New Jersey Agricultural College - Four Leaf Clover Yearbook (New Brunswick, NJ)

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The specihc conditions existing on the individual farm are such that, in order to meet them successfully, the prescribed schedules in the General Agri- culture and Dairy Husbandry Course and in the Fruit Growing and Market Gardening Course should be subject to modiiication. The average student would undoubtedly work to better advantage if certain studies in these courses were made optional. The substitution of a desired subject for one which the individual feels is not so well fitted to his particular needs, would seem a logi- cal improvement in the arrangement of the work. This object might be accom- plished to an extent by dividing each of the two courses mentioned into two distinct parts. cBy such a division we would have four separate branches, viz. : tlj General Agriculture, CZD Dairy Husbandry, Q31 Fruit Growing, t4j Mar- ket Gardening. A combination of any two of these branches might constitute a com-plete course and a certificate be awarded on such a basis. The suggestions tendered and criticisms made will undoubtedly be accepted in the friendly manner in which they are offered. May the Short Course Spirit prevail always and act as a strong intluence toward increased efficiency and better agriculture in our State of New jersey. F5 u- - - 5 .- . 4 4- ' ' I In ., -1 - f'f'lf . . fl If-155 ',Ti :,fl'..,-A-Ljf 'LTL'--'J 'lI1--r f - ' ,-,,..-...---4- ,,,,-. an-,-,.,..--f-f STUDENTS BUILDING COLONY HOUSES 99

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A More Efficient Short Course x BY josnrrr R. BERDAN. FFICIENCY in agriculture is the prime object of the State in providing the Short Courses, and it is only with a desire to increase this efhciency that any suggestions relating to the school curriculum may reasonably be made. The eight years elapsing since the inauguration of Short Course work by the State of New Jersey has witnessed great development in this direction, and a constant effort to fit the courses to the growing and ever-changing needs of the student body has been always evident. That further improvement may still be made is only natural, and it is with the hope of aiding such improve- ment that the suggestions here made are offered. There is probably no occupation in which environment plays such an im- portant part as in the practice of farming. The student entering an agricul- tural course should be positive that he is temperamentally fitted for agricultural work and that rural life is to be fully as attractive to him as life in the town or city. Completion of a Short Course term by the student lacking familiarity with actual farm. conditions, only to find that prolonged association with such surroundings is distasteful, would not only involve useless expense on his part in pursuing his studies, but would entail an actual loss to the State in the investment it has made in the education of that individual. Such a result might be reasonably obviated by an entrance requirement of at least one year's practical farm experience. This requirement would naturally add to the efficiency of the courses by placing the entire student body on a more common footing and by furnishing a sounder basis for the successful study of the sub- jects offered. A The duration of the course is necessarily limited by the period of compara- tive inactivity on the farm, and yet the wide range of work to be covered would seem to make a somewhat longer course desirable. By the lengthening of the term to seventeen weeks, or from November first to March first, the subjects offered might be more thoroughly absorbed without serious interfer- ence with the farm program through the student's extended absence from his home. 98

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Glimpse into the Future UST a few years previous to the reunion of which l relate wc had parted in New Brunswick. Thus it was for the purpose of renewing old associations that my cousin Edna and I weuded our way toward Mrs. Tohelman's cozy home in East Orange one- half hour before the appointed time fdespite the incredulity of some of my readersl. Other girls soon arrived, however, and the spirit of the occasion was made manifest by the laughing and talking as each newcomer arrived. Everywhere were familiar faces. Mrs. M- tnee Rouanj was expatiating on the joys of living on a farm, to Miss Jensen, Miss Jensen, hy the way, has opened up a lunch-room not far from the Short Course building, and it is said that the old lunch-room has a marked deficiency in its customers as a result. Miss Simonson and Miss Selck discussing fashions of the day found mutual interests, for he it known, je members of the Home Economics Course, these two young ladies are upholding the reputation of the Class of 1914-15-Miss Simouson C M1le. Marie J being famed as an exclusive milliner with a small but select parlor on Fifth Avenue, New York, while Miss Selck can teach us not only how we might succeed as dressmakers of fashion, hut also how to make Crocsus look poverty-stricken. Miss Selck is the first woman in this country to supply the much-needed demand of American Clothes for the American Woman, and her success is further evidenced by the maintenance of many branch salons. In conversation with Miss Runyon you suddenly realize that you are a friend of the great authority on all subjects pertaining to Domestic Science now employed hy the U. S. Government. Her salary, I understand, is written in five figures. Following the sound of voices, I observed Miss Helen Lock the center of a small group receiving the good wishes of her friends, as each admired the beautiful sparkler on her left hand ftwo diamonds'-no less l--in a flat setting on either side of a fiery rubyj. And to think she is going to live in that wonderful 3100.000 mansion of her own design, planned in school-the wedding gift of Father-Elect! Her sister, Miss Kathleen, is now head nurse in one of the oldest hospitals of England, and she divides her time between London and Plainheld. Several times in the midst of conversation I noticed Miss Winsor jotting down on I1 piece of paper something which she afterward admitted was data for her hook, adding parenthetically, that her first experience in New Brunswick was the incentive. Speaking of authors, we are pleased to introduce our old friend, Miss Cranmer, whose latese book, The Art of Being Agreeahle, is one of the best sellers. Argumentative voices caused us to listen to Miss lrlalsted, who at that moment was placing great stress on the merits of the Blank sewing machine, as against Miss Jane- way's contention that hand-made pieces are always more secure, being corroborated in this by her own experience. In the midst of this discussion we were interrupted hy the sound of an approaching limousine, out of which stepped Donna Helena Gazoodles. Miss VVelsh needs no intro- duction as the .latest sensation in opera and her name alone is changed. lt is not for me to remind her of the lack of encouragement on our part when we failed to attend those Tuesday night meetings during her first public appearance in the Short Course building. Mrs. Wehh could not come, owing to the necessity of her presence in the construction of her new farm-house planned hy Edna McFadden, of the firm of McMurtry Sz McFad- den, Architects, first prize winners at the San Francisco Exposition. A telegram from Miss Costello, stating that she could not join us, elicited the inform- ation from her cousin, the Prima Donna, that May was recuperating in Palm Beach after a too-eventful season in South Amboy. Miss Drayton was unable to he present, owing to a oooking demonstration given by her that day. Although sorry she could not he with us, we are glad to know that she is making something of an art in which she was so proficient in school. I Then there was the ubiquitous Mrs. Tohelman herself, radiant and happy in her effort to make things pleasant and agreeable for every one-just thc same as at school. We are proud to know that she devotes several months of each year to orchestral work, touring, etc., owing to her success as accompanist while in New Brunswick. All experiences told and reminiscences finished, the girls joined in in the preparation of a real scientific collation, which was later eaten with relish. The musical members of the class favored us with selections, after which the party broke up, each one proclaiming Mrs. Tobelman the jolliest of hostesses. 0 EULALIA R. MCFADDEN. ll O I