Scope of a 



college of agriculture. 



While the College of Agriculture is concerned directly with 

 increasing the producing power of land, its activities cannot be 

 limited narrowly to this field. It must stand broadly for 

 rural civilization. It must include within its activities such a 

 range of subjects as will enable it to develop an entire philoso- 

 phy or scheme of country life. 



On the production side, a first-rate college of agriculture 

 deals with all crops, the means of growing them and handling 

 them and of caring for them in health and disease ; and with all 

 domesticated or controlled animals, the means of rearing them 

 and handling them and of caring for them in health and 

 disease. The crops include all plants reared by man from the 

 soil, or controlled and used by him, as all grains, all forage, all 

 fibers, all timbers and forests, all fruits and garden vegetables 

 and flowers, and whatever else in the vegetable kingdom he 

 produces or improves by foresight and care to supply the wants 

 of his fellowmen. The animals include all tamed mammals and 

 birds, all fish that are reared and bred, the bees, domestic pets, 

 and all others that contribute food, fur, pelts, and products for 

 the maintenance and comfort of man. 



All civilization develops out of industries and occupations ; 

 and so it comes that agriculture is properly a civilization rather 

 than a congeries of crafts. The colleges of agriculture repre- 

 sent this civilization, in its material, business and human rela- 

 tions. Therefore, they are not class institutions, representing 

 merely trades and occupations. The task before the colleges 

 of agriculture is nothing less than to direct and to aid in develop- 



