Gardening for women

by Viscountess Frances Garnet Wolseley

NEW YORK STATE COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AT CORNELL UNIVERSITY, ITHACA, NEW YORK

HORTICULTURE

The equipment is divided into two parts—that which is associated with the classroom and laboratories in the second and basement floors of the main agricultural building, and that connected with the forcing-houses and grounds surrounding them.

1. Class rooms and laboratories.—The teaching activities are centred mainly in the headquarters of the department, located on the second floor of the main building in the agricultural compound. On this floor are a commodious lecture room with a seating capacity for 100 students, a recitation-room for 35 students, a laboratory for instruction in practical and systematic pomology. The laboratory will accommodate 40 students, and is being fitted with suitable apparatus and appliances for the efficient teaching of the practical and laboratory phases of horticultural work. On the same floor is the laboratory for advanced students. This room has space for 20 students, and those who are working in the graduate department or engaged in research courses are provided with suitable appliances for their special needs. The remainder of this floor is devoted to museum purposes, herbarium, seminary-room, and offices for the instructing staff.

In the basement is a laboratory with adjacent store-room for use in connection with applied work in nursery and orchard practice. The capacity of this laboratory is 50 students, so that a beginning class of 100 may be accommodated in two sections. Students in elementary pomology and greenhouse management pursue work in this laboratory.

Forcing-houses, barn, and fruticetum.—The glass structures for the study of forcing crops such as flowers, vegetables, and fruits cover an area of about 6,000 square feet, and are used in connection with nearly all classes, though more especially associated with floriculture and olericulture. One house is assigned to advanced students for the working out of problems on which they are engaged. Another house is given over to the study of the variation of plants and the technique of plant-breeding.

The barn is headquarters for horticultural implements used in tilling, pruning, and spraying trees and plants. The collection of spray machinery, including gas engines, traction machines, and the like, is full and complete. Thorough instruction is given in the control of orchard enemies.

Aside from the ordinary equipment, the garden herbarium with more than 12,000 sheets is an important aid in the study of systematic pomology and plant variation. There is also an exceptionally fine collection of nearly 10,000 negatives illustrating all phases of fruit, flower, and vegetable growing. This collection is being added to continually, and furnishes a source for lantern slides to illustrate up-to-date methods in the management of fruit plantations, the construction of forcing-houses, and the growing of crops in field and under glass.

Elementary pomology.—A study of the methods of propagation and early care of bush and tree fruits; the principles and practice of budding and grafting, with special attention to the particular method of propagating each kind of fruit. Must be preceded by Botany 1 and 2. Lectures and recitations with laboratory. The class will participate in a required excursion to Geneva and vicinity.

Another class is held on this subject particularly adapted to the needs of the special student, and not open to those who are required to take Botany 1 and 2. The class will participate in a required excursion to Geneva and vicinity.

Practical pomology.—The study and practice of the planting, fertilising, and care of orchards; picking, grading, packing and marketing of fruits. Pre-requisites, Botany and Horticulture, and taking Agricultural Botany. This class will participate in a required excursion to the fruit-growing sections of Geneva and Rochester.

Spraying of fruit trees.—A study of the preparation and application of the different spray mixtures used in orchard and garden practice. Lectures and recitations with laboratory.

Greenhouse construction and management.—A study of the principles of greenhouse construction. Laboratory work will consist of the drawing and erection of sections illustrating the leading types of greenhouses. Throughout the year.

Olericulture.—- A study of the principles of vegetable gardening with special reference to trucking, accompanied by field practice in the actual growing of the plants.

Garden and greenhouse practice.—Practical work in the forcing-houses and gardens, with familiar talks. One or two hours by appointment. Throughout the year. Limited to 12 students first term, 18 second term.

Sub-tropical pomology.—A study of citrus, and other sub-tropical fruits, with special reference to American conditions.

Systematic pomology.—Advanced course in classification and systematic study of fruits. Two hours.

Literature of horticulture and landscape gardening.—An examination of the writings of European and American authors, with special reference to the evolution of horticultural methods. Open to juniors and seniors, and required of graduates.

Plant-breeding, with special reference to the improvement of orchard fruits. Juniors and seniors; required of graduates.

German horticultural reading.—A study of periodical literature relating to horticulture. Each student is required to subscribe for one periodical and make translations from assigned paragraphs.

French of the same character and conducted in the same way.

Investigation incident to previous courses. For graduates and advanced students.

Seminary work for advanced students.—Required of graduates. One hour. F., 2–4.30, every two weeks beginning the first week of each term. On the alternate week students are required to attend the Seminary in Plant Industry.

RURAL ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE

Field engineering.—Lectures, recitations and practice in surveying and plotting the farm; designing farm buildings, roads, fences, and water supply; drainage and irrigation. Second half-year. Lectures and practice.

Farm machinery.—A study of the elements of mechanics and of machine design entering into the construction of all machinery, followed by a special study of:—(a) Motors, including steam boilers, gas and steam engines, windmills, hydraulic rams, water wheels, and a brief discussion of the laws and applications of electricity; (b) Farm Machinery for tillage, seeding, harvesting, threshing, cleaning, etc., with a discussion of the cost, life, draft, and special mechanical features of some of the machines now on the market.

Opportunities will be afforded for special work in the second half-year.

