62 DEPARTMENT REPORTS. 



8. Write a brief sketch of the history of agriculture. 



9. Give your idea of tlie true scope and vahie of an agricultural education? 

 10. Wliat duties does its possessor owe the community and tlie State? 



LECTQRES AND INSTITUTES. 



I have taken my regular assignment of the Wednesday afternoon lectures 

 and have also attended the Farmers' Institutes to which I was appointed by 

 the Board of Agriculture at Manchester and Flusiiing and by the request of 

 the local committees, those held at Paw Paw and Albion. I also attended the 

 annual meetinof of the National Association of the Breeders of Dutch Fricsian 

 Cattle held in Detroit, Feb. 4 and 5, and delivered an 'address on "Cattle 

 Breeding and Feeding, the Most Important Elements in zVmericau Agricul- 

 ture." 



I was present at the first meeting of the Jackson County Shorthorn 

 Breeders' Association in January, and in August I was privileged to meet the 

 farmers of Livingston, Wayne and Washtenaw^ Counties at their annual picnic 

 at Whitmore Lake. 



The Board authorized me to attend the National Fat Stock Show held 

 in Chicago in November and the meetings of all of the National Breeders' 

 Associations held during the same week and in which the Agricultural 

 Department of the college is specially interested. 



THE TEACHERS OF AGRICULTURE. 



The annual meeting of this association was held at Ann Arbor, during the 

 meeting of the Society for the promotion of Science. 



The next meeting is to be held at Purdue University, Lafayette, Ind. 



IMPLEMENTS. 



A Bullard hay tedder has been purchased direct from the makers, The 

 Belcher & Taylor Agricultural Tool Co., Chicopee Falls, Mass. 



A Eureka mower from the Eureka Mower Co., Utica, N. Y., both giving 

 excellent satisfaction. A Thomas smoothing harrow from W. L. Herendeen^ 

 Geneva, N. Y., and a Barlow rotary corn planter from The Vandiver Corn 

 Planter Co., Quincy, Ills. 



A Eureka fanning mill from J. C. Schneeberger, Lansing, which does 

 excellent work. 



AVe are also using Sperry's agricultural steamers manufactured by D. R. 

 Sperry & Co., Batavia, Ills., in our experimental barn and piggery and do not 

 hesitate to commend it as suited to the wants and means of farmers who desire 

 to cook some food for stock. 



We have also purchased a few rods of Ewer's farm and garden portable 

 fence, made by Ewer & White, Battle Creek, Mich. 



The Strowbridge broadcast sower, manufactured Iby the Racine Seeder Co.,. 

 Racine, Wis., and mentioned in last report has been thoroughly tested this 

 season both in sewing grass seed and clover as well as oats. It is a cheap, 

 simple, easily adjusted and ra^jid sowing seeder. I cheerfully recommend it to 

 farmers needing a broadcast seeder. 



Donations are acknowledged from the following persons: 



Geo. M. Selleck, Imlay City, Mich., 1 bushel of Acadian seed wheat. 



Thorley Cattle Food Co., Chicago, Ills., samples in quantity of their stock 

 food. 



