28 STATE BOABD OF AGRICULTURE. 



JUNE MEETING OF THE BOARD. 



The Executive Committee and officers of the State Agricultural Societ}'-, the 

 State Horticultural Society, and the State Grange were the guests of the Board 

 of Agriculture at the College, June 13. The forenoon was spent in an exami- 

 nation of the condition of the college. There was a pleasant gathering includ- 

 ing students and the families at the college, as well as the visitors, the faculty 

 and the Board in the general lecture room in the afternoon, and addresses 

 were made by the Hon. Philo Parsons, President of the Agricultural Society, 

 the Hon. Witter J. Baxter, one of the early members of the College Board, and 

 others. 



^ Two of these societies appoint committees in the College who inform them- 

 selves by personal examination of the doings of the Board and Faculty, and 

 whq give us the benefit of their suggestions. These committees have made 

 formal reports which appear in their printed transactions. 



President Fralick of the State Agricultural Society, in his annual address in 

 1S83, says: "For the last four years by the invitation of the State Board of 

 Agriculture and officers of the Agricultural College, this committee have 

 enjoyed the pleasure of visiting and examining the college, its school and lec- 

 ture rooms, classes and manner of teaching their pupils, its farm and farm 

 buildings, and valuable improved stock, and the manner of cultivating their 

 land." 



The State Horticultural Society, without appointing a Standing Committee 

 on tjie college, has always been closely united to the college in interest and in 

 the persons of its officers. 



In the inaugural address of the present President of the Society, delivered 

 January 14, ISSi, the Hon. Philo Parsons says: 



"It appears desirable that your periodical visits to the Agricultural College should 

 be continued. Tliis institution was au outcome of your Society and mainly tlirough 

 its influence was secured to tlie farmers of Michigan. Its history from tlie date of 

 its origin to the present moment shows tiiat no mistalvC \vas made wlien the Legis- 

 lature appropriated the required funds for its existence. It is to our credit as a State, 

 also, that it was in the thoughts and hearts of the people, and a fixed fact, before 

 the national government made appropriations that secured such institutions for all 

 the States. Uur own Agricultural College stands pre-eminently first, and its practi- 

 cal teachings and beneficent influence are effecting a radical improvement in the 

 intellectual character, daily lives and tastes of that great class of ourconmmnity 

 for whom it was specially established. The farmer's institutes held in difierent 

 sections of the State, though too few in niunber, have stimulated thought, created a 

 higher ambition and a more appreciative sense of the character and dignity of 

 agricultural life and occupation. But the near future is still more to vindicate the 

 wisdom of securing this institution for the farmer. The Influence of fifty per cent, 

 of tlie students graduated, returning with new tastes, matured thought, cultivated 

 intellects, men of wisdom and practical judgment, to the farm, cannot be over- 

 estimated. It will ^e the leaven which is to lift the farmers of Michigan upon a 

 higher plane, and furnish men who are to properlj' represent their interests in legis- 

 lative and congressional halls, as also to secure a more intelligent and economical 

 cultivation of the soil. But there is yet an incompleteness in this institution. The 

 mechanical department is still wanting. A liberal appropriation, securing this, will 

 greatl}^ augment its power for good to a much larger and diflerent class of students, 

 I submit whether some action on your part may not hasten a movement of the 

 Legislature in this behalf." 



The Committee of the Society, appointed in the College, made the following 

 report : 

 To the Executive Committee of the Slate Agricultural Society. 



Your Committee appointed at the last winter meeting to visit the State Agricult- 

 ural College during the year and report to you at this meeting their views of the 



