Miscellaneous. 379 



the bulk of his property to the one who would break a bundle of 

 twigs which he had bound together. They all tried it and failed. 

 Then the old man took the bundle apart and easily broke each twig 

 separately. It was a practical lesson he wished to give them as to 

 their power in the world united. It often seems to me that the 

 commission merchants need a dying father, some one to give them 

 such a practical lesson." — Fruit Trade Journal. 



THE IMPORTANCE OF AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION. 



(By Colonel John A. Wood.) 



(Editor's Note: The following address was delivered before 

 the students of the University a short time ago by Colonel Wood, 

 a memTDer of Visiting Committee appointed by Governor Folk. 

 Colonel Wood is one of the most progressive and highly respected 

 farmers of Howard county. His address was so full of interest to 

 the farmers of Missouri that we consider ourselves fortunate in 

 presenting it to our readers.) 

 Mr. President and Students of the University of Missouri : 



I feel at home in Columbia, living in a sister county. I have 

 looked forward with pleasant anticipation to the cordial reception 

 I knew I would receive here, but I must confess it has far trans- 

 cended my expectations. I had the honor and pleasure of dining 

 at Read Hall yesterday. I stated there it has never been my 

 pleasure to see so many healthy, fine looking young ladies together 

 in my life. Hon. Walter Williams said he would show me at chapel 

 service as many more, and I must confess it is true, and while you 

 can justly boast of good looking girls, you have the homeliest set of 

 boys I ever saw. 



You all doubtless know the object of our visit here. We are 

 not going over the State on a speech-making tour ; our mission is 

 a business one, involving grave responsibility on us and of great 

 importance to the State at large. We are expected to complete this 

 work by the time the Forty-Fourth General Assembly convenes, 

 and our time is necessarily limited. We are to visit all the educa- 

 tional, eleemosynary and penal institutions, look after their wants 

 and needs and condition, and see what disposition has been made 

 with the appropriation of the Legislature for the last biennial pe- 

 riod, so that we can make a correct report to the Legislature. 



We propose to be as liberal as possible commensurate with the 



