DEPARTMENT REPORTS. 91 



terms with some instruction on plant diseases; some work in entomol- 

 ogy, with training in the management of fruit orchards and some ex- 

 perience in agricultural chemistry. It seems to be definitely settled that 

 it is unsafe to make a break in the middle of a course or to offer ad- 

 vanced courses, following directly after preliminary courses. At the 

 same time it is clearly demonstrated that the six weeks' course is too 

 short, hence the recommendation of a course eight weeks in length as a 

 compromise, for the young men who can come for that short time only 

 but urging that arrangements be made for a course to last all winter 

 as outlined above. 



The State is now reaping a part of the benefits of the special courses 

 heretofore given. Certainlv more than half of the cheese makers now 

 doihg business in Michigan were instructed at this College and nearly 

 if not quite half of the butter makers. I am assured that the improve- 

 ment in the quality of the goods as to uniformity as well as high scor- 

 ing quality is very marked. The requirement that young men should 

 have had some experience in practical work before taking either course 

 last winter was justified by this fact. Not a few men who have taken one 

 course desire to come back for a. second term, besides no young man 

 could appreciate the advanced instruction given who had not met the 

 difiiculties occurring in actual factory work by experience at the vat 

 or churn. It is proposed to extend and improve the instruction next 

 year and in the courses to follow, assuming an acquaintance with the 

 ordinary daily routine of the factory and giving especial attention to 

 the factors upon which the perfect quality of the butter or cheese 

 depends, such as cleanliness, the production of pure milk, pasteuriza- 

 ,tion and the making and uses of starters and cultures. 



While the benefits to the State accruing from the short course in 

 live stock and general farming are not so conspicuous as are those 

 from the two courses just mentioned, they are even more cogent and 

 valuable. There are scattered through the length and breadth of the 

 State a large number of young farmers who are doing vastly better 

 work and who are succeeding financially because of their attendance 

 at the College for six weeks studying soils, crops and live stock. I am 

 glad to report that the class leaving us in the spring of 1904 contained 

 an unusual number of high school graduates and was exceptionally 

 high in intelligence and energy. 



Although the numbers in attendance upon the fruit course were not 

 large the work accomplished was very satisfactory. There seems to 

 be a reluctance on the part of young men living in the so called fruit 

 belt, to avail themselves of the advantages of this course. The pres- 

 ence of the insect and fungous diseases and the consequent necessity of 

 repeated spraying combined with the uncertainty of the season and the 

 keen competition is allowing the bulk of bright young men in that 

 favored region to drift to Chicago and other large cities, there to enter 

 upon a business that they know nothing about, but which gives them the 

 false promise of quicker financial returns and a less arduous life. There 

 is certain to be a reaction in this matter shor-ily and this special course 

 will aid in clarifying the vision and saving some of these young people 

 from the consequences of this delusion. 



In closing I cannot refrain from calling to your attention the excel- 

 lence of the instruction along all lines offered in these courses, nor would 



