Repository: UIHistories Project: Course Catalog - 1890-1891 [PAGE 22]

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2O

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS.

his life in farm labors, laughs at the notion of sending his son to learn these from a set of scientific professors. But all this implies a gross misunderstanding of the real object of agricultural science. It is not simply 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 adaptation of the different soils to different crops and cultures. It is not simply 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 student to understand thoroughly all that man can know about soils and seeds, plants and animals, and the influences 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 intelligently work for the improvement of those processes. Not "book farming," but a knowedge of the real nature of all true farming, of the great natural laws of the farm and its phenomena—this is the true aim of agricultural education. Agriculture involves a larger number of sciences than any other human employment, and becomes a fit sequence to any collegiate training. The steady aim of the trustees has been to give the College of Agriculture the largest development practicable, and to meet the full demand for agricultural education, as fast as it shall arise. Agricultural students are especially invited to the University. Boards of agriculture and agricultural and horticultural associations are invited to co-operate with the University in its efforts to awaken a more general appreciation of the value of education, and to aid those who desire to avail themselves of its facilities for instruction.

INSTRUCTION.

The instruction unites, as far as possible, theory and practice—theory explaining practice and practice illustrating theory. The technical studies are taught mainly by lectures with readings of standard agricultural books and periodicals, and frequent discussions, oral and written, of the principles taught. These are also illustrated by demonstrations and observations in the fields, stables, orchards, gardens, plant-houses, etc.

SPECIAL STUDIES.

Elements of Agriculture.—Outline of the general principles underlying agriculture in its theory and practice, introductory to the technical and scientific studies of the course.