24 



Hearth Club " sonnds ! For such is the Japanese 

 rendering of the "Alumni Association." 



But as has been hinted above, the possession of 

 property brought with it grave responsibility and 

 care. The piece of land, which was assigned to the 

 College in its earliest days with the model barn 

 upon it, including the stock, machines, etc., was 

 handed over to the Association on condition that the 

 same be kept as a model. Some money was like- 

 wise granted to aid in carrying on the work of im- 

 provement. Other lands lying in the neighborhood 

 of Sapporo were also given. The Association was 

 henceforth to hold and improve the estates, until the 

 College should become empowered to own property 

 on its own account, which provision is absolutely 

 necessary to place education without the bounds of 

 politics, and to assure science of its independence. 

 As long as an educational institution is identified 

 with political or any other interests, so long must it 

 be liable to constant disturbance and hindrance. A 

 change in the Cabinet may be followed by another 

 in the Governorship, and this in turn may bring 

 about undesirable changes in the faculty. 



Notwithstanding some disadvantages under which 

 the College had now to work, important changes 

 were made during this year (1891). The reforms in 

 the curriculum were a decided step in the differenti- 

 ation of the College. Several branches of general 

 knowledge were now relegated to the Preparatory 

 Department. The reforms were far from being 

 radical or complete ; the ideal would be reached, if 

 in the College proper only such knowledge as was 

 essentially and organically connected with Agricul- 



