UIHistories Project: A History of the University of Illinois by Kalev Leetaru
N A V I G A T I O N D I G I T A L L I B R A R Y
Bookmark and Share



Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1871 [PAGE 46]

Caption: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1871
This is a reduced-resolution page image for fast online browsing.


Jump to Page:
< Previous Page [Displaying Page 46 of 372] Next Page >
[VIEW ALL PAGE THUMBNAILS]




EXTRACTED TEXT FROM PAGE:



38 on agriculture as consisting merely in the manual work of plowing, planting, cultivating and harvesting, and in the care of stock, justly ridicule the idea of teaching these arts in a college. The practical farmer who has spent his life in farm labors, laughs at the notion of sending his son to learn these from a set of scientific professors. But all of this implies a gross misunderstanding of the real object of agricultural science. It is not to teach how to plow, but the reason for plowing at all,—to teach the composition and nature of soils, the philosophy of plowing, of manures, and the adaptations of the different crops and cultures. It is not to teach how to feed; but to show the composition, action and value of the several kinds of food, and the laws of feeding, fattening, and healthful growth. In short it is the aim of the true Agricultural College to enable the farmer to understand thoroughly and profoundly, all that men can know about soil and seed, plants and animals, and the influence of light, heat and moisture, on his fields, his crops, and his stock; so that he may both understand the reason of the processes he uses, and may intelligently work for the improvement of those processes. Not "book-farming," but a knowledge of the real nature of all true farming—of the great natural laws of the farm and of all its phenomena—this is the true aim of agricultural education. And when it is recollected that agriculture involves the principles of a larger number of sciences than any other human employment or profession, it will not be regarded as an unfit end of a sound collegiate training. The instruction unites, as far as possible, Theory and Practice—Theory explaining Practice, and Practice illustrating and enforcing Theory. Apparatus.—The College has for the illustration of Practical Agriculture, a large stock farm of 410 acres, provided with a large stock barn, fitted up with stables, pens, yards, cooking room, etc.; and fine stock of several breeds of neat cattle, sheep and swine are to be purchased at an early day. It is well supplied with farm machinery and tools. There is also an experimental farm of about 70 acres, exclusive of orchards, etc. This is divided up into experimental plats and fields. A clinic for sick animals is held in the Fall or Winter Term, to furnish opportunity for the practical study of Yeterinary Science. During the clinic, held last winter, nearly 60 diseased animals were presented for treatment, and the students took active part in prescribing for them. Surveying and Drainage are illustrated by practice in the field. Chemistry is pursued by work in the laboratory. Collections of seeds,