W4t
~4nrt
Q!nurst 1\grirulturists
i7f'HE School of Practical Agriculture, organized last summer by the Agricultural Department of Idaho University, was taken advantage of by thirty-nine of Idaho's enterpnsmg young farmers. Everything being considered. this is a record number. Many more will attend next year, as the course, well liked as it was, has been made richer in several details, very important among which is the course in Home Eco11omy for farmer girls.
Concerning this course, at its institution, D ean Carlyle said: "Early in the course the boys will work at the forge, learn to weld, tcmt>Cr, etc., things that may save many a dollar on the farm. In the Farm Arithmetic they will compute rations for animals, measure hay in stack and barn, and work out many other farm problems. In Stock ] udging the class will work with the animals assembled in the judging ring. Other work in live stock will consist of a course in Feeds and Feeding, a study of breeds of animals adapted to the Northwest, advanced stock-judging and lectures on the Principles of Animal Breeding. Sufficient \'Cterinary work will be given to enable the farmer to identify diseases, apply emergency remedies and perform simple operations. The dairy work will consist of courses in buttermaking, milk testing, etc. The dairy equipment is one of the finest in the West. Four different courses are offered in Fruit Growing, and several courses of lectures in Agronomy. The boys will learn Farm Machinery from the plow to the farm automobile. The Irrigation work will consist of lectures upon the application of water, etc. Enough practice will l)e given with the level to enable the student to run laterals and lay out farm drains.
w
The peculiar ad,·antages, offered by this school, lie in the following: the course is open only during the months during which farm life is slackest, i. e., from October 15 until March r 5; many young men feel unable to take the regular fouryear, scientific course, or lack its requirements for entrance. To such this school offers wide doors; the age limits arc from I 5 to 70; all equipment of the whole School of Agriculture is at their disposal and all those who so Jesire may, after completing this course and taking nine months' work of academic studies, enter the regular University course of Scientific Agriculture. The courses of study embrace, in part, the following: Agronomy, Animal Husbandry (including Stock Judging, Feeds and Feeding, Animal Breeding and Li,•c Stock Management), Bacteriology, Carpentry, Blacksmithing, Chemistry, Dairying, English. Entomology, Farm Machinery ("e,·erything from a plow to the farm automobile"), General Forestry, Horticulture, lnduotrial History and Economics, Irrigation, Mathematics, Military Drill and Physical Education, Parliamentary Practice, Physics and Veterinary Science. The course extends over three years. Its cost for the first year, including all expenses, should not be more than $rso.
"We call it a Practical Agricultural School for the reason that studentti are not only told how to do the things, but actually learn to do them, by means of the practice work in the laboratory period." A course in Domestic Economy is being organized this year. parallel to the boys' course in Practical Agriculture, and one is intended to supply the needs of the farmer girls of our state. This department will be in charge of Mrs. Haner, being advertised along with the school of Practical Agriculture.
52