New Jersey The Garden State | New Jersey Digital Highway

Cook had been an obscure professor of chemistry and natural sciences at Rutgers College. His duties were soon expanded when he received an appointment to be an assistant state geologist in charge of southern New Jersey. Taking to the field whenever his college teaching schedule would allow, Dr. Cook pioneered groundbreaking work in natural fertilizers and soil properties throughout South Jersey. He also used the above-mentioned survey as a means of becoming more familiar with the various farming conditions and problems to be found throughout the state.

The Morrill Land Act of 1862, passed by Congress for the entire nation and appropriating monies for agricultural research, provided Cook with the opportunity to press Rutgers to develop a school of agriculture and achieve Land Grant college status. This, in turn led to the establishment of a system of New Jersey Experimental Agricultural Stations that would carry on research on a number of fronts designed to be of direct benefit to the solving of the problems facing New Jersey's farmers. As these efforts came to fruition, the state also prescribed that there be instituted a series of free public lectures on agriculture. Dr. Cook had this job added to his many others, and no better person could have been picked. Believing the cause of agricultural advancement to be of prime importance, Cook travelled the length and breadth of New Jersey lecturing on agriculture to any who would listen. While travelling to these lectures, he would personally visit as many local farms as possible to personally identify successful practices, answer questions and gather a wealth of personal knowledge about New Jersey agricultural practices. Always with notebook in hand, he returned to New Brunswick and attempted to reply to each and every issue raised. It was said that no New Jersey farmer merely knew of Professor Cook; instead, they personally knew him, such was the extent of his travels and meetings throughout the state. Noted New Jersey historian John Cunningham summed it up with an even stronger statement that "no Rutgers personality ever has had an impact on New Jersey equal to that of George Hammell Cook." Such was the influence that George Hammell Cook had on New Jersey agriculture. It was altogether fitting that Rutgers honored him after death by naming their school of agriculture Cook College, a name that survives to the present day.

Agriculture in a New Century

By 1900, New Jersey was no longer a state where agriculture dominated. True, many farms were yet to be seen on the state's landscape, and the crop yield could be measured in millions of dollars. But, as elsewhere, New Jersey was transforming itself into an industrial state with large urban centers. This was especially true in the northeastern areas of the state. The advent of science and technology being applied to agriculture first under Cook and then others that followed, gave rise to developments in the southern half of the state that not only would defy describing New Jersey as only an industrial state but would promote two examples of agriculture enterprise, commercial cranberry and blueberry production, that would find prosperity in the 20th century. These enterprises may be used as examples of how science and technology melded together to change the agricultural landscape of the state.

Student Activities

1. You have recently acquired a new penpal living in another part of the country. In an effort to get to know you better, the penpal asks you a number of questions. One expresses curiosity about your home state of New Jersey. Answer the question by writing a letter in which you provide your own personal view as to what is an accurate description of New Jersey that would help a non-resident more fully understand your home state.
2. Do you enjoy living in New Jersey or would you prefer living elsewhere? Write a brief essay being specific as to what you like or dislike about New Jersey.
3. The New Jersey Assembly is debating the merits of proposed legislation requiring that the slogan "The Garden State" be retained on vehicle license plates. The Governor opposes the legislation and is pushing for a more appropriate slogan for the 21st century. A vote is scheduled in seven days. As a citizen of the state, write a letter to your assemblyman expressing your views on the subject. Be specific as to what action you want taken and why you take the position you do. Before starting, use resources in your school media center to determine an exact mailing address and the proper form for composing a letter to an assemblyman.
4. In an effort to compromise the views of the Governor and the Assembly over use of "The Garden State" slogan, the New Jersey Division of Motor Vehicles sponsors a statewide contest to seek new license plate designs. Use a 6x9 index card and design a new license plate to submit for the contest.

On the reverse side, accompany your new license plate design with 2-3 paragraphs of explanatory text supporting the rationale for your design.