90 MICHIGAN STATE AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE 



The College was young, poor, and small. No member of the 

 faculty had a chair to himself, but occupied a whole settee. For 

 example, the professor of botany also taught history, some Eng- 

 lish, algebra, and civil engineering. The students took break- 

 fast a little after six, and got out of chapel by seven, where the 

 president called the roll. Classes extended over a period of four 

 hours, all closing at time for dinner. In the afternoon for three 

 hours all students were engaged in manual labor. While the 

 classes were small and much rough work to be done, such as 

 ditching and chopping wood, it was possible to enforce the law 

 regarding manual labor, but as the College became older, the 

 students more numerous, and foremen insufficient, the manage- 

 ment of student labor was very burdensome and was perplexing 

 in the extreme. Student labor was paid for at a maximum of 

 seven and one-half cents an hour, and very little of it was in- 

 structive. 



The regular system of hours for all exercises was recognized 

 by horses as well as by students. For example, the department 

 of horticulture worked an old black stage horse called "Old 

 Prof.," which always started for the shed as soon as the after- 

 noon bell rang. He was very orderly, soon learning to back the 

 cart into a certain place under the shed. 



The rough lane in place of the present one extended south 

 across the river ending in a tamarack swamp known as "Num- 

 ber 12," and all beyond was in forest. No railroads crossed the 

 farm in those days. 



Fifty-nine students had graduated, of whom three had died. 

 The ten women students selected such studies as suited them 

 from the only course offered at the College, viz., the course in 

 agriculture. Even at that day, President Abbot urged that some 

 special provisions be made for a course suited to women, includ- 

 ing household economy. 



The college year consisted of two semesters, beginning late in 

 February and closing with commencement in November, thus 



