ADDRESS OF PRESIDENT WILLITS. 33 



working factor in all branches taught and demonstrated here, and in the end 

 it must tell in the more enhanced prosperity of our State. 



The third and last general purpose we will note it is hard concisely to state. 

 It is expressed, perhaps, the best by saying that the college is 



AN EXPERIMENT STATION. 



Experiments are constantly being made in all the departments. Many are 

 inconsequential and useless; many never see the light of day, but all contribute 

 to the general knowledge of the subject. It is as important to know of a failure, 

 and if possible its cause, as of a success. There has been in the country at 

 large disappointment over the meagreness of the results in agricultural experi- 

 ments up to this time. An impartial consideration of the matter would disarm 

 most of the criticism. The failure lies in the nature of the subject. There is 

 an incertitude in agriculture that does not exist in the exact sciences. Such is 

 the variety of seed, soil, and climate; so inconstant is the weather; so many 

 perils of water, drouth, and insects beset the paths of the agriculturalist be- 

 tween seed time and harvest, that no man can predict with assurance the result 

 of his labors, and no experiment can promise absolute success in all places and 

 by all persons. The consequence is that a large range of experiments is neces- 

 sary with a more extended range of years; but of the grand aggregate result 

 there can be no question. The introduction of a new variety of seed may in a 

 single year pay well the expense of all the experiments in the past. It is only 

 by trying and testing that the best is found, or the bad eliminated. It is to be 

 hoped that Congress will pass the bill appropriating funds to make all the 

 agricultural colleges experiment stations, and that thereby these colleges may 

 have an assurance of permanent means systematically to follow for years a line 

 of practical experiments. This college, as has been noted, has not been barren 

 in tliese results, and the promise may be safely given tliat in the future it shall, 

 if possible, improve on them. 



Geutlemeti of the Board of Agriculture and Ladies and Gentlemen : — This in- 

 stitution has closed another year of its existence. To-day has gone forth with 

 the seal of our approval a class of young men who are to justify by their deeds 

 the expense and labor here bestowed upon them. The impression may obtain 

 from the fact that so much has been said about the material facilities here fur- 

 nished for an education, that but little care or stress is laid upon the general cul- 

 ture of our students. Nothing is further from our intention. We cannot be oblivi- 

 ous to the fact that the man exists before the farmer or the mechanic, and that 

 every system of education to be harmonious and complete must include that 

 general culture that forms so important a fimction in life's work. We must 

 not and we do not forget that, pure English, sound logic, a wide range of his- 

 torical reading, a thorough knowledge of the fundamental and business laws 

 of the land, and well-defined views of political science and mental and moral 

 philosophy are necessary elements in a practical education. For all these 

 ample provision has been made. Bu.T; above and beyond all we should remember 

 that morality, virtue, and religion are the corner-stones of a true character, and 

 that this institution should inculcate pure morals and the highest virtue, and 

 should exemplify in the fullest sense our daily obligations to our Divine Bene- 

 factor. It is for us of the administration to assure the people of the State, that 

 by our example and by our precept we will be true to the higher duty, and that 

 so far as in us lies we will preserve this institution free from the contamination 

 of vice, and will send out from our halls the young men committed to our 

 charge not only uninjured by their associations here, but better fitted to become 

 good, loyal, Christian citizens. 

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