LECTUKES AND ESSAYS BEAD AT INSTTTUTES. 375 



The students, indeed, had an easier time than those who administered the 

 affairs of the college. 



The $56,320 appropriated from sales of Salt Spring lands, given in 1855, 

 and the 840,000 appropriated in 1857, were entirely spent before the opening of 

 this college year (1858). A monthly allowance of 8500 was borrowed, and by 

 the close of the year the college was 813,000 in debt. 



The difficulties of establishing a college in the forest, three and a half miles 

 from the nearest village, had been underrated. Prices had greatly advanced 

 since the undertaking had commenced; hard times, with frequent failures, 

 and general distress prevailed. The year 1858, too, had been a sickly one at 

 the college. The students were, however, loyal, and had laid a mile and a half 

 of tile drain, had put over a hundred acres into crops. The present apple 

 orchard was planted in 1858. 



1859. 



With the year 1859 the affairs of the college came largely under the man- 

 agement of the Hon. John M. Gregory, who had been elected to the superiu- 

 tendency of Public Instruction, an office which he filled with great ability for 

 six years. The Board of Education remained unchanged, the Hon. George 

 Willard being the president of it. 



March 7, 1859, President Williams resigned, before the opening of the 

 spring term, leaving an interregnum in the office, which continued for four 

 years. 



At the same time Mr. Holmes also resigned his place (although it was 

 resumed afterwards in 1860). E. F. Johnson, Esq., editor of the Michigan 

 Farmer, became superintendent of the farm for the year and secretary of the 

 faculty. Henry Goad by, M. D., entered on duty as professor of entomology 

 and physiology, occupying the house vacated by President Williams, and now, 

 1883, occupied by Secretary Baird. The preparations of Dr. Goad by were of 

 exceeding nicety (as for example the nervous system of a spider), and rare 

 beauty. He lectured during the year. He died some years ago at the house 

 of his daughter in Milwaukee. 



Mr. Cleveland Abbe, M. A., of the University of the city of New York, came 

 as instructor in civil engineering and drawing. Mr. Abbe is now the meteorolo- 

 gist of the signal service at Washington, and well known to readers of astro- 

 nomical and other scientific journals. 



Silas A. Lane was steward of the Boarding Hall. Towards the close of the 

 year visitors were appointed : P. Bills, of Tecumseh, and T. T. Lyon, of 

 Plymouth. 



NEW DEPARTURE, 1S60. 



There had been in 1859 a good deal of discussion as to what an Agricultural 

 College ought to be, and to teach. Hon. Jno. M. Gregory, ex officio Secretary 

 of the board, at last developed a plan to make the college more strictly a 

 technical school, like the medical school. The plan is given in detail in his 

 report, as Superintendent, for 1860, pages 41 to 59. It was to advise with the 

 board regarding these changes, that visitors, Mr. T. T. Lyon and Mr. P. Bills, 

 were appointed. 



The scheme embraced a course of one year preparatory study, and two years 

 professional study, in six departments 1. Theory and practice of agriculture ; 

 a. Agricultural chemistry; 3. Civil and rural engineering; 4. Botany and 

 vegetable physiology ; 5. Zoology and animal physiology ; 6. Horticulture ; and 

 7. Practical farming. 



