MODERN TRAINING IN HORTICULTURE WILDER HALL IH£ LltiftHtiY Ot THE Practical Education AUG 1 8 1941 Practically Tree university or Illinois Massachusetts Agricultural College DIVISION OF HORTICULTURE Practice in hybridizing COMPRISING THE FOLLOWING DEPARTMENTS; POMOLOGY FLORICULTURE MARKET GARDENING LANDSCAPE GARDENING THE UbKAKr BTnfjevst, jfDas's'. 1907 AUG 1 8 university or or the 941 LL/NOIS General Statement CT^HE Massachusetts Agricultural College , located in Amherst, offers unexcelled opportunities for the study of horticulture in all its branches, including fruit-growing , flower-growing, market gardening, landscape gardening, arboriculture and forestry* These subjects are given a commanding place in a strong four years 9 college course, the rest of the time being given to allied sciences and to general culture subjects. The course is so designed that the student who graduates from it is a broadly trained college man, able to take his place among the educated men of the world. At the same time, he is thoroughly prepared for a useful profes- sion through which he can serve the community and earn a livelihood for himself. Surveying squad in landscape gardening [2 A lesson in tillage , class in market gardening Horticultural Subjects T HE subjects taught in the Division of Horticulture fall chiefly into four groups, namely, pomology, floriculture, market gardening and landscape gardening; but, as nearly all these topics are elective, the courses actually followed by students vary greatly. The separate subjects should be con- sidered first, after which their grouping may be best understood. Pomology or t ^ ie sc ^ ence f ru it s and the art of fruit-grow- — ing. This subject is taught by Professor Sears, who devotes his entire time to it. The topics are taken up in the following order : i. The propagation of fruit trees of all sorts, by all methods, — from seeds, layers, cuttings, buds and grafts. 2. Pruning, both theory and practice. 3. Planting and management of orchards, with special reference to the fruits of the temperate zone, — the apple, pear, peach, plum, quince, etc. 4. Planting and management of vineyards. 5, Small fruits and their management, including raspberries, blackberries, currants, gooseberries, strawberries, etc. 6. Spraying, — how to fight insects and fungi, — all the technique of machinery, formulas and methods. 3 I 7- Systematic pomology, or the science of fruits. This includes the identification, naming, classification and judging of fruits. 8. Commercial pomology, or how to sell the fruit at a profit. A careful study of the organization of our highly specialized fruit markets and the methods of the modern up-to-date fruit trade. This is unquestion- ably one of the most impor- tant subjects for a fruit grower to understand. Floriculture. The aim — — — i n these courses is to prepare men, both theoretically and prac- tically, for all lines of greenhouse work. The principal topics taken up in this course are : 1. Greenhouse construction, in which all the modern types of greenhouses and frames are considered, with reference both to principles of construction and of adaptation to the various crops to be grown. 2. Greenhouse details, among which all the various styles of ventilators, gutters, benches, etc., are studied and compared. 3. Furnishings and equipment, dealing with all the apparatus necessary in running a greenhouse, such as pots, fumigators, hose, various kinds of tools, etc. 4. Heating, involving all the methods used, the value of the different systems under different conditions, the various types of boilers, piping, grate surface, coal, etc. 5. Florists’ crops, such as roses, violets, chrysanthemums and carnations, bedding plants, decorative plants, are studied in detail, with constant practice work for students. 6. The florists’ trade, or the business side of floriculture, discuss- ing the retail and wholesale markets, commission and auction selling, shipping to distant markets, and all that goes to make a profit out of this highly refined specialty. Frequent visits are made by the class to commercial and private Class pruning grape vines [4 establishments, giving the students an opportunity to see how things are actually done under a variety of conditions, and offering abun- dant opportunity to study and criticize houses, crops and methods. Market Gardening. This subject, with floriculture, doubt- less presents the most refined and in- tensive types of agriculture known. Moreover, these lines are pre- cisely the ones most highly developed in Massachusetts, so that here we have abundant opportunity to study market gardening right on the ground where it is to be seen at its best. In the immediate vicinity of the College, between Amherst and Springfield, easily accessible by trolley, is a splendid market gardening section, where all the leading truck crops are grown in great perfection. The growing and marketing of garden crops has always been a strongly developed business on the College grounds, where a few acres of excellent truck land are