tial aid in that direction. It was contended, and was the sense of the convention, that this aid would be more satisfactory in its results, coming from the general government, than from the States, as likely to be more permanent, and less liable to the vicissitudes of legislatures of the States, who would be more impatient for results. Experiments in agriculture require more time, and to be repeated for a longer series of years than in any other science, to be effectual for good; and should be conducted by students who should become specially fitted for the work. This could be secured only by permanence and continuity. Hence the convention resolved to present the matter to the next Congress, formulated a bill and appointed a special committee consisting of Pres. Atherton of Pennsylvania College, Pres. Lee of Mississippi Agricultural College, and the writer, to visit Washington for that purpose, the December or January following. I returned from the convention July 13th, and assumed the active duties of the college. The report of the secretary relating to the exercises of commencement week is so full that I need not repeat it here. I wish, however, to emphasize one feature of commencement week-the alumni meeting. It was a large and representative gathering. I was surprised at the hearty loyalty to the college, the eager interest in its prosperity, and the supreme pleasure their visit afforded them. I have visited many meetings of the alumni of other institutions, but never have I witnessed so lively an interest. It struck me as something peculiar to this college, and upon this fact I base in a large measure the future permanent prosperity of the institution. The vacation after commencement, was extended from one week, to two, to give most of the faculty an opportunity to attend the annual meeting of the American association for the advancement of science, which this year was held at Ann Arbor. This institution being specially devoted to the sciences and their applications, it was fitting that our Board of Instructors who were members of the association should not be debarred from attending its sessions. The term will be extended one week at its close, so that the full term will be engaged in college work. I remained on the grounds all the time, so as to receive the new students. The college was opened September 2d. The indications are of a very full attendance such as shall test to the fullest extent our accommodations. Up to this date there have been matriculated 97 new students, and more coming daily. From the experience of the last few years, I have been informed that the spring term will bring a large influx of new students, who are able to pass the fall studies; so that if that experience is verified this year, we shall have for the year at least 150 new students. If so, we shall be obliged to put three students in a room, a matter conducive neither to health nor satisfactory study, as the rooms are not large. We can accommodate with reasonable comfort in the halls and on the grounds 230 to 250 students, and no more, according to the number who can find private quarters. This brings us face to face with a more serious question. We have a plant here that has cost nearly or quite $400,000, and it justifies and demands at least 500 students. At the last commencement, in an address from the platform, the Governor of the State said the institution fell short of its duty if it had less than 500 students; and any person who has taken the time to investigate our unexcelled facilities for instruction, will feel warranted in coming to the same conclusion. But it is manifest that without additional accommodations we cannot meet their just demands. We are three miles away from Lan sing and too far to secure quarters for the surplus attendance, unless some easy and cheap means of transportation is provided. The college is in a sparsely settled region-very few farmers' residences within walking distance, and absolutely no buildings or boarding houses or quarters for students in the vicinity of the grounds. If the students can be got what shall we do with them? On the first point I have no serious apprehension. I have canvassed the subject fully ever since I began to consider, nearly a year ago, whether I should accept the position tendered to me. I frankly stated to you that numbers were a consideration with me; that in popular estimation the college was obnoxious to the charge that there were too few students for the plant and the expenditure of the money; and that unless I became satisfied that inside of five years 500 students could be placed in the institution I should be compelled to decline your offer. Hence I investigated the subject thoroughly, tested the temper of our people, and the feeling of our public men, and I became fully convinced that there is a constituency, that will in less time than five years supply the required numbers without in any sensible degree impairing the attendance upon our other institutions of learning. The industrial feature with its comprehensive apparatus of the sciences