North Carolina State University - Agromeck Yearbook (Raleigh, NC)

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To Joshua Plummer Pillsbury Professor of Horticulture This thirteenth volume of The Aigromeck is gratefully dedicated as a token of appreciation for his thoughtful and courteous treatment of the Class and, moreover, for his untiring efforts to beautify our campus

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Joshua Plummer Pillsbiiry Somewhat less than four years ago Joshua Plummer Pillsbury was called to the professorship of horticulture in this institution. A college generation is not long, but it is long enough for students and teachers to learn to know each other well. It is significant that this volume of the Agromeck, the memoirs of their college days, should be dedicated to Professor Pillsbury by members of the class that came into lieing when he entered upon his work in North Carolina. It is a fitting tribute of appreciation to the worth and usefulness of the man. Professor Pillsbury is one of six children born to Joshua Plummer Pillsbury, senior, and Harriet M. Ross Pillsbury. His father, a Methodist minister, served various charges in Ohio, and was stationed for several years at Newark, a town of some size with a good high school. Here young Pillsbury received his preparatory training. In 1891 he went to St. Louis to begin his professional course at the Missouri Botanical Garden, one of the best places in the country to study plants. At that time the staff included among others Dr. William Trelease, director. Dr. J. C. Whitten, horticulturist, and Dr. H. J. Webber, botanist, each of whom has attained a national reputation in his special field of work. Under such men as these a broad and thorough foundation for his chosen profession was laid during the four years of the course at the Garden. In 1895 Mr. Pillsbury received his certificate of graduation, and as head gardener assumetl management of the green- houses and horticultural plantings of the Pennsylvania State College. Three years later he became assistant in horticulture, which position he filled for twelve years. During this period he was associated with Professor George C. Butz, one of the foremost horticulturists in the eastern states, and, after his death in 1907, with his successor. Professor R. L. Watts, who is now dean of the School of Agri- culture of that institution. A number of bulletins of the Pennsylvania Agricul- tural Experiment Station emlaody the work of this period. In spite of exacting and time-consuming duties, ] Ir. Pillsbury found time to round out his studies by taking work in other departments of the School of Agriculture, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Science in Agriculture. In the same year, 1910, he was made