devoted to that purpose. Amidst these surroundings, the natural thing has been to develop a course of training especially strong in its practical features. Con- stant contact with the actual work is secured by two very effective methods. The first is through regular class practicums, or field exer- cises, as carefully planned and equipped as any laboratory exercise in physiological botany or experimental thremmatology. The second Students budding peach trees is through the employment of stu- dents (at \2 * l A cents an hour) in the regular garden work. In the class-room, a thorough course is given in the different crops, their history, methods of growing them, and in all the theo- retical and practical problems in- volved in market gardening, such as localities, labor, capital, tools, crops, rotations, successions, mar- kets, packages, fertilizers, insects, etc. Landscape Gardening. 'Running seed drills Probably the most extensive, thor- ough and effective course in this fascinating subject given any- where in America is that now con- ducted at Massachusetts Agricultural College. It is a strictly tech- nical course, preparing men for regular profes- sional practice in all the various lines of land- scape architecture. Besides such very important subjects as drawing, surveying, engineering, bot- any, entomology, arboriculture and horticulture, there are offered two full years of work along lines of landscape gardening in the strictest definition. This part of the work is developed in the following order : i. The general theory of de- sign and the fundamental princi- ples of the fine arts as exempli- fied in the art of landscape gardening. Exercise in packing apples 2. Reconnoissance work and surveying, especially the practical field methods of securing maps by rapid methods. A particularly fine equipment is kept for this work, including the latest models in surveying instruments, some being of Professor Waugh’s own design. 3. A critical study of some of the best work of leading land- scape architects in America and Europe. 4. The design of grades in all details, including original sur- veys, designing a new surface, computing and setting the engineer’s stakes, computing cuts and fills, making models, estimating cost, etc. 5. Road design, including location, profiles, grades and construction. 6. Planting plans. How to use trees, shrubs, flowers and grass for best effects. (Many persons suppose this to be the whole art of landscape gardening.) Detailed planting lists are made up, nursery estimates secured, and practical exercises in planting are carried out. 7. Design of details, such as fountains, garden seats, pavilions, bridges, etc. 8. Reports, estimates and contracts. Students in floriculture planting flower beds 9. Lectures on the history of landscape gardening, on the work of leading landscape gardeners, on the esthetic valuation of land- scape, and the broad relationships of the art. Arboriculture 1S g * ven ky Professor White, with special — reference to landscape gardening, but is a strong and valuable course in itself, being largely elected by students in general horticulture and floriculture. It deals with all the hardy 7 ] native and exotic trees and shrubs used in ornamental planting their propagation, planting and care. Some attention is given also to hardy herbaceous perennials and other materials used in landscape work. As this course is preceded by a half year’s work in the prop- agation of plants, there is ample opportunity for a very thorough study of the subject. Forestry ls tau £ht by Professor ™ — — F. Wm. Rane, state forester of Massachusetts. Up to the present time, only a few lectures each year have been given on this subject; but it is hoped that ar- rangements will soon be completed for a full semester of scientific and technical instruction in this field. Plant Breeding | s of as much — importance as animal breeding, but has received much less careful attention. One- half year is given to a thorough study of the scientific principles involved, and to their application in the management of all the crops grown by the farmer, florist and gardener. The course includes concrete studies in variation, practice in crossing and hybridizing, etc. The leading modern theories of evolution are examined in detail, making this course of scientific as well as practical value. Nursery Practice. This course, deals with the propagation of plants by all reasonable methods, special attention being given, however, to the practice actually followed in modern nursery work. i Students planting shrubbery f. m \ Ufffft Nursery practice [8 Forestry exercise in the college woods This subject precedes and naturally leads up to all other work in horticulture. It is given under the management of Professor Sears. Drawing * s tau §^ lt ky Mr. Gracey in connection with landscape gardening. One full year of work covers free-hand drawing, mechanical and map drawing, projections and perspective, the whole being given with reference to its applications in designing and in drafting-room practice. Well-appointed drawing rooms, an excellent equipment, and a well-trained teacher make this work in drawing of incalculable value to those who take it. Other Subjects ^any ot ^ er subjects are taught in the — — college outside of the Division of Horti- culture. These include agriculture, languages, mathematics, chem- istry, civics, economics, etc. Certain of these departments of in- struction are particularly strong ; so that students who wish to specialize in agriculture or chemistry, for instance, can find the best of opportunities at Massachusetts Agricultural College. 