from agriculture down, commends itself to popular regard in these times of over-crowded, so-called professional life. There are two ways suggested for the extra 250 students, one to build a street railway to Lansing, and the other to build more dormitories. The first without any doubt would be the cheaper in the end, as a company might be induced to build and operate one for a consideration, sayin the guarantee of a certain amount of patronage for three years, till the number of students and the general public would themselves furnish sufficient patronage to pay dividends. On the other hand the dormitories would enable the administration to preserve the industrial morale which has characterized the institution since its organization. I cannot see how it can be maintained in its vigor, with a portion of the students who come two, three or more miles-they at least would need to be exempted from manual labor. But these questions may safely be left to the State Board of Agriculture and the Legislature, as it is not probable that the desirable end to be attained will fail for want of means for the sufficent accommodations for the students who shall knock at our door. It may be proper to note the fact that the Agricultural College does not exist for students alone. While it is desirable that it should have all the students for whom it has ample facilities for instruction;-the fact that it has not had this full attendance, should not make us oblivious of the fact that the college occupies a field of great public utility aside from its instruction of students. If the general public were aware of the correspondence of some of the Professors, notably those of Agriculture, Chemistry, Botany, Entomology, Horticulture, and Veterinary, always constant, and sometimes almost overwhelming, with citizens of the State making inquiries about seeds, and soils, and fertilizers, and grain, and fruits, and insects, and diseases of animals and the thousand and one matters that fill the fertile brain of our active inquiring people, many questions requiring great research and assiduous labor and observation in the field and the laboratory, much of the criticism heretofore indulged in would fall to the ground. I am happy to state that the Professors one and all are prompt in their response, working early and late, year in and year out, and are fully alive in their respective spheres to the importance of bringing whatever of practical information they may have to the general and individual public. There is not a drone in the faculty. It is impossible to estimate the benefac tion such an institution in the far reaching development of its powers' and information may be to the State. Year by year it is becoming better and better equipped for this work. There was some aprehension among our agricultural friends that the adding of the mechanical department would in some way impair the agricultural department; that the students would prefer the former and thereby deplete the matriculations in the latter. All such fears are groundless, for the reason that so long as the agricultural industry shall continue in the lead of all others in the State of Michigan, the proportion o students for that course will always be in excess. Under the policy I suggested to the Board, and to which I shall strictly adhere, to wit: the classifying of no student into the mechanical course unless he has a bent in that direction, there is no possible chance for its overslaughing the agricultural course. The new students are about three for the agricultural course to one for the mechanic. We can fill the popular demand for both without impairing either. Respectfully yours, AGRICULTURAL COLLBGH, Sept. 30, 1885. EDWIN WILLITS. REPORT OF THE PROFESSOR OF AGRICULTURE AND SUPERINTENDENT OF THE FARM. To the President of the College: DEAR SIR:-I herewith submit my report of the work of the Agricultural Department, for the college year ending Sept. 30, 1885. INSTRUCTION. No changes have been made in the course in Practical Agriculture since my last report. I have endeavored to keep abreast of the best theories and practice of our time, and to present to my classes such instruction as my own experience has shown me, will be most likely to prove really satisfactory to its possessor-on the farm not in ideal, but in actual agriculture. Instruction in Practical Agriculture must be largely (to be of real value) of details of practice, learning the characteristics and uses of the animals and products of the farm, the best and most profitable methods of management. Just what instruction will be most helpful is not easily determined; but our course has been adopted by those who have had years of experience and whose judgment merits respect. We are sometimes criticised because we do not have more. agriculture in our course, others intimate that the course is not extended and scientific enough. Will our critics please, in the light of the subjects treated, suggest what should be omitted that now receives attention, or what in justice could be substituted for any part of the work, and further if any other department is expected to traverse so wide a range of topics in so brief a time? The whole number who have received instruction in Practical Agriculture during the year, is as follows: Freshman 46, Sophomores 39, Seniors 12; total, 97. I append here the series of questions used at the examinations of the respective classes during the year as indicating in some degree the topics and the scope of instruction in the two and one-half terms, devoted to agriculture, in our four years' course. FRESHMAN EXAMINATION IN DRAINAGE AND BREEDS OF CATTLE. 