Virginia Polytechnic Institute - Bugle Yearbook (Blacksburg, VA)

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un uf' i P I 4 l i i P I 9 THE P , G E DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE HE function of the agricultural college is not, as many have supposed, solely that of training farmersg but rather the develop- ment of men for rural leadership. Such leadership calls for men fitted with technical knowledge-for investigation, for teaching, and for various forms of extension service, as well as for that form of leadership which is the natural result of being both a good citizen and a successful farmer. The demand at present for properly trained and equipped men for the various phases of both public and private service in agriculture is far greater than the available supply of men. It is the function of the agricultural college-not only to train young DEAN PRICE , , men for these varlous forms of rural service, but to direct and co-ordinate their eiorts in such a manner that the Whole rural population will be brought in direct touch with the college and its teachings. The agricultural graduate should, therefore, have a broad and liberal training, in order that he may be able to grasp the many important economic and social problems that are pressing for solution. He should not only be able to ,recognize such problems, but he should' be qualified to take some part in their solution. The agricultural college has often been subjected to the criticism that it educates young men away from the farm 5 but such criticism has no force so long as the college graduate's opportunity for service is greater in the field of public agriculture than in that of private farming. Agriculture has been taught at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute since its foundation, in 18723 but a modern course in technical agriculture was not offered until after the reorganization of the agricultural department by President J. M. McBryde. The courses of study offered in the early days of the McBryde administration, by such men as Professors Alwood, Davidson, Niles, Smythe, and Nourse, furnished the nucleus for strong fundamental training in agriculture and horticulture. These men set a high standard in agricultural instruction and in agricultural service for those who have succeeded them. Fortunately for the students of this institution, those in authority have, from the date of the reorganization meitioned, insisted not only upon sound technical instruction, but have also demanded thoro and broad training 1' , ee .,, e. - . , - - 30 I Qii,ili.i'iEi if

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' I V V 'II 3 ' ' ? Eff PROFESSOR CAMPBELL DR. WILLIAMS PROFESSOR DRINKARD fi-'ini' ACADEMIC DEPARTMENT CAROL MONTGOMERY NEWMAN, Dean of the Academic Department, Professor of English. . B. A. Kings College, 18975 M. A., University of Virginia, 19015 Ph. D., University of Virffinia 1903 THEODORICK PRYOR CAMPBELL Dean of the Faculty Pvofessor of Modern Languaqes and Lafm B A Hampden Sidney 1880 M A Hampden Sidney 1882 JOHN EDWARD WILLIAMS Pvofessor of Mathematzcs B A Hampden Sidney College 1892 M A University of Virginia 1901 Ph D University of Virginia 1899 ALFRED WASHINGTON DRINKARD Pvofessm of Economacs and Polmcal Sczeuce B S Virginia Polytechnic Institute 1893 M S Virginia Polytechnic Instltute 1895 CLARENCE PAUL MILES Associate Professm of lllodewt Languages B S Virginia Polytechnic Instltute 1901 M S Virginia Polytechnic Institute WILLIAM MAYO BRODIE Assoctate Professor of Mathematzcs B S V1rg1n1a Polytechnic Institute 1901 M E V11g1H13 Polytechnic Institute 1902 M A Columbia University 1914 JOHN JAMES DAVIS Assoczate Pvofessor of Modem, Languages B S Virginia Polytechnic Institute 1: 1 - , 1 1 . , . . ., - , . ., - , . - , I I - - Q, 3 1 ' '7 ' 2 ' 'Q a ' I I . A .J-. . A , . . . ., 9 r - -r y - , . - . . ., 1 1 ' -7 ' , ' . . ., 7 1 ' '1 7 7 ' -1 , . , ' . . .,

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- Yi , g U in cultural subjects and in the sciences cognate to agriculture. The result has been that the institution has not turned out one-sided specialists in some particular branch of agriculture, but has developed trained men who can think and act for themselves. President Butterworth describes the Work of the agricultural college as the training of rural problem-solving. The courses given in the past and at the present at Virginia Polytechnic Institute were planned to accomplish this task of training problem-solvers. The success of its graduates in agriculture and horticulture shows that the institution has, in some measure, succeeded in its purpose. The present policy of the agricultural department is to insist on thoro training in the underlying principles of agriculture, rather than to include many informational branches in its curriculum. Its purpose and hope is to fit young men for every possible phase of agricultural service. The present-day problems in agriculture are innumerable. They include economic questions, such as rural credit and farm tenantryg practical questions, such as studying markets, and the actual management of a farm, engineering questions, such as farm drainage and the farm 'plant or buildingsg social problems, such as the improvement of rural schools and the education of adult farmers. Virginia agriculture is confronted by all of these problems, and many more. The State naturally looks to her agricultural colleges and its graduates for the solution of these problems, and for leadership and direction in her eifort for the upbuilding and improvement of rural conditions. '