Texas A and M University - Aggieland Yearbook (College Station, TX)

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THB1911 For the tirst ten years the institution made very slow progress, after which there spread over the College a sudden burst of prosperity, and the Mechanical Engineering Building, Pfeuffer Hall, Austin Hall, and the Assembly Hall were built in quick succession in the late ’80s. These were followed by Ross Hall in 1892, the Mess Hall in 1897, the Agri¬ cultural and Horticultural Building in 1898, Foster Hall in 1899, and the Tex¬ tile Engineering Building within the last ten years. In 1909 the Administration Building and the Engineering Building were finished, and at present two new dormitories, Milner Hall and Leggett Hall, are being hurried to completion. These latter halls when completed will relieve to a slight extent the congestion of tents and will make room for addi¬ tional students next season. It is ex¬ pected that the attendance during the next session will reach the twelve hun¬ dred mark. The new dormitories will be up-to-date in every respect and will ac¬ commodate four hundred cadets. The College has from the opening rendered valuable service to the agricultural and mechanical interests of Texas. The last three years has been the period of most rapid growth and development. It has grown along other lines besides the rapid increase in buildings. At present it has become a prominent factor in the minds of the people of this great State. It is no longer considered a reformatory, as it was some years ago, its moral standard being of the highest type. A high sense of honor prevails among the students, the honor system being in vogue. Un¬ marvelled progress has been made in the Military Department. At present it is ranked by the national War Denart- ment amoing the ten distinguished in¬ stitutions in the United States. This is the first time in history that an agricultural and mechanical college has gained this coveted honor. A. and M. is the largest college in the world entire¬ ly under military discipline, there being at present more than one thousand cadets receiving scientific and practical training for the duties and responsibilities of life. The work of the College can be best understood by a brief statement of the courses of study provided. There are eight regular courses of study offered, each of which requires four years for completion and leads to the degree of bachelor of science. The courses are as follows : Agriculture, Architecture, Architectural Engineering, Chemical Enginering, and Textile Engineering. There are also offered the following courses: a graduate course in Agricul¬ ture, leading to the degree of master of science in Agriculture; a graduate course leading to the degree of civil engineer, electrical engineer, mechanical engineer, textile engineer; a two-years course in Textile Engineering, and a two - years course in Agriculture for teachers. Stu¬ dents taking the courses in Agriculture are given instruction in Agriculture, Horticulture, Animal Husbandry, Veter¬ inary Science. Chemistry and Biology, in addition to the regular academic studies. Instruction V Military Science covers Mur years. Instruction is also given in English. History, Journalism, Language, Public Speakine, Mathematics, Physics, and PTighway Engineering. The author¬ ities of the College, ever ready and anx¬ ious to serve the State in the most nrac- tical and effective way. have established a corresnondence course in Agriculture, and have also arranged to mve certain practical and scientific studies in the Summer School for the benefit of a Free number of farmers who can not leave their homes for the full time of a reg¬ ular course. 7

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Department of Agriculture. The Department of Agriculture now gives ins truction in four separate and distinct courses. These are: Agricult¬ ure proper, Horticulture, Animal Hus¬ bandry, and the Teachers’ Course. The Departments of Veterinary Science, En¬ tomology, Botany, and Bacteriology give instruction along their respective lines in each of the several agricultural courses. The Agricultural Course proper con¬ sists chiefly in a study of soils and of crops which are grown in the fields. Farm crops and their relations to the various types of soil, their cultivation and management in general receive care¬ ful consideration. The Course in Dairying comes under this department, and in it very efficient work is given along the lines of butter¬ making. creamery management, a n d dairying. The Horticultural Department deals chiefly along lines of orchards and truck crops. The fruits which are grown in our State are studied thoroughly. The cultivation, pruning, and spraying of our fruit trees is of great importance, and therefore practical demonstrations are given along with the theoretical side of this work. The business of trucking is similarly treated so that the student may be well able to carry on work along that line. The Animal Husbandry Department has for its chief object the study of the live stock interests in this State. Care¬ ful instruction is given along the lines of judging, feeding and breeding of all kinds of live stock. The Department of Veterinary Science is an important ad¬ junct of this department. In recent years a great demand for agricultural teachers has arisen. To satisfy this demand a course in Teaching is now given. Besides the regular work in Agriculture, the students taking this course receive instruction in Psychology, School Management, and Methods of Education. Besides the work along agricultural lines which is given in the various courses, instruction is also given in Chemistry, Physics, English, Mathemat¬ ics, and History, thus offering to anyone taking the Agriculrural Course the op¬ portunity of receiving a well - rounded education.