THE BATTALION
15
Agriculture at A. & M.
(Continued from page 6.)
with belts to a power-shaft, which is
run by gasoline engines, so that the
students can study the machines in
motion. In this new building, there
will also be one or two section-rooms
for the accommodation of the farm
husbandry students.
Plats have also been laid cff on
a piece of land, upon which the vari
ous crops of Texas are planted by the
students. Notes are taken from day
to day, and the students study the
habits and growth of the plants. In
this way, the students learn to apply
theory to practical work.
Thorough instruction in regard to
the different grains is also given. The
State Fair Association has encourag
ed this by arranging contests in corn
judging at its fairs.
In regard to the animal husbandry
department, we are glad to say that
many improvements have recently
been made under the management of
Prof. Burns, assisted by Mr. C. M.
Evans.
In this course, the boys are
in the fundamental principles of mar
ket gardening, orcharding and flora-
culture. Instruction and practice is
given in the propogation, by breeding,
| grafting and budding of plants and
; trees common in this section. In the
| orchard are grown all the common
! fruits, as peaches, apples, pears,
i plums, apricots, berries, pecans and
! persimmons.
j Forestry is another subject that is
j taught, and it is becoming more and
more necessary day by day, for the
time is rapidly approaching when we
shall have to look after our forests
as we do after our meadows at the
present time.
Then landscape gardening is thor-
! oughly worked cut. Also the students
i study the most profitable truck crops
; and irrigation as applied to them.
Prof. Kyle always arranges a trip
| for the students during the summer.
! It is a fruit picking trip, and the boys
j make their expenses. It is a great ex
perience for anybody, and there are
always a number of boys on hand to
j take the trip. They generally start
| in East Texas and go on up through
boys exactly the effects of different
fertilizers on various plants. Prac
tice is also given in the physical and
chemical analysis of soils, feeds and
fertilizers.
In general, it may be said a course
in agriculture at this school tends to
shorten the period in which a man
; would otherwise gain the experience
; so necessary to the successful opera
tions of a Texas farm in all of its
! phases.
A Toast to the Sophomores.
| Here’s to the men of the Sophomore
I class;
| May they always stand together;
: May their fellowship be of the kind
that will last,
■ Regardless of storms and weather.
! , >
j When school days are over, and we
are dispersed.
At cur various callings employed.
May we not be absorbed in the things
of this earth
To exclusion of pleasures at college
enjoyed.
Release.
i The hour is gone, and the bugle
' Sounds from the western door;
! Then “Deacon” says, “dismissed,”
i And we leave the second floor.
| I see the band in motion
i Reflecting the summer sun,
And a pang of hunger strikes me
That a school boy cannot shun.
A hunger born of fasting.
That I cannot overlook;
Which can be allayed only.
By Sbisa’s Spanish cook.
Then lead me to the Mess Hall
(“Step faster guide”), 1 beg,
I must kill this hungry feeling
With butter-beans and “Reg.”
—B. F. ’10.
Fresh shipment of Downey’s fine
choclates just received for commence
ment, by M. H. James, leading drug
gist, Bryan, Texas.
taught how to judge all mar
ket classes of live stock, and
also learn the characteristics
of each individual breed, and
thus are enabled to decide
for themselves which breed
of live stock is best adapted
to their conditions and local
ity.
The department keeps on
hand some of the best speci
mens of the different breeds.
Animals now on hand consist
of Percheron horses, farm
mules. Short Horn cattle,
Hereford cattle, Angus cattle,
Holstein and Jersey cattle,
and a number of fat steers
of different breeds. Cots-
wold, Shropshire and South-
down sheep, and Berkshire,
Poland China, Yorkshire and
Duroc Jersey hogs. Several
of these animals were pre
sented to the college by
prominent breeders through
out the State.
Besides this, the Dallas and
San Antonio Fair Associa
tions, and the Fort Worth Fat
Stock Show, encourage com
petitive judging, by offering
cash prizes to students doing
the best work in judging
prize-winning classes at their
shows. These State contests
are supposed to train for a
final test in an international judging , Arkansas and Missouri and up to
contest at Chicago between the differ- i Michigan or Cclorado, as the case may
ent agricultural colleges of the United
The Tents.
States and Canada.
Also, some of the breeders are kind
enough to lend their herds to the col
lege for class-room work at certain
times of the year.
Thorough instruction is also given
in principles of feeding and breeding
of animals, thereby teaching the stu
dents how to improve the breeds.
Practical work in this line is given in
be. It is a change of environment
for a boy, and it all adds to his in
terest in agriculture.
In regard to the study of soils and
fertilizers, this subject is mentioned
all along in the courses as they pro
ceed, but finally a more detailed study
is made of them under the head of
agricultural chemistry. The boys are
taught the different formations of
But may pleasure and sunshine be
every one’s part.
And many sweet memories of A. & M.
life
Come often to cheer and lighten each
heart.
As we go through this world of trou
ble and strife.
—B. G. ’10.
connection with the work of the ex- ! soils and the different characteristics
periment station here.
of them. They are also made familiar j
The department of horticulture must : with the various fertilizers, and when
not be forgotten, for it is becoming they ought to be applied to the soil,
more important day by day, especially | The value of economical savings of
in the irrigated sections of the conn- ' offal in the feed lot, and how to save
try. Prof. Kyle is at the head of the ; it, is also thoroughly studied,
department, with Prof. Ness as assist- j Dr. Fraps is the instructor in this
ant, and both men, besides being line, and he calls the students’ atten-
graduates of this School, have taken tion to different bulletins, which are
advanced work in higher universities. : very profitable to them. He also car-
This course consists in instruction ries on experiments, and shows the
Scholl and the Mosquitoes.
Students and residents of the -cam
pus have noticed the almost complete
absence of mosquitoes this year. The
work toward their extermination has
been done by Mr. E. Scholl, ’07, of the
Entomoligical department. He has been
untiring in his efforts to keep all pools
covered with oil, thus preventing the
young from reaching the adult stage.
He has the thanks of all the students
and campus people.
Prize Long Horns Awarded.
When the editors of the Dong Horn
began work last fall, they announced
that prize copies of the annual would
be given those students who handed
in the best poem, the best piece of
prose, and the best drawing.
Since the Dong Horns have come
out, the judges, Prof. Domax and Mr.
Dean, have rendered their decisions.
Mr. Holloway’s poem, “Adieu of the
Class of 1908;” Mr. Arneson’s operet-
; ta, “The College Fool,” and Mr. E. W
! Smith's drawing, “Athletics,” were
considered by the judges to be the
best, and these men were awarded the
prizes.
Downey’s fine candies. Just receiv
ed fresh shipment. M. H. James, the
leading druggist.