The Soils Program Begins To Grow - The C. B. Williams Era 1907-16
C.B. Williams was named Director of the NC Agricultural Experiment Station (NCAES) and Agronomist in 1907. William Etheridge was appointed Assistant Agronomist with responsibilities for teaching general soils courses in one or more of the one-year, two-year and short course programs.
This period was marked by the establishment of the first significant federal funding for agricultural research under the Adams Act. Two of the four agronomy-related station research projects funded by the Adams Act had soils themes as their main objectives. These were "Soil nitrification with reference to the bacterium concerned and its isolation" and "Relation of geology and chemistry of soils to productivity and fertilizer requirements." ( 10 ) Because of the expansion of programs beyond the original topics of fertilizers, soils and crops, several divisions were established within the Agriculture program in 1910 - one of which was Agronomy, a precursor to the Soil Science and Crop Science Departments. Research programs in Agronomy and other divisions were supported by federal funds under the Adams Act and funds from taxes on fertilizer sales, as there were no direct appropriations of state funds for research support until years later.
In World War I potash (potassium) became scarce and high priced, since this fertilizer material had previously been imported from Germany. Because of this need much of the research effort in this period was oriented toward solutions for the potash shortage. Research was conducted and recommendations made on use of tobacco stems and ashes as sources of potassium.
In 1913, a position designated as a soil chemist for research purposes appeared for the first time in the NCAES staff listings in the catalog section showing the Experiment Station staff. ( 11 )
Also appearing in the 1913 catalog was the first listing of soil surveyors on the Agricultural Experiment Station roster (they had previously been affiliated with the NC Department of Agriculture). Listed as soil surveyors were: L. L. Brinkley, R.C. Jurney and S. 0. Perkins. ( 11 )
Teaching in the 1907-16 Period
With the growth of the agronomy program the first listing of courses under an agronomy heading appeared in 1908. This listing included the first general soils course to be offered in the fourYear baccalaureate program. ( 12 ) Melvin E. Sherwin was appointed to the first professorial position in soils in 1910. ( 13 ) During this year, the first baccalaureate level course in fertilizers was offered. The listing of college courses for 1910-11 included General Soils, Fertilizers, Advanced Soils and Farm Drainage. During this period, one-year and two-year curricula were offered which included a general soils course and a soils and fertilizer course. (These one and two-year courses were discontinued shortly thereafter, but were resurrected in a different format with the establishment of the Agricultural Institute in the 1960's).
Extension in the 1907-16 Period
County extension work started in North Carolina in 1907. In 1909, the USDA and the college signed a "Memorandum of Understanding" for cooperative work. The Smith-Lever Act establishing cooperative extension was passed by the US Congress and implemented in 1914. Though there were no designated soil extension specialists or agents in this period, soil fertility and fertilizer components were handled within the commodity extension programs.
Soil Science in World War I and the Post-War Period 1916-23
Activities in all areas were curtailed somewhat in the 1919-24 Period due to low crop prices, but there was still some growth and development.
In 1921, two new Positions designated as Agronomists in Soils were added to the staff of the Agricultural Experiment Station. Also, 1921 marked the appointment of W. D. Lee as an assistant in soil survey. Mr. Lee was later Head of the Soil Survey Program for the NCAES and active in teaching and extension work in soil survey and classification at State College.
Nineteen twenty-three (1923) marked the first year in which a member of the Agricultural Experiment Station staff was also listed as a member of NC A & M faculty in the annual catalog. ( 14 ) C. B. Williams was the individual so listed. This was a further step in the integration of research, teaching and extension functions.
Teaching in the 1916-23 Period
A course in geology was introduced in the Agronomy group of courses in 1921 and was taught by R. B. Etheridge. This is another reflection of the close association of geology and soil survey in that period. The first offering of a course specifically in soil survey was in 1921, and was taught by Etheridge and Sherwin. ( 14 )
This page last modified 1/15/03.