SEMI-CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION 323 



McGILL UNIVERSITY 



Dear Sir: I have been requested by the University of Cam- 

 bridge to act as its representative at the Semi-Centennial Cele- 

 bration of the Michigan Agricultural College and had fully 

 intended to be present. My work, however, owing to the 

 destruction of our buildings by fire, has been much increased, so 

 that I fear I shall thus be unable to convey personally a message 

 from the university which I have the honor to represent. 



As the letter from the vice-chancellor will have made known 

 to you, the University of Cambridge desires to present its con- 

 gratulations and earnest wishes for the continued prosperity of 

 your institution, which is now celebrating the conclusion of so 

 long a period of usefulness. 



The importance of the scientific study of agriculture is 

 being constantly more widely recognized. The University of 

 Cambridge has not been slow to take up this matter, and a 

 Department of Agriculture has been in existence there for some 

 years. The work of this department and the importance of 

 the subject have been referred to by His Majesty King Edward 

 in the following words, which I may be allowed to quote : 



I am very glad to know of the educational work in connection with the 

 great industry of agriculture which you have undertaken. In common 

 with most branches of industry, agriculture has in modern times come to 

 depend for its success and extension upon the unremitting application to it 

 of the results of scientific investigation. No greater service can be rendered 

 to this ancient industry than to furnish it with the means of research and 

 instruction, which are essential in order that labor may be directed in 

 profitable channels. 



With my personal congratulations, and again regretting my 

 inability to be present, I remain, 



Yours very truly, 



Henry T. Bovey 



Montreal 

 May 20, 1907 



