CHEMICAL. 41 



The objection that such a system of laboratory training as a prominent 

 feature in education involves a large amount of work for the teacher, has 

 little force in any live and wide-awake college. " Prophesy unto us smooth 

 things," is not the way to excellence, either in moral or in intellectual 

 growth. 



For the ancient Greek "I have seen" was the equivalent of "I know." 

 In modern science "I have done " seems the necessary condition of full- 

 orbed knowledge, and hence the imperative demand for a wider field for 

 laboratory work. The large Chemical Laboratory with its abundant equip- 

 ment affords ample scope for this training. A number of post graduates 

 and teachers in the State have availed themselves of these opportunities. 



OUTSIDE WORK. 



Many subjects of inquiry come to the Chemical Laboratory for investiga- 

 tion and determination. The commissioner of railroads desired a test made of 

 the quality of oil used in passenger cars in this State, because the ordinary 

 testing apparatus of oil inspectors is of too limited range of temperature. 

 A committee of the Legislature wanted information in regard to the com- 

 position and testing of cider vinegar; another committee, information in 

 regard to what should be the legal standard for whole milk and for skimmed 

 milk, etc. 



Many letters have been received asking for information about marl and 

 its uses, the marl beds of the State, etc. Numerous letters about the 

 management of muck beds and reclaimed swamps, the manures to be used, 

 the kind of crops to cultivate, etc. Others desire information about the 

 value of certain grasses and forage crops for stock feeding, the relative value 

 of certain mill products and waste grains. 



These inquiries always require much time and investigation, and often a 

 large amount of analytical work, but the results are so important to the 

 parties inquiring that the work is cheerfully done. The College is thus a 

 help to individuals as well as communities. 



farmers' institute. 



I attended the farmers' institute at Grayling and presented a paper on the 

 results reached at the Experimental Farm on the jack pine lands. This is 

 a subject of deep interest to all our northern counties, and is watched by all 

 in the vicinity. The subject will be more extensively considered in the 

 report of the Experiment Station. 



SOCIETY FOR PROMOTION OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE. 



This society held its annual meeting for 1888 in Cleveland. I attended 

 the meeting and gave the address, as president of the society; also a paper 

 on the Relations of Tile Draining to Flood and Drought, which has been 

 copied into a number of agricultural papers. 