1. How is the soil affected by evaporation? 2. How does drainage affect soils? 3. Give the mechanical construction of soils and the proper conditions to insure germination of seeds. 4. What fall is necessary in tile drains? How does the water enter the tile? 5. At what depth and distance apart should tile drains be laid? 6. Classify the twelve breeds of cattle we have studied, 1st as to origin, 2d as to adaptation. 7. Give points of difference between a Devon and Hereford? 8. What great breeder improved the Longhorns, and what can you say of his life and work? 9. Name some of the most prominent of the early breeders of Shorthorns? a. Name some of the most noted families of Booth and Bates? b. Construct an ideal pedigree of a Shorthorn bull to the fourth sire? c. Give six of the most important points to be considered in judging Shorthorns. d. Why is a record of pedigree desirable, and what steps are to be taken to secure the registration of Shorthorns? 10. Describe a typical animal, 1st for the dairy, 2d for beef production. FIRST HALF TERM SOPHOMORE EXAMINATION. Sheep. 1. Define growth and condition as applied to wool? a. Upon what does each depend? b. Grade wools. From what breed or crosses does each grade come? 2. Name the English breeds of sheep? a. Compare a Cotswold and South-Down, (1) size, (2) weight of fleece, (3) color, (4) early maturity and quality of mutton? b. Which of the English breeds is most popular in this country? are its special points of merit? 3. What is the origin of the American Merino? a. What are its chief points of excellence? What b. When and by whom were the first importations of Merinos made? Swine. 4. Name and classify breeds of swine? a. Compare a Berkshire and Poland China as to origin, color, ears, size, early maturity, quality of hams and bacon? b. Compare a Duroc Jersey and Essex? 5. Give rules for the selection of breeding swine? . Give period of gestation of sow. What care and food are best during this period and at the time of farrowing? Horse. 6. Give natural history of the horse? 7. Give three rules that apply in breeding horses? 8. Give points of difference between a Suffolk Punch and Englishshire? Give points of difference between a Cleveland Bay and Clydesdale. Give points of difference between a Percheron and Thoroughbred? 9. Period of gestation in mare? What food and management should she have during this period? a. What sign would indicate a stain or defect in the pedigree of a thoroughbred? SECOND HALF TERM SOPHOMORE EXAMINATION. Feeding of Animals. (Stewarts.) 1. What important elements of animal and vegetable substances are identical? 2. What must the food of animals contain? How does the work of the plant differ from that of the animal? 3. Define and give examples of a nutrient-a ration? a. What three groups of nutrients are contained in plants? Give examples of each and effects of feeding either alone. 4. Name three principles of alimentation? 5. What % of gain will cattle, sheep and swine make per 100b dried substance consumed, per Mr. Lawes' experiments? a. What proportion of a full rat on is food of growth? 6. How should the food of young animals differ from that of mature ones? Give examples of foods suited to each. 7. Give details and results of Prof. Horsfall's experiment in feeding dairy cows? 8. Best foods for horses and best methods of preparing them? 9. Philosophy of cooking food for stock? Will it pay? 10. Which would be preferable to enrich a Michigan farm, commercial foods or commercial fertilizers? Give reasons for reply. SENIOR EXAMINATION. 1. Define economy as applied to the farm? (1) in purchase, use and care of implements, (2) buying and selling, (3) selection and care of animals, (4) general management. 2. State four important principles in breeding? a. What is a pedigree and what gives it value? b. What is meant by an outcross? Is it objectionable in a pedigree? c. How does in and in breeding affect offspring? 3. Give important considerations in locating and erecting farm buildings. a. Utility vs. Beauty in Architecture? b. Order and neatness about premises? 4. Give rotation of crops on College farm? Criticise same? a Is it a good practice to fallow land? b. What factors require careful attention in mixed husbandry? 5. Give best methods of making, saving and applying barnyard manure? Upon what does its value depend? 6. On what soils and crops can salt, lime and plaster be used profitably? 7. What position did agriculture occupy in the older civilizations? |