410 STATE BOARD OP' AGRICULTURE. 



examination ; it asks for tlie counsel and advice of the generous and sagacious 

 body which took sneh prominent action in founding it; it needs tiieir watch- 

 fulnct^s and care to aid in building it up into a career of usefulness, lie had 

 given the subject much careful thought, and he had become intimately 

 acquainted with its unremitting duties. Such a meeting of tiie representatives 

 of these bodies to which the State looked in many ways for counsel and advice 

 would have a beneficial effect in correcting erroneous impressions, and it was 

 to be hoped that there would be from time to time, as the College grew in 

 strength from year to year, power to instruct and facilities to extend practical 

 aud scientific education, more such meetings, wliere as advisers and counsel- 

 lors all would combine as a powerful auxiliary to raise and keep in the front 

 rank of such institutions all over the world, tlic Micliigau Agricultural College. 



JMr. Luce said that the State Grange necessarily, from its organization, 

 meets with more farmers than any other institution known. Its representa- 

 tives had come here by invitation of the State Board of Agriculture, aud also 

 in obedience to the expressed desire of tlie State Grange at its last annual 

 meeting. The resolutions which had been read expressed in some degree the 

 sentiments entertained by himself and the officers with whom he was associated. 

 The College is unquestionably doing a great service to the State, and it was the 

 opinion of the Grange tiiat it should be enabled to do a great deal more. 



Mr. Fralick said that he was well aware that the College and what it was 

 doing must be popularized. The people of the State had not been kept fully 

 posted as to the value of the germs which are here planted, and of their duty 

 to aid in developing them. No, Mr. President, the minds of our people have 

 not been sutficiently awakened to what this Agricultural College is doing for 

 its growing sons, and what it is capable of doing for its daughters. Why, sir, 

 one of the most distinguished visitors at the Centennial Exposition, while look- 

 ing over the botanical collection sent from this institution, told me it was the 

 best of the kind in the collection from all the States. That representation of 

 this State came from this College, and was the work of the professor and his 

 classes, as I understand. "When the State Agricultural Society and the State 

 Grange combine as they have done here to-day, to aid in bringing before the 

 people the work which is going forward here from day to day, and its expan- 

 sion from year to year, I have not a doubt but that the College will be popu- 

 larized and that it will be estimated at its true value. 



Mr. Parsons again arose and remarked that he hoped the next meeting 

 would be still more satisfactory, bat that he felt it his duty to direct attention 

 to the fact that the opposition in the legislature to granting the aid which we had 

 seen to-day was so necessary, came largely from the farmers themselves. The 

 commercial and professional members knew too well the value of the institu- 

 tion to stint it in its growth, and when it had already expanded so that it has 

 outgrown its facilities for imparting instruction to the students who flocked 

 to it. 



President Webber then called attention to the time, and put the question on 

 the adoption of the resolutions; and they were unanimously passed. 



Adjourned si7ie die. 