9 ] THE WHOLE COURSE At this point, it will be proper to see how all these subjects are framed together to make up the four-year course. For the first two years, the work is nearly all required, and all students follow the same course. The studies are substantially as follows : FRESHMAN Year, — English, French or German, algebra, geometry, trigonometry, agriculture, botany, chemistry. ‘ Demonstration of gasolene power sprayer SOPHOMORE Year, — English, algebra, French or German, physics, surveying, chemistry, agriculture, horticulture, zoology. During the junior and senior years, the studies are largely elec- tive. The principal subjects are as follows : JUNIOR Year, — arboriculture, pomology, market gardening, landscape gardening, agriculture, botany, entomology, chemistry, drawing, mathematics, zoology, English, civics, economics. Senior year, — pomology, floriculture, plant breeding, landscape gardening, agriculture, veterinary, botany, entomology, English, chemistry, engineering, rural social science. [ 10 Those students who wish to follow lines of horticulture or land- scape gardening begin their specialization with the junior year, hav- ing had one semester of horticulture in the sophomore year, besides valuable preparation in botany, chemistry, agriculture, etc. The subjects recommended for students specializing in the Division of Horticulture are the following, though certain changes in particular cases may be made to advantage : For those Specializing in Fruit Growing Junior Year Pomology Chemistry Entomology Botany Market gardening Agriculture Senior Year Pomology Plant breeding Entomology Botany, or Chemistry For those Specializing in Floriculture Junior Year Arboricultu re Chemistry Botany Entomology Market gardening Landscape gardening For those Specializing Junior Year Market gardening Botany Entomology Chemistry Agriculture For those Specializing i Junior Year Landscape gardening Arboriculture Drawing Entomology Botany Forestry Senior Year Floriculture Plant breeding Botany Entomology, or Chemistry } Market Gardening Senior Year Market gardening Plant breeding Entomology Botany, or Chemistry, or Pomology Landscape Gardening Senior Year Landscape gardening Engineering Floriculture Entomology, or Botany EXPERIMENT WORK The Division of Horticulture has a fully organized experiment department, in charge of Mr. C. S. Pomeroy. Experiments are under way in many lines, such as propagation of fruit trees, pruning, mar- ket garden crops, dwarf fruit trees, plant breed- ing, the use of enzyms in germination of seeds, thermo-physiological con- stants, etc., etc. Certain of these experiments are of great interest and value to students in horticul- tural lines. Graduate stu- dents, in particular, find advantage in these ex- Planting out carnations perimental studies. EQUIPMENT AND PERSONNEL The facilities for teaching horticultural subjects to be found in the Division of Horticulture, Massachusetts Agricultural College, are unusual, if not unique. One hundred acres of very fertile land are devoted to orchards, gardens, nurseries, forests, lawns, arbo- retum and greenhouses. Practical businesslike horticultural work of many kinds is constantly going forward. The most modern tools are used and the best methods exemplified. Wilder Hall, in which most of the classroom instruction is given, is a new modern fire- proof building of the best type, and has been pronounced, on good authority, the best building for horticultural purposes owned by any college in America. The landscape gardening department has a very complete outfit of surveying, drawing and mathematical instru- ments suitable for all kinds of work. The Division of Horticulture has been organized with the express purpose of putting each line of work into the hands of a specialist. Instead of leaving all horticultural subjects to one [ 12 teacher, as has long been the practice in this country, the Massachu- setts Agricultural College employs an expert pomologist of long experience to teach pomology, another specialist for floriculture, an experienced market garden man for market gardening, a land- scape gardener for landscape gardening, etc. This method of organization cannot help giving much better results. This is the way the present organization is made up : Division of Horticulture F. A. Waugh, in Charge Pomology . . Prof. F. C. Sears Floriculture Assistant Prof. E. A. White Landscape gardening Prof. F. A. Waugh Market gardening Instructor H. F. Tompson