TRANSACTIONS OF NORTHERN ILL. HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 329 



THIRD DAY. 



AFTERNOON SESSION. 



The Society was called to order by the President, at half past one 

 o'clock, who requested attention to a paper, to be read by Hon. Suel 

 Foster, of Iowa. Mr. Foster read as follows : 



AGRICULTURAL COLLEGES AND EXPERIMENTAL HORTICULTURE. 



BY SUEL FOSTER. 



I am induced to offer some remarks on this subject because it is so 

 directly connected with Horticulture. EYcry State, every horticultural 

 society, should have experimental grounds. I was pleased to see, in De- 

 cember last, that your State has made a good beginning in this work at 

 your Industrial University. 



In Iowa, our horticultural society appointed a committee to act with 

 the faculty and professor of horticulture and forestry, at our Agricultural 

 College, to institute and continue experiments with fruits, hedges and 

 timber trees. 



There is an impression among a great many that agricultural colleges 

 have very generally failed to meet the expectation of our people ; and I 

 fear that this is the case to a greater extent than we could wish ; but 

 hardly a worse condition than might be expected, under the circumstances. 



But what has been the success of our Agricultural Colleges? I will 

 not attempt to enumerate the successes, and the degree of success, for my 

 information is quite limited in this respect. What has been the cause of 

 their want of success? I am aware that I have now introduced a subject 

 quite too broad and intricate to detain this Society in its discussion, but 

 if you have patience for a few minutes, I will very briefly try to point out 

 what I believe to be a very natural way of conducting such an institution, 

 and also what is a very natural way of a poor success with a real Agricul- 

 tural College. 



In the first place I think an Agricultural College should not be con- 

 nected with the old-fashioned classic colleges and universities. There is 

 an incompatibility — a different class and society with the students of the 

 two institutions — that is hard to overcome. Yes, I may say, is never 

 overcome with many of the students; and if this is true with the students, 

 with how much greater force does it apply to the teachers? Is there not 

 a positive difference between the society of the city and the farmers? 

 This difference of aristocracy is perfectly overcome with many persons, 

 nevertheless it exists, and we must deal with it as it exists. As a modifier 

 of this aristocracy, we can with confidence recommend the Agricultural 

 College education. 



