University of Tennessee Knoxville - Volunteer Yearbook (Knoxville, TN)

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6112 GnllrggAgrimlturv In 1861 our Federal Congress passed the Merrill Aet establishing State Colleges for the teaching of Agricultural, and mechanic arts,ean act prompted by the realization of the importance of promoting the liberal and practical education of the masses, an act which has had a wider effect upon American education than any other single act. At this time even the basic sciences were taught in a crude manner. With the application of science to Agriculture came countless prob- lems which could not be solved rapidly e- nough. Again, Federal aid came to the res- cue by enacting in 1888 the Hatch Act, pro- viding for the establishment of Agricultural FROM ACROSS THE RIVER Experiment Stations for scientific research in the various fields of agricultural en- deavor. Yearly large numbers of young men were going out from our Ag- ricultural Colleges back to the farms to become the messengers of scientific agriculture and to assume intelligent leadership in all the affairs of country life; but for years there was felt a growing need of workers in the field, that even the people in the remotest places might have brought to them the latest and best agricultural investigation in all its phases. In 1914 there was enacted a hill known as the Smith-Lever Act which provided for an extension depart- ment which would connect the work 011 the farms with our state colleges and experiment stations. Our own College of Agriculture consists of these three divisions, the Ex- periment Station, the Division of Extension and the Division of Instruction, each separate and distinct, yet dependent and cooperative. The Experiment Station with its proficient scientists is earnestly investigating important problems pertaining to the agricultural development of the State, and in consequence determining better methods of agriculture and saving the farmers of the state thousands of dollars. The Division of Extension, through its County Agents in the field and its efficient corps of specialists in the office at the University, is helping to solve the farmers, daily problems, to unite disorganized units and bringlabout rural cooperation and better country life. To the young men who enter the College of Agriculture, instruction is given in the general sciences,e botany, zoology, entomology, chemistry, geology, physics, bacteriology, mathe- matics, history, economies and the languages along with the students of other colleges; for purely agricultural subjectsFagronomy, animal husbandry, dairy- ing, horticulture and agricul- , 7 . i e tural education-wwell equip- ped classrooms and labora- tories are maintained in Mor- gan Hall at the University Farm. The courses offered give liberal culture interpret- ed in terms of country life. The well trained men on the faculty are the peers of men of any similar institution. No better equipped young men go out from any Ag- ricultural College. Yearly there go out from the Col- lege of Agriculture 0f the University 0 f Tennessee young men to the farms to put into practice the knowledge gained and to become community leaders, to schools and colleges as teachers of different phases of agriculture, to community centers as extension workers in various lines, in the field of research as scientific investigators, and to other positions too numerous to mention. --0. A. WTLLSON PASTURE SCENE Page Twcnly-four

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CHARLES ALBERT WILLSON VICE-DEAN OF THE COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE Page Twenly-three

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CHARLES EDWARD FERRIS DEAN OF THE COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING Page Tmcnly-hne