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

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General Course . HE General Course opened under most auspicious circumstances in the line new building which is just nearing completion. Unfortunately the first part of the term was mainly spent in an effort to keep warm, varied by the occasional fragments of lectures which could be heard above the roar of the patent heating and ventilating system. Two weeks of this caused an epidemic of colds and rheumatism, and a retreat te the old Short Course building, where the work has been carried on in more restricted quarters but in greater comfort. In spite of these drawbacks, the able corps of instructors, aided by the helpful and suggestive questions of McCracken, Bunce and ,l'arvin, have im- parted a vast fund of useful knowledge which will undoubtedly have a great infiuence on the crops of New Jersey. t Some of the boys have already learned to handle Old jerry quite fearlessly, but prefer to keep a safe distance when judging the other horses. McClave is still inclined to judge a pig along the same lines as a race horse, but otherwise gives indications of developing into an expert farmer. A few students prefer to pursue their studies of chickens at the opera house and report excellent progress. At least one interesting photograph has been secured, and it is hoped that others can be obtained. A A Shultise was edified to learn that sheep's milk is used principally for lanibsg McCracken now knows that throwing the manure over a fence will not keep the flies bred there from getting back to the barng and all the boys seem glad to know that Holstein milk is good for babies. Professor Minkler has cheered up a number of the students by showing them that their visits to the opera house have given them training in observa- tion along some of the lines most important in stock judgingg and l'rofessor App has taught us how to increase the corn yield by several years of selection, after which the dam corn is used for field planting. lt is fortunate that l rofessor Lewis gives but one lecture a week to the General Course, or there would be grave danger of many students abandoning their previous plans to go into the chicken business, which would naturally have a bad influence in the State by creating overfproduction in the poultry line and a shortage in general farm and dairy products. - 17 C23

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GEN ERAL COURSE UN .X JSM!

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Mr. Owen has given us a course in Farm Machinery which will make us all leaders in that branch of the profession, if there is anything in the famous adage: Keep close to your desks and never go to sea And you all may be rulers of the King's Naveef' Mr. Ragsdale has talked form and quality until one cannot try to put him- self to sleep by the old reliable sheep method without estimating density of bone, substance, etc., until he is more wide awake than ever. There is some difference of opinion as to whether we are justified in taking the means of livelihood from the hard-working men who compose the black- smiths' and carpenters' unions, and no doubt these organizations will make a bitter fight to prevent the forge and carpenter shops from putting them out of business. , Mr. Hoffman stated at the beginning of the course that he would base his work on health, comfort, happiness, and economy. After a few visits to the forge shop we concluded that our ideas of health, comfort, and happiness dif- fered slightly from Mr. I-Ioffman's. As to economy, we don't know. Perhaps, however, he believes in teaching the value of these things by contrast. The statistics on farm management which have been hurled at us would fill a volumxe. After studying these figures carefully, we are encouraged to believe that if we thoroughly master all the subjects taught in the Short Course, apply the principles of scientific agriculture efhciently, and have sufficient capital to buy a large farm and equip it well, we may eventually make as large a Labor income as the hired man, and if unusually successful may even do as well as the average grocery clerk. U As we go to press, quizzes are coming thick and fast and lines of care are showing on bright young faces which were formerly wreathed in smiles. How- ever, most of the boys are coming through with Hying colors, and there is no doubt that the class of 1915 will be an honor to the institution. If further evidence of the value of the course were needed a glance at the bulletin board would supply it. 'Communications from many Hrms and indi- viduals are posted there offering the students splendid openings in every branch of agriculture, from farming a ten-acre plot on shares to selling Ostermoor mattresses on commission. Surely no progressive farmer can afford to miss these opportunities-handy things to occupy one's leisure time on wet days and in the winter season. Altogether we fairly reek with information. It oozes from our lips when- ever we can find a willing, or unwilling, listener. VVhether it can be translated into the muscular energy essential to putting it to practical use is as yet a mat- ter of pure speculation, but we have hopes. In any event, we are thankful for an' insight into the inner workings of Nature which make the wheels go 'round. 18