Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1888 [PAGE 137]

EXTRACTED TEXT FROM PAGE:

140

UNIVEESITY OF ILLINOIS.

Agricultural Engineering and Architecture.—In this study methods of determining the area of land are discussed and practiced. The number, size and arrangement of the divisions of the farm, the laying out, construction and repair of farm and public roads, the comparative advantage of different kinds of fences and the best methods of constructing these, receive attention. Especial prominence is given to land drainage. I t is expected that each student, even without previous knowledge of the subject, will be prepared to lay out fairly well a system of drainage for a farm, determine the fall, and either do or superintend the work. Planning and arrangement of farm buildings of all classes so as to secure at smallest expenditure the largest degree of convenience and practical utility, is made the subject of careful study, plans being required from each student. The implements and machinery of the farm are described with reference to their intelligent choice and proper care and use. The place which implements and machines hold in our agriculture, historical sketches of their development, the points to be considered in deciding whether the purchase of any one implement will be wise, and suggestions as to choice between different kinds for the same purpose, receive attention. For the classes a good number of books, instruments and other apparatus primarily designed for the use of students in the engineering courses are of great help. Even a single term's instruction in shop practice in wood work is found to be of great value. Animal Husbandry.—In this study it is designed to aid the student in gaining an accurate, although necessarily an elementary knowledge of the relations of stock breeding and management to American farming, of the principles of breeding, feeding and management of each class, and of the characteristics, adaptation and history of each of the most important breeds of horses, cattle, sheep and swine. The real and fictitious value of pedigree; the place for pure-bred stock; practical methods of feeding and management, with reference to the production of the highest quality, and also modes adapted to production at moderate, cost; methods of "judging" animals; methods of disposing of animals and their products are some of the points to which especial attention is given. The University farms are well supplied with animals of different breeds and ages. The farms of breeders in the vicinity are also visited and the stock inspected. Rural Economy, general farm management, is taught in the winter term. The peculiarities of the agriculture of this country, and especially of Illinois, the chief sources of profit, comparative merits of different systems of farming, best rotation of crops, methods of producing the leading crops, with discussion of the advantages of some special crops, as well as methods of sale, etc., are carefully gone over. The History of Agriculture is taught during the first half of the spring term. While attention is given to the agriculture of other lands, chief attention is given to its development in our own country and to the causes of success and partial failure.