RURAL ECONOMY AND SOCIOLOGY

Rural economy.—A study of the economic problems of agriculture.

Rural social conditions.—The social history, status and progress of the rural community.

History of agriculture.—An outline of the development of agriculture in its more important phases.

RURAL ART

This is a two-year course comprising the junior and senior years of the regular course in the College of Agriculture; and for those who have attained a certain degree of proficiency graduate work is offered.

Previous to registering in this work the student must have completed the requirements of the freshman and sophomore years, and the following:—Elementary surveying, Lettering and making of titles, Botany, Organography of ornamental plants, Elementary architecture.

Previous to graduation the student must have completed the following subjects in addition to the regular work:—Dendrology, Economic entomology, Greenhouse construction and management, Field engineering, Municipal engineering, French or German horticultural reading.

Theory and æsthetics of rural art and landscape design.—Deals with the principles of landscape design, their application to specific problems, together with discussions on the theory in all its points of application.

Landscape design.—First course. Work on practical problems in design, paced and measured surveys, sketch plans, finished plans and detailed working drawings with specifications. Short sketch problems for study will be given from time to time. The aim is to familiarise the student with the various types of plans as applied to different problems. Practical problems in the vicinity will be studied, and reports, both preliminary and final, will be required.

Freehand sketching.—Sketching and rendering in various media of indoor and outdoor subjects, plans, etc., particularly pertaining to landscape design.

History of landscape design.—A study of the chronological development of the art of landscape gardening, its modifications in various countries and the influences which have affected its development. A full study of the three types of gardening—ancient, mediæval and modern, and their relation to each other.

Advanced problems and research in landscape design.—The more complicated problems, such as country estates, parkways and civic centres, are taken up and worked out in detail. Studies, reports, plans of arrangement, rendered studies, detailed drawings, grade designs, planting plans, total estimates of cost and a set of specifications are worked out for two major problems. Minor problems and sketch problems are required from time to time.

Seminary.—A review of current literature and the discussion of live questions relating to various phases of landscape work, and reports on investigations. Required of seniors and graduates.

HOME ECONOMICS

Instruction will be given in home economics in 1907–8. Information about this work may be had from the director of the College of Agriculture, as the courses are not yet ready for scheduling.

DRAWING

Applied drawing.—- Personal instruction in the solution of particular problems and in fitting the student to pursue certain lines of study to better advantage, or to enable him to become proficient in a speciality.

WINTER COURSES IN HORTICULTURE

Each year since the establishment of the winter courses the demand for special instruction in fruit-growing and gardening has increased. The opportunities for profitable fruit-and vegetable-growing on the comparatively cheap lands of the east and within easy reach of the great markets, are attracting capital and energy. It is in response to this general demand and these opportune conditions that a winter course in horticulture is offered. The various studies included in this course are intended to help the fruit-grower and gardener to manage his orchards and gardens better than in the past; to fit those who have had some experience for positions of responsibility; to give the beginner the salient principles and acquaint him as far as possible with the best practices of commercial and amateur fruit-growers and gardeners the country over.

The entrance requirements to this course are the same as to the course in general agriculture. Field experience will always enable the student to get a maximum of benefit from a study of this kind.

The course is made up of lectures, recitations and practice, special stress being laid on the last.

SPECIAL EXPENSES

General laboratory fee, $7.50; books, $5.00; work suit, $1.50.

All students in this course, except those who have previously completed satisfactorily the winter course in general agriculture, are required to take the subjects that follow. Those who complete the winter course in general agriculture will not be required to take again subjects that they have already passed. They should consult the professor in charge concerning substitutes for any of the subjects. All students must register with the Secretary of the College.

REQUIRED SUBJECTS

Amateur and commercial fruit-growing.—A survey of the principles and practices of fruit-growing with reference to orchard management, handling, packing, storing, transplanting and marketing of orchard products. Seven hours. Five hours of lectures a week and two afternoons a week for practice.

Vegetable culture.—Lectures and exercises on the growing and marketing of vegetables for special and general market. Two hours.

Farm Botany.—Four hours a week. Two lectures and two laboratory periods.

Fertility of the land.—Two hours.

There are thus fifteen hours a week of required work in this course. Students may elect, with permission of the instructor concerned, three hours a week additional by taking the following courses:—

ELECTIVE SUBJECTS

Economic entomology.—One hour a week.

Plant diseases.—Three hours. One hour lecture and two hours’ laboratory practice.

Horticultural reading.—Assignment of topics for abstracts and reports in standard works and current periodicals. One to three hours by appointment.

Floriculture and ornamental gardening.—Lectures and exercises on the growing and marketing of greenhouse crops, and the principles of lawn decoration. Two hours a week.

Greenhouse practice.—In this course the student is assigned specific pieces of work in the greenhouse to be performed under the direction of the gardener. One hour a week.

EQUIPMENT

Practically the same facilities are available to the winter course students as are offered the student in the regular course:—The library, one of the best in the country; the material equipment of the forcing-houses, including plants, work rooms, spray pumps and implements, are all used in conducting the work of instruction.

Those who desire additional information should apply to

John Craig, Professor of Horticulture.

Women are eligible on equal terms with men in all these courses of instruction—and a good many women are at work in this college. The students registered in the college of agriculture (not in the College of Arts and Sciences) number over 300.