Massachusetts Agricultural College M. A. C. fiandbooK No. 2. June, 1917 np A*4V •UUfi! X S J9jf g AGRICULTURE AND THE WORLD WAR AND AFTER PUBLISHED BY THE COLLEGE Amherst, Mass. 2 Importance of Agriculture : The significance of agriculture as a national asset has never been recognized as it is today by the people, young and old, of our country. President Wilson, in his masterful war mes- sage, stated an important fact, and directed the attention of the people to the need of greater agricultural production and conserva- tion, when he said: “Upon the farmers of this country, therefore, in a large measure, rests the fate of the war and the fate of the nations.” A great responsibility; a big task; an attractive opportunity! A Challenge to the Youth : Here, then, is a new challenge to the youth of our land, to the boys and young men, to the girls and young women, to prepare themselves for effective agricultural service. The need for this service is not temporary, because for years after peace shall have been established, the urban population of Europe and the United States will rely on the food which must be produced in America. This, year, millions of dollars are being spent through public and private agencies in the stimulation and super- vision of agricultural production, conservation and distribution. Agricultural Education : With the public thought and enthusiasm so universally turned toward agricultural prob- lems, there comes an unprecedented apprecia- tion of the necessity of a professional agricul- tural education for men and women assuming 3 positions of responsibility and of leadership in connection with these problems. The agri- cultural colleges of the country, about fifty in number, are already organized and equipped for supplying the scientific training thus re- quired. Indeed, for half a century these col- leges have been training men in this field, so that today practically all the leaders in the agricultural movement are graduates of agri- cultural colleges. The Massachusetts Agricultural College : The agricultural college of Massachusetts, now with a history of fifty years of service, is training men and women to assist in the solu- tion of the problems of food production, con- servation and distribution, which confront the world The institution invites to its mem- bership such young men and women as have the ability, desire and determination to be- come effective workers in the various practical agricultural vocations, or to become leaders in in the broader field of agricultural service. Courses for Regular Students : The regular college course covers a period of four years, and leads to the degree of Bach- elor of Science. This is the program to be recommended to all who can avail themselves of the opportunities thus offered. In fact, four years of preparation are essential for one ambitious to make the best advancement in agriculture, and especially for one seeking a position of high responsibility. Students en- 4 rolled in this course may specialize in one of the following subjects, each of which leads to a definite vocation. Agriculture (General) Agronomy Animal Husbandry Dairying Poultry Husbandry Floriculture Forestry Landscape Gardening Pomology Economic Botany Economic Entomology Agricultural Chemistry Microbiology Rural Journalism Agricultural Economics Agricultural Education Rural Sociology Courses for Special Students 2 In order to meet the demands for instruc- tion which will aid young men and women in becoming expert in the practical phases of agriculture, the Massachusetts Agricultural College will admit high school graduates eighteen years of age or over without examination, and permit them, under certain conditions, to pursue studies in techni- cal agriculture and horticulture. Some have not the necessary academic credits to enter the four years’ course, nor have they the inclina- tion or the time and money required. To 5 these, the opportunity to come for one or two years and specialize in practical agriculture and horticulture will be appreciated. The following are suggestive combinations of studies which special students may elect: 1. General Agriculture : Fertilizers Field Crops Live Stock Breeding, Management and Judging Dairying Fruit Growing Farm Accounting Farm Management Farm Machinery 2. Animal Husbandry and Dairying : Type and Breeds of Live Stock Principles of Breeding Feeding and Management Buttermaking Farm Accounting Dairy or Farm Machinery lave Stock Management Live Stock Judging Milk and its Composition Market Milk Farm Management 3. Poultry Husbandry : Elementary Poultry Culture Incubation and Brooding Pen Management Poultry Feeding and Management 6 Judging Poultry Products Farm Accounting Poultry Practice Work, Carpentry, Ca- ponizing, Killing, Picking. Poultry Breeding Market Poultry Field Crops Fruit Work 4. Fruit Growing : Varieties of Fruits Cropping Orchards Spraying Small Fruits Packing Plant Diseases Horticultural Manufactures Soils and Fertilizers Farm Accounting Establishing the Orchard Pruning Picking Marketing Fruit Insects Field Crops Farm Management Farm Machinery 5. Market Gardening : Soils and Fertilizers Irrigation Spraying Greenhouse Vegetable Growing Farm Accounting 7 Varieties of Vegetables Crop Rotation Storage Farm Management Farm Machinery What the Students of the College are Now Doing: In response to the call for men to supervise production projects, developed by schools, municipalities and manufacturing concerns, and later to meet the urgent demand for farm labor, practically the entire undergraduate student body, nearly six hundred in number, left the institution the latter part of April and early in May to meet the specific calls made for them. A large number of the older men entered some form of military or naval ser- vice. Expenses and General Information : Tuition is free to regular and special stu- dents who are residents of Massachusetts. The necessary expenses for board and room, books and incidentals vary from $250 to $350 per year. The next college year will open Octo- ber 10, 1917, and will consist of three terms of nine weeks each; the usual length of each term is twelve weeks. Enrollment in 1916 and 1917, including grad- uate students, was nearly seven hundred. Military drill is required, and has been un- der the direction of an officer of the United States army. Entrance examinations in the autumn of 1917 will be held October 4 to 6 at Amherst only. The College also offers graduate courses in agriculture and allied sciences, a ten weeks’ winter courses and a four weeks’ summer school. A complete catalog of the college, contain- ing a description of courses, will be sent upon application. A separate announcement for the admission of special students will be ready in August or September. RALPH J. WATTS , Secretary , Amherst, Mass.