Horticulture History By Charles V. Hall Emeritus Professor 1836-1975 The roots of horticulture extend back to the years before Iowa became a state. The early immigrants who came from eastern states were eager to grow fruits, vegetables, trees, and nursery crops. The person who had the greatest impact on the future of agriculture and horticulture in Iowa was Suel Foster. Suel Foster came to Bloomington (now Muscatine) in 1836. After getting married and making a trip to California he returned to Bloomington and established the Fountain Hill Nursery of over 100 acres. In 1856, as writer for the Iowa Farmer and Horticulturist he took up the subject of schooling for farmers. He insisted that Iowa must have a Farmers College. Following the publication of this proposal 4 more times, in January 1858 the Iowa Legislature (General Assembly) passed an act to establish an Iowa Agricultural College which was signed by Governor Ralph Lowe on March 22, and appropriated $10,000 for support. Suel Foster was appointed to the first Board of Trustees and the Charter which was developed included the requirement that horticulture be taught. A site for the college was selected in a prairie west of Ames. When the Morrill Act, the Land Grant College Act, was passed July 2, 1862 and on September 11, 1862 Iowa was the first state to accept provisions of the act and received a grant of over 294,300 acres of Government land. Prior to acceptance of the Morrill Act the State of Iowa, citizens of Boone and Story Counties provided $5,379 for the purchase of 648 acres of land from 5 owners for the campus and experimental farm. The site chosen was where the current campus is located, which at that time was prairie. In 1860 and 61 the Farm House, which stands on the campus today as a historic building, was constructed. The cattle barn was constructed the same year and was torn down in 1929. In 1866 an experimental orchard was planted consisting of 400 fruit trees, 75 grape vines, along with 1/2 acre of potatoes, 3/4 acre of root crops, 1/2 acre of beans and an ornamental garden containing trees, shrubs and flowers. The population of Ames was less than 1000 at that time. On June 26, 1866 the Iowa State Horticultural Society was formed which boosted the expansion of research and support for horticulture in the state. At that time the society served as a communication link between the college and horticultural producers throughout the state. In 1868, following the close of the Civil War, Old Main was completed with no provisions for heat light and furnishings. In spite of the lack of these essentials, the Iowa Agricultural College and Farm opened for preparatory students October 21, 1868 with the first term ending January 7, 1869. Students lived, ate and attended classes in this one building. Old Main burned in 1900 at the site where Beardshear Hall now stands. The first horticulture classes were taught beginning October 21, 1869 with Dr. Norton S. Townsend as Professor of Agriculture and Horticulture and A.S. Welch (see Appendix for a complete listing of all faculties) as Lecturer of Landscape Gardening and Charles Bessey teaching Horticulture and Botany. In 1869 horticultural subjects were taught when a total of only 20 subjects were offered in the college. The total student body consisted of 75, 66 men and 9 women. Professor Towsend taught a course in practical agriculture too. The first faculty consisted of 4 professors, a matron and teacher of music, French, and German and a farm Superintendent. A major change came with the inauguration of A.S. Welch as College President that same year with a salary of $3,000 per year with a house. He taught a course in Landscape Gardening and was overseer of campus design and planting.
Posted on: Wed, 13 Nov 2013 17:27:09 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015