University of Minnesota School of Agriculture - Agrarian Yearbook (Minneapolis, MN)

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Standing: P. M. HARRINGTON, C. W. MEANS, E. JOHNSON, R. PETERSON. Sitting: E. F. FERRIN, A. C. SMITH, P. A. ANDERSON, A. E. ENGEBRETSON, D. W. JOHNSON. The Division of Animal Husbandry HE teaching of animal husbandry subjects in schools and colleges dates its beginning with the establishment of the Land Grant Colleges and Universities in the United States. Animal husbandry is, therefore, among the newest of subjects to receive attention in institutions of higher agricultural education. The objective in the teaching of animal husbandry subjects is the placing of the best information available concerning all phases of modern economic livestock production before the student. Since its beginning, modern animal production has centered about the selection of animal types and the building of distinct breeds having adaptations to specific forms of usefulness to man. An important part of the equipment of an Animal Husbandry Department, therefore, must be a collection of representative herds of the important breeds of livestock. In addition to maintaining a collection of representative breeding herds of all the important pure breeds of meat animals and draft horses, the Division of Animal Hus- bandry conducts many experiments to secure new information pertaining to the feeding and breeding of farm animals, the marketing of animals, and the processing of meats. Courses involving a study of the production of market animals, the production of purebred animals, feeding for economical production, breeding for improvement, and the slaughter and processing of meats constitute the major courses of instruction to students in the School of Agriculture. Page Thifly-eight

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Burl: Row: R. H. LANDON, KENNETH BURNETT, FRED CHANDLER, HENRY DARLING, R. U. COTTER, T. NV. GRAHAM, HARRY UKKELBERG, E. L. LECLERG, RALPH LoRENz. Sccoml Row: M. N. KAMAT, LEON J. TYLER, GEORGE HAEsTAD, LEE HINES, T. C. Loi-I, R. H. BAM- BERG, SYDNEY DICKINSON, L. W. MELANDER, M. F. BABE. First Row: DANIEL BLISS, R. C. RosE, A. H. LARSON, J. J. CI-IRISTENSEN, I. L. FORBES, E. C. STAR- MAN, CLYDE ALLISON, CLYDE SHUMNVAY, C. J. EIDE, R. B. HARVEY, DONALD STENVART. The Division of Plant Pathology and Agricultural Botany HE existence of man depends upon plants, for they alone can convert water, air, and soil into the raw products from which much of his shelter, more of his clothing, and all of his food are derived. A knowledge of the habits and require- ments of plants is of primary importance to the grower of cultivated plants. Weeds compete with them, planft diseases weaken and kill them. The more a grower knows of the life of plants, the more interest does he find in growing them and the larger will be the returns from his labor and investment. The Division of Plant Pathology and Botany offers four courses, planned to assist students to a better understanding of plant life. The course in Agricultural Botany acquaints the student with the parts of a plant and the function and use of each part. In Plant Diseases the student learns of the more common plant diseases, their habits, and means of control. In Weeds students learn to know many of the common weeds, the damage they cause, their life habits, and methods of control or eradication. In Seed Testing the student learns to recognize the seeds of the chief forage plants and the more common and troublesome weeds. Actual practice in testing seeds for purity and germination is given. Page Tbirly-svzwi

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Stancling: A. C. LIBBY, R. M. PINCHNEY, C. C. NIHIFAROFF, W. MET!-ILEY, O. R. YQUNGE. Siiiing: G. H. Nizsom, C. O. Rosr, F. J. ALWAY, jflvi. Zizrrnnnnnc, P. R. McM1LLER. The Division of Soils HE Soils Course in the School deals with the formation and properties of soils in general but especial attention is given to the study of Minnesota soils and the means for maintaining or improving their productivity. Much of the time of the staff of the Division of Soils is given to experiments with different fertilizers and different forms of lime on various soil types in Widely scattered localities in the state. Interesting results have been obtained on the peat soils and on the light sands. The peats are probably our best grass soils, when properly treated and managed while most of the sandy soils can easily be adapted to alfalfag in some cases they lack only lime and in others only a little sulfur. The benefits from fertilizers are not confined to soils naturally unproductiveg they are often obtained on the rich black prairie soils, Where a striking effect is obtained from the use of phosphate on farms that have been under cultivation a long time. Home projects in soils are offered to the school students. The most popular are those that have to do wich the various kinds of commercial fertilizers. Many of the students have obtained very striking results which have led to the use of fertilizers on the home farm and later on the farms of neighbors. In the summer of 1931 more than one hundred of the students selected such soil projects. Page Tfairly-uint'