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studied: Soils — cheuiical and physical properties, defects, and means 

 of improvement; the control of water, including- means of conserving 

 moisture in times of drought; terracing, underdrainage, and open and 

 hillside ditches; objects and methods of cultivation; agricultural 

 implements; rotation of crops; and improvement of plants by cross- 

 ing, selection, and culture. The third tei-m of the sophomore year is 

 devoted to the staple crops produced in Alabama, to forage plants 

 adapted to the South, and to plants valual^le for the renovation of soils. 

 The more important crops are treated with reference to varieties, soil 

 and fertilizer requirements, methods of planting and cultivating, and 

 uses." In all classes there are mid-term examinations and term -end 

 examinations. 



Two hours per week are devoted to lectures, in which the number 

 of students ranges from 10 to 2.5, and two afternoons per week are 

 given up to farm practice, during which time the classes are divided 

 into sections of from (> to !> students. A part of the held work is con- 

 ducted l)y the professor of agriculture and a part is in charge of an 

 assistant in agricidture. 



In every class the student is encouraged to independent thought on 

 agricultural problems rather than to depend on '' rules of thuml),'' so 

 that he may be prepared to adapt his practice in after years to changed 

 conditions of soil, climate, capital, market, etc. An effort is made to 

 keep before the student the difference between the widely applical)le 

 principles on which every rational S3^stem of farming rests and the 

 details that vary with changing conditions. The conditions of soil, 

 climate, etc., prevailing in different parts of Alal)ama are kept con- 

 stantly in view. As far as limited time allows, attention is directed 

 to agricultural literature now accumulating so rapidly in this and in 

 foreign countries, to the end that in future years the student may 

 know where and how to seek the information that he may need. 



Among the reference books and other literature used by students in 

 agrononi}' are Soils and Crops of the Farm, Morrow and Hunt; For- 

 age Plants, Shaw; The Fertility of the Soil, Roberts; Corn Culture, 

 Plumb; The Ph3^sics of Agriculture, King; other recent American 

 works on agriculture; bulletins of the United States Department of 

 Agriculture and of the experiment stations in the different States, and 

 a number of farm journals. 



Lectures in agronomy are given in the main building in a class room 

 provided with chairs and arm rests for 60 students, two sides of the 

 room being occupied by cases for specimens. Three small barns and 

 a gin room serve partly as laboratories for students when engaged in 

 indoor work. Plats on the experiment-station farm showing the effect 

 of fertilizers, methods of culture, etc., and collections of varieties are 

 used as object lessons for students. 



