LECTURES AND ESSAYS READ AT INSTITUTES. 363 



mechanics, natural philosophy, and the natural sciences, with their applica- 

 tions to agriculture. With these could be profitably associated anatomy, so 

 far as connected with the structure and diseases of animals, and the study of 

 insects and their habits, and to some extent engineering, architecture, and 

 landscape gardening. Nor should the claims of literature and the fine arts be 

 wholly neglected as tending to polish the mind and manners, refine the taste, 

 and add greater lustre and dignity to life. In fine, not only a useful, but a 

 learned and liberal profession; and its cultivators not the 'bone and sinew' 

 merely, but the ornaments of society. 



"One prominent advantage possessed by the pupil in such an institution 

 should not be overlooked, in the judicious combination of labor and study, 

 resulting in confirmed health, and thence increased mental as well as bodily 

 vigor. But the importance of the plan proposed will weigh little unless it 

 shall prove to be lyracticcibh. The only obstacle that can be reasonably sup- 

 posed to exist is the expense of founding and conducting such an establishment. 

 In the communities of the Old World this obstacle, serious as it is under their 

 circumstances, has been overcome, and with triumphant results. Probably no 

 community in the world possesses greater facilities for the experiment, if it be 

 deemed such, than ours. On the plan suggested no large endowment is neces- 

 sary. The connection with the University would furnish a large part of the 

 means for instruction at comparatively little cost to the institution. Nowhere 

 in a settled community is laud so cheap at the present moment as in this State. 

 No State is more amply provided with landed and other means for the promo- 

 tion of education. May not a part of this fund be as legitimately applied to 

 this object as to other plans of educational improvement? 



"There should belong to the institution a farm of sufficient capacity to 

 embrace a variety of soil and surface, upon which all the operations of agri- 

 culture connected with tillage, the culture of all the useful grains, grapes, and 

 roots, the raising of stock, etc., could be conducted to the best advantage, and 

 where the operations of draining and the treatment of different soils could be 

 thoroughly exhibited ; in fact, a farm which, under the superintendence of 

 practical and scientific masters, should become a model for the farms of our 

 State. There should also be attached a botanical garden, to be under the 

 charge of the Professor of Botany of the University, in which should be cul- 

 tivated specimens of the trees, shrubs, and plants indigenous to our State, as 

 well as all plants and weeds, a knowledge of the properties and habits of which 

 is useful to the farmer." 



Further action of the Executive Committee of the State Agricultural 

 Society will appear subsequently. 



STATE CONSTITUTION OP 1830. 



la 1850 a convention was held to form a new constitution for the State. 

 The constitution framed by this convention was adopted. The members of the 

 convention could but feel the influence of the debate, and prevailing senti- 

 ment regarding agricultural education. The debates on the subject are 

 briefly epitomized in the report of the Superintendent of Public Instruction for 

 1852, pages 242, 246 to 253, 258. Section 9 of the constitution provided for 

 an Agricultural school, as follows: 



CONSTITUTIONAL PEOVISIONS. 



The Agricultural College of the State of Michigan was established in 

 obedience to a requisition of the Revised Constitution of the State, adopted 

 15th August, 1850, which requisition may be found in Art. 13 : 



