FARMERS* WEEK IN AGRICUI.TORAL COLLEGE. 45 



Europe, the only gentleman there is the land owner — ^he is the man who 

 dominates everything — politically, socially and financially. He is the 

 only man who possesses real wealth; and while agriculture — the ethics 

 of agriculture — our conceptions of the nobility of the calling have not 

 changed in the last two thousand years, as shown by President Jones, 

 yet the practice of agriculture has changed materially and is. yet chang- 

 ing, so that the man who was a successful farmer 25 or 30 years ago 

 (unless he has kept busy studying and thinking and progressing) is not 

 a successful farmer today; and while I am certain that the Missouri 

 farmer wears the shirt of a happy man, he at the same time wears the 

 shirt (at least this audience) of a successful corn grower and corn 

 breeder, and those of you who have been in this movement from its be- 

 ginning will appreciate, when you see that exhibit of corn in the other 

 room, what progress has been made in the last five years in this State. 

 Missouri really began this subject in earnest less than five years ago, 

 and she is now taking the place as a corn breeder that she has so long 

 held as a stock breeder. 



iMissouri herds have been famous the world over for many years. 

 Ever since Kentucky went out of the business, she handed over to the 

 Missouri farmer that distinguished position ; and now it is not to be 

 expected that Illinois will go out of the corn-breeding business, but 

 Illinois will have some good company, now that Missouri has started 

 in the business ; and you, gentlemen, who are breeding corn, must earn 

 for Missouri that same reputation that she has for many years held for 

 her live stock ; and you will be conferring as great a favor on the State 

 and improving agriculture just as much as the improved live-stock 

 breeder has in the past, and I congratulate you, gentlemen, on the ex- 

 hibit you are now making. I have seen all of the corn shows held in 

 this country for many years, and there is more improvement manifested 

 here in this exhibit than I have ever seen in that line in the same 

 length of time ; and I say I congratulate you ; and now I want to say 

 to you, gentlemen, I extend you a hearty welcome on behalf of the 

 Agricultural College. I want you to feel at home, to feel that this is 

 your institution and that you are absolutely urged, and if we can com- 

 pel you, we will force you to see this department of Agriculture, to 

 meet all of the teachers and the students, and worm out of them all the 

 information you can get ; and if you find anything here that does not 

 seem just right, then I want you to say so. I want you to feel that 

 this is your institution, that you are aiding in its development, and that 

 you are behind it, and when we have the farmers behind this institution 

 it is going to suceed ; if they are not interested, all the strength that 

 can be put into it from the University side cannot make it a success. 



