176 MICHIGAN STATE AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE 



war, was active and enthusiastic in promoting agriculture, as 

 evidenced by his being chosen by the State Agricultural Society 

 (whose officials were familiar with his interests in agriculture) 

 to deliver the address at its third annual fair, in 1857. In 1850 

 he addressed the Kalamazoo County Society, and others might 

 be mentioned. These addresses would be worthy of repetition 

 whenever or wherever agricultural interest or education was 

 being considered. In 181 7 when the first act to establish a 

 university was adopted by the governor and judges of the Terri- 

 tory of Michigan, providing for thirteen professorships, the pur- 

 pose of at least three of them and the provision for botanic 

 gardens and laboratories indicated the desire and intention to 

 provide for instruction in agriculture. 



The first constitution of the state was framed by a convention 

 in 1835 and provided, among other things, that "the legislature 

 shall encourage by all suitable means the promotion of intellec- 

 tual, scientific, and agricultural improvement." 



Stephen T. Mason, who practically acted as governor from 

 Cass's resignation, August 1, 183 1, until he was elected and 

 qualified as governor, January 1, 1838, had become thoroughly 

 imbued with a sense of the importance of agriculture to the 

 growth and development of the state ; so, in his first message in 

 January, 1838, he declared in substance that the real prosperity 

 of the state is most dependent upon the cultivation of the soil, 

 that whatever encouragement is secured for the agricultural 

 interest extends a benefit to other departments of industry. 

 Agriculture being a primary and most important branch of 

 state economy, it is the duty of the legislature not only to protect 

 its members from disproportionate burdens, but to facilitate to 

 them the advantages derived from the researches of science and 

 the discoveries and improvements of the age. With this object 

 in view he recommended the creation of a board or society, to 

 foster and encourage this great source of national prosperity 

 and independence, to gather desirable information, and at the 



