376 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTUEE. 



In November, 1859, the board met in Lansing, and after discussion, adopted 

 the now plan. The professors at once resigned their places, and their resigna- 

 tions were accepted. In December, 1859, the boarding hall — always a source 

 of trouble— was let out for the year 1860, to Mr. iSilas A. Lane, vyith an 

 engagement to give good board at 12.50 a week. The plan was not successful, 

 and in December, 1866, the boarding hall was put in charge of the faculty. 



February 1st the spring term opened. Lewis K. Fisk was professor of 

 chemistry, and by election of the faculty, president j^ro temjjore. Theophilus 

 C. Abbot was professor of civil and rural engineering, and treasurer, which 

 latter office he had held in 1858 and 1859. George Thurber, M. D., of New 

 York City, and now and for many years one of the principal editors of the 

 American Agriculturist, was professor of botany and vegetable physiology. 

 Mauley Miles, M. D., of Flint, State Zoologist, was professor of zoology and 

 animal physiology. John C. Holmes was superintendent of the horticultural 

 department. 



James Bay ley, ex-President of the State Agricultural Society, and said to 

 he one of the best farmers of Oakland county, was superintendent of the 

 farm. 



Some departures were permitted from the new course in the case of students 

 who were here in previous years under a more literary course of study, and Mr. 

 Eobert Hall Tripp, a graduate of the University the next year (1861), and 

 subsequently Professor of Latin in the University of Minnesota, was employed 

 as an instructor. 



There were, in 1860, 8 Juniors, 17 Sophomores, and 24 Freshmen and pre- 

 paratory students, — in all 49, representing 21 counties. This falling off in the 

 number of students has generally been attributed to the change in the plan. 

 The first term began February 29 and continued until August 7. The second 

 term began August 14 and closed with a Junior exhibition November 1. 



In the first term the studies might all be termed professional except the pure 

 mathematics. The scheme was : 7:45 A. M., Natural History, Preparatory 

 and Freshmen ; 8 :4o A. M., Juniors in Chemistry, Freshmen in Trigonometry; 

 9:45 A. M., Juniors in Mineralogy and Botany; 10:45 A. M., Juniors in 

 Geology, Freshmen in Botany; 3 P. M., Preparatory students in Physical 

 Geography ; 4 P. M., Preparatory class in Algebra. 



In the second term Whately's Khetoric and Logic were taught by Mr. Tripp. 

 March 26. Bell rung at night to call attention to a beautiful corona of the 

 northern lights. 



May 9. Abraham Lincoln nominated for the Presidency at Chicago. 

 Sept. 6. The college students in uniform paid a visit to Governor Wm. H. 

 Seward who was in Lansing. They were drawn in a car decorated with appro- 

 priate devices, clusters of rakes, hoes, axes, chains, etc. The address to Governor 

 Seward was replied to by the Governor most happily. 



The school year 1860 closed with a Junior exhibition November 1, which 

 was participated in by twelve students, ten of whom afterwards graduated. 



The college had 25 acres in wheat, 30 in corn, 15 in oats, 3 in potatoes, and 

 40 in hay. The stock was valued at SI, 401. The appropriation made to the 

 college for 1859-60 was t;37,500. With this sum the Board of Education paid 

 the large indebtedness of the previous two years, and at the close of the year 

 I860 the college was virtually free from debt. The buildings consisted of 

 the present (1883) college hall, a boarding hall since burned, the present 

 carpenter's shop, used as a barn, four dwellings for professors, and the herd- 

 man's house, then in the orchard. The public highway ran through the 



