PENNSYLVANIA STATE AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE.

CENTRE COUNTY.

HISTORY.

THE amount of scrip received by Pennsylvania was larger than that assigned to any other State except New York. It represented 720,000 acres of land. The proceeds were directed by the legislature to the "Agricultural College of Pennsylvania," established in Centre County, ten miles, from Bellefonte, the county seat. Prior to April 10, 1867, the amount of 260,000 acres had been sold for $151,136,-the price averaging a small fraction over 58 cents per The remaining 520,000 acres were sold at the date just named at an average price of 55 cents per acre, or $286,600; but as the sales were made on time, the money will not be realized at once.

acre.

The Philadelphia Agricultural Society was founded in 1785, and held regular sessions for several years. In 1823, the Pennsylvania Agricultural Society was established, including practically members from only the Eastern Counties, and holding a few annual fairs. In 1851, a State Agricultural Society was organized by delegates from fifty-five counties, who assembled in Harrisburg, on the 21st of January. The first annual fair was held in October following, and was attended by 20,000 persons.

The Farmers High School of Pennsylvania, originated in a meeting of the State Agricultural Society, held at Harrisburg, Jan. 18th, 1853. At this meeting a committee, consisting of F. Watts, J. H. Ewing and H. N. McAllister, was appointed and reported favorably on the establishment of an Agricultural College. The whole subject was referred to an Agricultural Convention to be held at Harrisburg on the 8th of March following. At this Convention, composed of delegates from all parts of the State, it was voted to establish such an institution, to be styled "The Farmers' High School," with a model farm attached, and a committee of which F. Watts, President of the State Agricultural Society was chairman, to obtain an act of incorporation was appointed. Judge Watts discussed the whole subject fully in the Annual Report of the Society for that year, and obtained an act of incorporation, approved April 13, 1854. By this act, the management of the institution was intrusted to the Presidents of the County Agricultural Societies, and the President and Vice President of the State Agricultural Society. They were authorized "to select a site, erect buildings, and procure a good practical farmer for its principal, who with such other persons as should be employed as teachers, shall comprise the faculty." A Board, consisting of fifty ex-officio members proved too large and too little interested in this special work, and after repeated attempts to get a quorum, the original Committee of the State Society applied to the Legislature for a modification of the charter, which was obtained and approved Feb. 22, 1855. The number of Trustees was reduced and a portion of them selected from their known interest in the proposed institution.

In July, 1855, the executive Committee of the State Society appropriated $10,000 to the School, and out of several locations offered, a site of 200 acres belonging to a farm of Gen. James Irwin, in Center County, with a donation of $10,000 from the County to secure 200 acres adjoining in addition, was accepted. In 1856, a bequest of Elliot Cresson of Philadelphia was received,―subscriptions in aid of the College were solicited, and promises obtained; and in May, 1857, an appropriation of $50,000 was obtained from the State, on condition that a like amount should be raised by subscription.

With the cash resources already secured of $25,000 from the State, and $25,000 from other sources, contracts for building were made, which required at least double the amount for their completion. This additional sum was not raised-the buildings were not completed after the original plan the school was opened on the 16th of February, 1859, under difficulties and disadvantages, which those only who have had experience in such pioneer work can appreciate. Buildings were only partially finished, and wholly unequipped with the furniture and apparatus of instruction, as well as for the domestic comfort of pupils and professors. The teaching force was inadequate—the farm was rough, and the site of a building in the process of construction, and with no funds in the treasury either to go on or wind up, presented much inconvenience as well as a forlorn aspect to students and visitors. But the printed Catalogue for the year 1859, shows an attendance of 123 pupils, and the report of a special committee of the State Society, appointed in May, 1859, to visit the institution, speaks favorably of what was doing, and hopefully of the future. On the strength of that report the Society, on the 17th of Jan. 1860, voted $1500 in aid of the School.

On the 7th day of December, 1859, Evan Pugh, Ph. D., was appointed president, and discharged the duties of professor of chemistry and scientific and practical agriculture. Dr. Pugh had studied in the Agricultural and Mining Schools of Germany,—was a man of practical views and indomitable energy, and while administering the government and instruction of nearly two hundred pupils, under every disadvantage, found time to aid those who were urging an application to the legislature for additional help, which on the 10th of April, 1861, was granted to the extent of $50,000. With this sum the buildings were completed, and in 1863, (April 1,) the legislature assigned the U. S. land-scrip for 720,000 acres of public lands to the institution, the name of which had been changed in 1862 to the Agricultural College of Pennsylvania. The death of Dr. Pugh, in the spring of 1864,-the disturbed condition of every great interest in consequence of the war, and a change in the practical character of the institution, for a time diminished the attendance of pupils. From this depression the College has not yet recovered.

