386 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



sion, nothing but harmouy and friendship ; so much so that their 

 families, although residing iu different parts of the State, frequent- 

 ly interchange visits. 



Our College is conducted, I think, much like yours. We have 

 there a Professor of Agricultural Chemistiy, one of Botany and 

 Horticulture, one of Animal Physiology and Practical Agriculture, 

 one of Etomology and Zoology, one of English Literature, and my- 

 self. There is a large University in Michigan, at Ann Arbor, of 

 1300 to 1400 students, and about 30 Professors. The feeling has 

 prevailed to some extent amongst the educated men of the State, that 

 it is impossible to make a scientihc course of instruction give the 

 same power or discipline of mind as a classical course. I will not 

 undertake to say that it can be done or is done in the case of grad- 

 uates of our college, but 1 think it comes pretty near. My own im- 

 pression is this, that a year's study of the sciences may be made as 

 disciplinary as a year's study in any other branch of education. 

 Most Agricultural Colleges, however, admit their students with a 

 year, or a year and a half less previous preparation than is required 

 at other colleges. 1 have studied this question with care and had 

 it constantly in view ; for when I went to the Ann Arbor Univer- 

 sit}^ the Professors there said to me, " Let us see if you can make 

 discipline go with scientific studies. We have a scientific depart- 

 ment and a classical .department, and most of the students w!.o 

 excel in ability prefer to change from the scientific to the classical 

 department, because they find it to their account. Can you do 

 any better?" 1 say 1 believe that a year's study of chemistry 

 (and we require a year's study of chemisty, with three hours work 

 a day in the laboratory by every student for half a year,) is equal^r 

 to a year in Latin or a year iu Greek ; and I believe I shall bo 

 borne out in this statement by the pi'ofessors of other colleges, for 

 I have consulted those at Harvard and at Yale on the subject, and 

 they agree with me. And if you will add to scientific studies 

 such others as will enable the students to impart their knowledge, 

 and express themselves with method and clearness, I do not see 

 why agricultural colleges cannot place their students on a par 

 with those of the old colleges. It remains to be seen, it is an 

 experiment. 



The Agricultural College of Michigan is really educating farmers. 

 It was said that we could not send three per cent, of the young 

 men back to the farm. I have repeatedly opened our catalogues, 

 with persons who asked the question, and shown them that over 



