128 Early Work in North America 



history and agriculture in your institution." An experimental 

 farm, maintained in connection with the University of Georgia, 

 Smith believed, would permit him an "opportunity for the study 

 of plant diseases and kindred topics of great interest." F. Lamson 

 Scribner interceded for him. " I wish to say," he wrote, " that 

 among the available men, I know of no one better qualified for 

 such a position. From a slight personal acquaintance I know him 

 to be a gentleman who will command the respect of his associates 

 and from his published papers I know him to be a man of high 

 scientific ability, eminently practical, and well able to impart his 

 knowledge to others. What he has done has been tuell done and 

 will reflect creditably upon any institution that may secure his 

 services." Other recommendations were sent from the editors of 

 The Saiiitary Neu>s, Professor of Agriculture Norton S. Towns- 

 hend of the Ohio State University, W. A. Henry, Dr. Cook, 

 Professor of Horticulture and Entomology J. Troop of Purdue 

 University, G. H. Failyer of Kansas Agricultural College, Dr. 

 Beal, M. W. Harrington, J. M. Coulter, C R. Barnes, and Lieu- 

 tenant John P. Finley of the United States Army Signal Corps. 

 Of course. Dr. Baker also recommended him. 



At thirty-one years of age, Smith graduated with honors and a 

 degree of Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of 

 Michigan on July 1, 1886. In the same class Fred George Novy of 

 Ann Arbor was graduated with a degree of Bachelor of Science 

 in Chemistry, and within two years he and Dr. Vaughan would 

 hasten to Berlin to take Koch's course in bacteriology and prepare 

 for the work of Michigan's new laboratory of practical hygiene.^"' 



Smith did not go to the University of Georgia nor did he apply 

 for a position with any other state university or experiment station. 

 His plan was to remain at the University of Michigan and secure 

 a degree of Doctor of Philosophy. He still purposed to teach and 

 do experimental research. 



In 1885 an agricultural experiment station had been organized 

 at Maine Agricultural College, Orono, under the direction of Dr. 

 William H. Jordan who later followed Dr. Sturtevant as director 

 of the New York station at Geneva and who before going to 



^-- A Doctor's Memories, op. cit., 146-153; A. C. McLaughlin, History of higher 

 education in Michigan, Circ. 4, Bull, of Education, 86-88, Washington, Gov't Print. 

 Office, 1891. 