In 1867, W. H. Allen, LL. D., the successor of Dr. Pugh, resigned, and Gen. John Frazer was appointed president, and professor of Analytical Mechanics; and the whole plan of instruction was changed so as to include not only a scientific course in Agriculture, but Mechanical and Civil Engineering, and Metallurgy, Mineralogy and Mining. In a circular of the Board of Trustees, dated June 24, 1867, the present organization and course of instruction is set forth in great detail, from which we make the following statement :

PRESENT ORGANIZATION.

TRUSTEES.

The trustees for 1868, are as follows:

His Excellency J. W. GEARY, Governor; Hon. F. JORDAN, Secretary of State; Hon. A. BOYD HAMILTON, President of the State Agricultural Society; and JOHN FRASER, President of the Faculty, ex-officiis; and the following elected members, viz.: DANIEL KANE, H. N. MCALLISTER, A. MCALLISTER, A. O. HIESTER, J. KELLEY, B. M. ELLIS, F. WATTS, J. MILES, and C. BIDDLE. The President of the Board is Hon. F. WATTS.

FACULTY.

The Professors are JOHN FRASER, President, and Professor of Analytical Mechanics, Logic, and Psychology; GEORGE C. CALDWELL, Chemistry; HENRY J. CLARK, Zoology and Geology; JOHN PHIN, Agriculture; J. Y. MCKEE, Greek; F. FOWLER, English; and J. T. ROTHROCK, Botany, Anatomy and Physiology. There are also nine other lecturers and tutors, etc.

Two new professorships have been instituted in order to carry out more fully the requirements of the congressional grant,—namely a professorship of Mechanical and Civil Engineering, and a professorship of Metallurgy, Mineralogy and Mining.

COURSES OF STUDY.

Five courses of study are now announced;

1. In General Science, leading to the degree of Bachelor of Science.

2. In Agriculture, leading to the degree of Bachelor of Agriculture.

3. In Mechanical and Civil Engineering, leading to the degree of Civil Engi

neer.

4. In Metallurgy, Mineralogy and Mining, leading to the degree of Mining Engineer.

5. In Literature, leading to the degree of Bachelor of Arts.

1. Course in General Science.

FRESHMAN CLASS.

First Term.-Algebra; English-Orthopy, Orthography, Composition, and Elocution; French or German; Botany; Human Anatomy and Physiology. Second Term.-Geometry; English-General Grammar, Composition, and Elocution; French or German; Botany; Human Anatomy and Physiology. Practicum during the year.-Elementary Laboratory Practice in Chemistry; Laboratory and Field Practice in Botany.

SOPHOMORE CLASS.

First Term.-Zoölogy; Trigonometry, Surveying and Levelling; Principles and Practice of Road making; English-Etymology, Composition and Original Declamations; French or German; Drawing.

Second Term.-Zoölogy; Analytical Geometry; Descriptive Geometry and Perspective; English-Synonyms, Composition, and Original Declamations; French or German; Drawing.

Practicum during the year.-Laboratory and Field Practice in Zoology; Office and Field Practice in Surveying, Levelling, and Road Making.

JUNIOR CLASS.

First Term.-Physics; Mechanics; Geology; English Literature and History of the English Language.

Second Term.-Physics; Mechanics; Geology; Logic; English Literature, Prosody, and History of the English Language.

Practicum during the year.-Laboratory and Field Practice in Geology; Higher Laboratory Practice in Chemistry.

SENIOR CLASS.

First Term.-Political Economy; Rhetoric; English Drama, and History of English Literature; Mental Philosophy; Astronomy; General Chemistry-Lectures with Experiments.

Second Term.--Civil Liberty and Self-Government; Constitution of the United States; Moral Philosophy; Physical Geography; Astronomy; English Poetry, and History of English Literature.

Practicum during the year.-Office and Field Practice in Astronomy; Laboratory and Field Practice, in connection with special studies in Zoology, Geology and Botany.

II. Courses in Agriculture.

JUNIOR CLASS.

First Term.-Botany; Human Anatomy and Physiology; English-Orthopy, Orthography, Composition, and Elocution; French or German; Algebra. Second Term.-Botany; Human Anatomy and Physiology; Geometry; English--General Grammar, Composition and Elocution; French or German. Practicum during the year.--Laboratory and Field Practice in Botany; Elementary Laboratory Practice in Chemistry.

MIDDLE CLASS.

First Term.-Agriculture-Physical and Chemical characters of Soils, Tillage, Drainage, &c.; Zoology; Trigonometry, Surveying and Levelling; Principles and Practice of Road Making; English-Etymology, Composition, and Original Declamations; French or German; Drawing.

