ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION. 233 



gent and self-respecting and you will bring about a new era in agricul- 

 ture which will redound to the good of the State and of the people. 



Some Inside History and Its Lessons, 



BY DR. T. J. BURRILL. 



Agricultural education and the direct application of science to the 

 affairs of practical agriculture have come up in our country through 

 great tribulations. A word now at the formal dedication of these magni- 

 ficent buildings, erected in the interests of agricultural arts and sciences, 

 and for the educational benefit of the people having to do with these de- 

 veloping departments of skill and learning — a word uttered here under 

 the stimulating conditions and with augury of marvelous things to come 

 — a word by way of contras<t upon the early struggles connected with 

 and inside of our own University, cannot be without its lessons upon 

 this occasion. It is quite impossible to enter here upon a history of agri- 

 culture in the University of Illinois, but attention may be solicited to a 

 few facts in that history. 



In the light of the discussions which led to the donation of lands'crip 

 by Congress and the founding of the institution by the state any one may 

 clearly read in thg') wording of the acts by which these measures were ac- 

 complished, the intent and purpose to make agriculture and the matters 

 inherently pertaining thereto the leading subjects of instruction and in- 

 vestigation in the new institutions. Mr. Morrill himself whether as 

 representative or senator rarely spoke of anything else. In all his con- 

 gressional speeches he but once emphasized the importance of mechanics 

 and the need of aid in mechanical pursuits. He did dwell at length upon 

 the necessity of special education for rural people and upon the crying 

 need of better methods in farm m anagement. So the land-grant colleges 

 were most frequently spoken of as agricultural colleges. In Illinois pre- 



