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Tlie following is the letter from Doct. Tappan : 



Michigan University, Dec, 1852. 



J. C. Holmes, Esq., Secretary of the Michigan State Agricultural 

 Society : 



Dear Sir — Knowing full well that every thing connected with the 

 progress of agricultural science must prove interesting both to yourself 

 individually, and to the Society of which you are a member, I take this 

 opportunity of laying before you some measures which have been adop- 

 ted by the Regents and Faculty of the University in relation to the es- 

 tablishment of an Agi-icultural School. 



You are aware that the Legislature are empowered by the new Con- 

 stitution to appropriate twenty two sections of the Salt Spring Lands for the 

 maintenance of an Agricultural School, and that they "may make the 

 same a branch of the University, for instruction in agriculture and the 

 natural sciences connected therewith, and place the same under the su- 

 pervision of the Regents of the University." In anticipation of this 

 legislative grant, we have accordingly organized an Agricultural School 

 as a part of the scientific course recently adopted by the Faculty and 

 Regents. 



The following subjects are embraced in the agricultural course : 



let. Daily lectures on Chemistry, (elementary and experimental,) 

 Chemistry apphed to the arts, meteorology and climate. 



2d. Geology and Mineralogy, and the application of the same to min- 

 ing, drainage, construction of public works, &c., &c., illustrated by spe- 

 cimens from Michigan, the neighboring States, and foreign lands ; also 

 models and drawings. 



3d. Animal and Vegetable Anatomy and Physiolgy in general, the 

 physiology and diseases of domestic animals in particular, and the struc- 

 ture and habits of insects in reference to grain, trees and horticultural 

 plants. 



4th. Organic Chemistry and the theory and practice of agriculture, 

 the origin and nature of soils, the diflFerent varieties of manure, tillage, 

 tools, &c., &c. 



Lectures on these subjects will be given during the next Spring and 

 Summer term, commencing May 1st, and ending June 30th. 

 I am very respectfully and truly yours, 



HENRY P. TAPPAK 



