FARMERS' INSTITUTES. 301 



fi variety, so as to give tliem some insight into all the operations of tlie farm. 

 The object is to educate the boys so as to return them to the farm. At this 

 age, when habits are so rapidly formed, were they to study witliout labor, they 

 would seldom recover the disposition to perform the duties of the farm. 



It is often asl<ed what becomes of its students. Many cry out that it is a fail- 

 ure because its students do not come forth as a solid phalanx of farmers. They 

 do not stop to think of the difhculties. The students as a majority come from 

 the poorer walks of life, and we are all aware that to enter the occupation of 

 farming much more capital is required than in the other occupations. Many 

 graduates expect to make farming a business, but are compelled for the first 

 few years to teach or enter other occupations where less capital is required and 

 where the profits are larger than those of farm hands. Statistics of other col- 

 leges show that but few of their graduates ever go to farming, and that many 

 that are educated in special schools, as in medicine and law, in the end adopt 

 some other business. Of their graduates they tell us that only one and one half 

 per cent go to farming. Many of the best institutions fail to send any. Har- 

 vard for twenty-four years failed to send one out of over six hundred, Dart- 

 mouth out of twelve hundred, and Ripon college for eight years failed to send 

 one. But our college, on the other hand, including tlie class of '75, had one 

 hundred and twenty-four graduates, four of whom are dead. Of the balance, 

 forty-two are farmers, seven fruit culturists, one apiarist, eleven professors and 

 instructors in agricultural colleges, ten are engaged as students in special 

 sciences, as engineers and mechanics, all of which pursuits are supposed to be 

 in keeping with the teachings of tlie college, thus showing that over fifty per 

 cent of its graduates practice what they are there taught, and over forty per 

 cent return as actual tillers of the soil. IS'ot only is this true, but every grad- 

 uate, in whatever occupation, is found to be in sympathy with the farmer, and 

 will ever act as an ally in the camp of others. Aside from the graduates there 

 is a much larger list of students tiiat take up a special course, and many that 

 come for one, two, or three years and tlien are compelled to quit, they will exert 

 a silent influence aiding the cause wherever they are. 



Friends, to-day we can say that progress is stamping itself upon the history of 

 agriculture. What a change — how great is the opportunity which is afforded 

 your sons to-day which formerly you might have sighed for in vain. At our 

 college, the farmer's college, your sons can get a free education, fitting them 

 for one of the noblest callings of man, — here they will learn to love labor, and 

 not despise it, here they will gain for themselves a strong and healthy physical 

 development nowhere else to be had, here they will get that culture and educa- 

 tion which will better fit them for citizens of this free republic, enabling them 

 to better perform their duties and jiromote the real interests of themselves and 

 their fellow men. Let us congratulate our college for its prosperity and emi- 

 nent success, and may its power to do good ever increase and never grow less. 



Mr. Chas. Palmer I'ead the following essay on 



RECLAIMING MARSH LANDS : 



Mr. President : — At the organization of this Institute in December last, I 

 was chosen to prepare and read an essay upon marsh lands, their drainage and 

 cultivation. Very many farmers there are whose years, experience, and obser- 

 vation would have rendered them better qualified to come before you with 

 principles and suggestions upon the subject of drainage than myself; but inas- 



