. Had an additional $7,000 voted by the legislature, but lost through an error of a clerk, been available, a steer feeding and a sheep feeding barn would have been provided, thus completing the immediate needs of the agricultural department. The purpose of this organization and equipment from the college and agricultural extension standpoint, is to provide thorough and efficient instruction in the special problems of Montana agriculture. From the standpoint of the Experiment Station, the purpose is to add year by year to our knowledge and control of the forces that make towards larger and more economic results in farm practice. The Montana station is putting the weight of its funds into the creative or improvement side of the agricultural problem. We are endeavoring to find the kind of grains, forage, crops, fruits, trees, etc., best suited to Montana conditions on the irrigated or non-irrigated lands, also the best methods of soil management, cultivation, irrigation, etc. Next we are endeavoring to find how to best utilize the fodders and grains in feeding all kinds of live stock, and then trying to improve those animals so as to make them more efficient machines for economic productions. On the defensive or protective side of the work, we are studying the insect pests and plant diseases that injure or destroy the farmer’s crops; and also how to control, prevent and cure the evils resulting from use or abuse of irrigation water. In the near future we plan to take up the study of the diseases that affect the live stock of the farm. This, in a general way, presents the work and aims of the agricultural department of the college. Those who would wish for a more thorough knowledge will find it in the publications of the college and Experiment Station. ENGINEERING SELECTING AN ENGINEERING EDUCATION The young man who has completed his course in the high school, has reached a point in life when it is necessary for him to decide upon the next step in his future. Should he turn his attention to the trades, 18