FARMERS' INSTITUTES. 223 



mGii cau get in Hill-dale College, the University, and many other institntions of 

 learning. I have always desired a college reaching out in it~; benefits to the 

 farmers of the State, believing that an institution of this kind should be con- 

 ducted to that one end. Very few of us farm for fun, but for the profit we 

 expect to realize from our labor ; though I am sorry to say that many are com- 

 pelled, at the end of the year, to part with their last dollar to meet the assess- 

 ments made upon them. 



My idea is that an agricultural college should be something that will reach 

 out and help all of us ; or one great, grand experimental farm, under the man- 

 agement of the best talent the State can procure. Such an institution should 

 be made more practical and not so scientific. I do not wish to be understood 

 as attacking science, but let us feel the benefits of its results in our business. 

 I would not remove the Agricultural College, and I do not believe it ought to 

 be attached to any other institution ; but I would like to see experiments in 

 farming made, and then the State Board should tell the people just how they 

 were made. Such a farm should be made to pay all the expenses and more. 

 A strict book account should be kept, just as a good farmer keeps his accounts, 

 to see what enterprises pay and what do not. The results of these experiments 

 should all be spread out in the annual report, so that the farmers can see and 

 know just what has been accomplished. I believe the teachings of the Agri- 

 cultural College are being turned in tbe right direction, and it rests with the 

 people to make it more and more tlie agricultural institution of the State. 



C. J. Thorpe. — I rise to present one phase of the objections which are urged 

 against the Agricultural College, and that is, that no language aside from the 

 English should form a part of the curriculum of that college. I have nothing 

 to say against any language, but I believe the Euglish language is tbe best 

 language that has ever been invented. It has been my fortune to study four 

 languages beside my own, with what profit I Avill not attemjit to say, and I have 

 been engaged in teaching languages more or less for the past 13 years, and I 

 have never yet been able to satisfy myself that the time spent with foreign 

 languages, except in exceptional cases, was really of value to the student. It 

 makes no difference whether a student is to follow the life of a farmer or some 

 other business, he should perfect himself in the English language, and not 

 neglect it for something of questionable value. Some of the best writers and 

 speakers who have appeared before the world were unacquainted Avitli any other 

 language but the English. Now the question arises : Is it necessary to drag 

 into an agricultural college any other but the English language. I believe my 

 friend Luce hit the nail on the head Avhen he said the college should be made 

 essentially agricultural in order to benefit the farmers. I know the college is 

 doing a good work, and that it vrould be a great loss to impair its usefulness in 

 any way, and this criticism in relation to giving prominence to French and 

 German in an institution of this kind is done with the friendliest feeling. 



President Abbot. — In the Agricultural College the sciences have displaced the 

 Latin and Greek commonly taught in other colleges. French is taught in the 

 Agricultural College, and I should be glad if students had the opportunity of 

 learning the German also. Certainly the experience of other colleges ought to 

 have its weight as against any mere theories of education. As a matter of fact 

 nearly all industrial schools, scientific schools, and agricultural schools, require 

 French, Indeed, one agricultural school in New Engh.md, to which some of 

 our graduates have resorted, does not admit students who cannot read the 

 French, into the classes of agricultural chemistry. Any scientific investigator 



