li» ANNUAL REPORT 



Prof. Porter was here invited to address the Society briefly 

 as to the work being conducted at the experiment station. 



REMARKS OF PROF. PORTER. 



Prof. Porter said he congratulated the Society on the number 

 present at this the summer meeting. It had been two years 

 since they were there last. An opportunity is now afforded to 

 see if any progress has been made. 



Hitherto the work has been preparatory — the foundation to 

 be laid, and our aim has been to lay these foundations so broad 

 and deep that they will not be torn down, but a superstructure 

 will be erected upon them that will be a credit to its founders, 

 a benefit to the world and an honor to the state which has 

 fostered it. 



During the past five years you have seen at your annual meet- 

 ings the gradual develoijment of this work. From a farm of 

 sand hills and peat bogs — without buildings, stock, implements, 

 or machinery — you see a farm of two hundred and fifty acres of 

 the finest land in Minnesota for our purposes, with a complete 

 set of farm buildings; models of their kind, with the best speci- 

 rpens of blooded stock in the state; yards and pens, with a full 

 supply of the most improved implements and machinery — with 

 fields in the highest state of cultivation; nurseries and orchards, 

 vineyards and gardens filled with every variety of tree, shrub, 

 flower and fruit which is of value to Minnesota; you see an 

 agricultural experiment station with its full equipment of labo- 

 ratories, library, office, instruments and scientific men, with its 

 work fully organized and in oj)eration. 



From time to time, for three years past, I have outlined to 

 you, my plans for a farmers' school — a school where a farmer 

 boy, coming directly from his home school, may find facilities 

 for acquiring a knowledge of such branches of study as will qual- 

 ify him for the successful prosecution of his calling as a farmer, 

 or a citizen, and at the same time keep up his association with 

 farm life — preparing him to go back to the farm, instead of going 

 away from it. I have been working persistently for the estab- 

 lishment of this school, and after convincing our authorities of 

 the feasibility of the plan, the next difficulty to be overcome was to 

 find funds to provide the necessary buildings and equipment. This 

 was accomplished last fall, and on the summit of the hill overlook- 

 ing Minneapolis, St. Paul, Hamline University and Macalester Col- 