Experiment Work Assistant C. S. Pomeroy Drawing Instructor F. M. Gracey Secretary, Miss C. B. Ball OPPORTUNITIES AHEAD Young men who are thinking of college always want to know what opportunities will be opened to them by their college work. It can be said with perfect confidence that the Massachusetts Agri- Handling carnation plants in the field cultural College introduces its graduates to more varied employ- ments, more useful careers, more immediate and certain self-support, than any college of any other kind to be found anywhere. This is particularly true for young men well prepared in lines of horticul- ture and landscape gardening. The college has always been able to place every man of merit in a reasonably good position almost immediately on graduation. Out of 77 graduates from all departments of the college during the last three years, 39 have gone into the general field of horticul- ture; which fact in itself shows the large demand for men in these lines. The present occupation of these men may be roughly classi- fied as follows : Fruit growing 4 Market gardening 1 Landscape gardening 10 Floriculture 3 Contracting horticultural work 7 Teaching and experimental station work 12 On private estates 2 As nearly as can be estimated, those men who work on salaries receive an average compensation of $967 a year. When it is con- sidered that these men are just out of college, this seems to be an encouraging figure. The best opportunities are unquestionably open to those men who make a way to go into business for themselves, either in flori- culture, market gardening or fruit growing. All these lines are remarkably prosperous, especially in New England. The men who are trained for this sort of work are bound to succeed in it. While the average gross returns from farming throughout the United States are only about ten dollars an acre each year, the market gar- deners of Massachusetts are averaging $200 to $300, and the best ones are getting $1,000 an acre a year, and more. Many college graduates go into lines of teaching or investiga- tion. The colleges and experiment stations and the United States Department of Agriculture now employ many thousands of men, practically all of whom must be graduates of agricultural colleges. Salaries run from $600 to about $4,000 a year, beginners usually getting $600 to $800 the first year. [ 14 Men trained in landscape gardening are in requisition for the care of private estates, for advanced work in municipal and state parks, and for practical work with professional landscape gardeners. Other men, who prefer to go into speculative business on their own account, undertake landscape gardening and horticultural contract- ing. A number of our graduates are very successful in these lines. They prune trees or plant trees on contract, spray trees for towns or for private land owners, grade new grounds, make roads, fight gipsy-moth and brown-tails, and perform many other similar services at a profit to them- selves and to their clients. This field offers practically unlimited opportunities to men who have the taste and training for it. ADMISSION TO THE COLLEGE Both men and women are ad- mitted to the College on equal terms. Candidates must be four- teen years of age. Graduates of certain preparatory and high schools are admitted by certificate from their instructors; other can- didates enter on examination. For practical purposes, the entrance requirements may be counted equal to graduation from a good high school. Filling a diseased tree EXPENSES There is no tuition. The incidental expenses for books and laboratory fees amount to about $20 a year. Each student has to have a military suit, costing $15 to $20. Good board can be had in the college dining hall or in private families at $3.25 to $4 a week. Rooms may be had in the college dormitories or in private houses. The entire cost to boys of economical habits is $250 to $350 a year. There are abundant opportunities for students to earn a part of their expenses by labor in the Division of Horticulture or in other departments. Occasionally a student pays almost his entire expenses in this way; but such a course is not advised. POST-GRADUATE STUDY The Division of Horticulture offers excellent opportunities for graduate students in horticultural subjects. Those who begin with the Bachelor’s degree may earn the degree of Master of Science by two years of proper application, while the degree of Doctor of Philosophy may be secured after three years of acceptable work. Regular graduates of the four-year course receive the degree of Bachelor of Science. CORRESPONDENCE Inquiries may be addressed to Kenyon L. Butterfield, President of the College. Questions relating specifically to the work in horti- culture and landscape gardening may be addressed to Professor F. A. Waugh, Amherst, Mass. THE UBKakt of I ht School garden class on college grounds AUG 18 1941 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS J. Horace McFarland Company Mt. Pleasant Press Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.