,can catch of a clear day the summit of the Optate- 

 shike Range glimmering far away in the east. The 

 atmosphere of this portion of Japan is clearer and 

 drier than that of the main islands ; the climate is 

 bracing and salubrious. Mother Nature here is well 

 calculated to nurture youthful souls, and to endue 

 them with the love of study and the love of work. 

 Removed to the new surroundings, the school (let 

 it be noted here in passing that the girl's school is 

 ow out of our consideration) did not remain long 

 an institution of a secondary grade, as the sequel 

 of our narrative will show. 



When General Kuroda visited America, he was 

 given authority by the Imperial Government to ne- 

 gotiate with the Government of the United States 

 for the services of any one, whom he might choose 

 <as counsellor in his work. The choice fell upon 

 General Capron, the Commissioner of Agriculture 

 at Washington. Satisfactory arrangements being 

 made, Horace Capron, with the title of Commis- 

 sioner and Adviser to the Colonial Office, followed 

 General Kuroda to the Hokkaido. It was through 

 his instrumentality that so many American crops, 

 animals, machines, etc., were introduced into, and are 

 still used in, the Island. What nearly concerns us 

 at present in his career, is the fact, that under date 

 of January 2, 1872, in what he calls a preliminary 

 .^report, drafted soon after his arrival, he suggests 

 the establishment of an agricultural college in Sap- 

 poro. He says; "It should be the endeavor of 

 this Government to establish by e very possible ef- 

 fort, scientific, systematic and practical agriculture. 

 In no way can this be done more effectively or eco- 