Second Term.--Agriculture-The Nutrition of Plants; Farm Manures, method of collecting and managing; Artificial Manures; Zoology; English-Synonyms, Composition, and Original Declamations; French or German; Drawing. Practicum during the year.-Management of Manures, and Field Practice in Agriculture; Laboratory and Field Practice in Zoology; Office and Field Practice in Surveying, Levelling, and Road Making.

SENIOR CLASS.

First Term.-Agriculture-Character and Management of Grain, Forage, Root, Tuber and Fibre Crops; Rotation of Crops; The Management, Breeding, Fattening, &c., of Stock; Physics; Geology; Mechanics.

Second Term.-Agriculture-Management of Stock, continued; Farm Buildings; Agricultural Implements; Veterinary Surgery and Medicine; Physics; Geology; Agricultural Law.

Practicum during the year.-Laboratory Practice in Analysis of Manures and of Agricultural Products; Field Practice in Agriculture.

III. Course in Mechanical and Civil Engineering.

FRESHMAN CLASS.

First Term.-Algebra; Botany; Human Anatomy and Physiology; EnglishOrthopy, Orthography, Composition, and Elocution; French or German.

Second Term.-Geometry; Botany; Human Anatomy and Physiology; English-General Grammar, Composition and Elocution; French or German.

Practicum during the year.-Laboratory and Field Practice in Botany; Elementary Laboratory Practice in Chemistry; Laboratory Practice in Mensuration, Graduation of Scales, Verniers, &c.

SOPHOMORE CLASS.

First Term.-Trigonometry, Surveying and Levelling; Principles and Practice of Road Making; Zoology; English-Etymology, Composition, and Original Declamations; French or German; Drawing.

Second Term.-Analytical Geometry; Descriptive Geometry and Perspective; Zoology; English-Synonyms, Composition, and Original Declamations; French or German; Drawing.

Practicum during the year.-Laboratory and Field Practice in Zoology; Office and Field Practice in Surveying, Levelling and Road Making.

JUNIOR CLASS.

First Term.-Physics; Calculus; Mechanics; Geodesy; Geology; Drawing; English Literature and History of the English Language.

Second Term.-Physics; Calculus; Mechanics; Geodesy; Geology; Drawing; English Literature, Prosody, and History of the English Language. Practicum during the year.-Office and Field Practice in Topographical Surveying; Higher Laboratory Practice in Chemistry.

SENIOR CLASS.

First Term.-Analytical Mechanics; Machines; Constructions; Astronomy; Political Economy; Drawing; General Chemistry-Lectures with Experiments. Second Term.-Analytical Mechanics; Machines; Constructions; Astronomy; Civil Liberty and Self-Government; Constitution of the United States; Drawing; General Chemistry-Lectures with Experiments.

Practicum during the year.-Office and Field Practice in Engineering and Practical Astronomy; Office Practice in Designs, Models, and Charts.

IV. Course in Metallurgy, Mineralogy and Mining.

FRESHMAN CLASS.

First Term.-Algebra; Botany; Human Anatomy and Physiology; EnglishOrthopy, Orthography, Composition and Elocution; French or German.

Second Term.-Geometry; Botany; Human Anatomy and Physiology; English-General Grammar, Composition and Elocution; French or German.

Practicum during the year.-Laboratory and Field Practice in Botany; Elementary Laboratory Practice in Chemistry; Laboratory Practice in Mensuration, Graduation of Scales, Verniers, &c.

SOPHOMORE CLASS.

First Term.-Trigonometry, Surveying and Levelling; Principles and Practice of Road Making; Zoology; English-Etymology, Composition, and Original Declamations; French or German; Drawing.

Second Term.-Analytical Geometry; Descriptive Geometry and Perspective; Zoology; English-Synonyms, Composition and Original Declamations; French or German; Drawing.

Practicum during the year.-Laboratory and Field Practice in Zoölogy; Office and Field Practice in Surveying, Levelling and Road Making.

JUNIOR CLASS.

First Term.-Physics; Calculus; Mechanics; Geology; Mining; Drawing; English Literature and History of the English Language.

Second Term.-Physics; Calculus; Mechanics; Geology; Mining; Drawing; English Literature, Prosody, and History of the English Language.

Practicum during the year.-Laboratory and Field Practice in Geology, with a special reference to Mining; Higher Laboratory Practice in Chemistry.

SENIOR CLASS.

First Term.-Metallurgy; Mineralogy; Mining; Machines; Astronomy; Political Economy; Drawing; General Chemistry-Lectures with Experiments.