45G STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE 



We may not quite undei-staiul the spirit of i)i'Ogress that has crept in, 

 and the very pheasant experience we have had todaj' of beinj? served at 

 our alumni banquet by our social equals, brings us to realize that new 

 problems are being solved, and that in future we may expect complete 

 harmonv in the homes of all our graduates. 



To those who have not been reached by our College course direct, but 

 have only been brought into contact with the live, practical men who 

 have advanced the standard of improved agriculture into every agri- 

 cultural county of our State, through the Institute work, our College 

 has been doing a grand work in stimulating better methods, truer home 

 life, higher ideals. In future, I inuigine, this part of our College work 

 will hardly be less important along the lines of practical agriculture 

 than will the College course proper. 



I believe, however, that nothing can take the place of the training 

 on the farm and on the campus here, and we hope that with all reform 

 and all progress, that the importance of practical training of eye and 

 hand in the lines of a still more advanced practical agriculture will not 

 be lost sight of. 



INFLUENCE OF THE COLLEGE ON SCIENTIFIC AGRICULTUKE. 



PROF. W. C. LA.TTA, CLASS '77, PROF. OF AGRICDLTURE, PURDUE UNIVERSITY, IND. 



That the methods of agriculture are becoming yearly more scientitic 

 and rational is evident to all who have closely watched the progress of 

 this great industry in recent years. The rapidly extending mailing lists 

 of the Experiment Stations, the numerous letters of inquiry addressed to 

 station officers, the calls for scientitic experts to address Farmers' Insti- 

 tutes, Farmers' Clubs. Granges, etc., the spirit of investigation manifest 

 among the best farmers, and the increasingly scientitic character of 

 agricultural publications all show that the farmers are breaking away 

 from the old traditions and are earnestly seeking "a more excellent 

 way."' 



This change for the better is not an evolution from within, but the 

 result of a mighty force acting upon and uplifting agriculture to its true 

 estate. Leaven has been hid in the great lump of agricultural ignorance 

 and superstition. That leaven is agricultural education. It has opened 

 to the farmer the hitherto sealed book of nature's laws; given valid rea- 

 sons for successful farm practice; explained the causes of failure; and 

 put into the hands of the farmer a key to the solution of the many ])er- 

 l)lexing questions that confront him. 



The Michigan Agricultural College has been a prime factor in diffusing 

 and popularizing agricultural education; first, because it has been a 

 pioneer in this field of education; second, because of the scientific char- 

 acter of her instruction; third, because of the wholesome trend of her 

 course of study toward agiicultural pursuits. 



First to take up the work and foremost in rank, ^l. A. C. has not only 

 led the van, but has, in a large degree, set the pace in agricultural educa- 

 tion. Owing to her contributions of men to other institutions. M. S. ^\ 

 may properly be styled the Mother of Agricultural Colleges. Her grad- 



