ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION. 



237 



ments failed at the Michigan end of the line, and it was not until five years 

 subsequently that he finally resigned at Lansing to accept here the double 

 duty of professor of agriculture and of agricultural chemistry. The lat- 

 ter part of the title was added in g ood part because he was to draw two 

 salaries compared with those usu lly paid. This time he entered upon 

 service here with anticipations, a L least on the part of others, of great 

 accoimplishments. The perplexing, disiappointing, discouraging, and 

 disagreeing condition of things in connection with the department and its 

 work was to come to an end, and there was a justifiable basis for great 

 hope ot the future. 



No other action by the authorities could have been taken which seem- 

 ed s>o full of promise, so big in anticipated results, Alas! The trans- 

 planation did not succeed. Perh aps the roots were down too deep to per- 

 mit the severance; perhaps the new soil was ill-suited to development of 

 this second foothold. There was no lack in vigor, however. New growth 

 wasi apparent enough in many wavs, yet all ceased at the end of one year. 

 This latter was largely due to radical differences of opinion as to what 

 should constitute the curriculum of study in the University generally as 

 well as to what should be atteimpted in the agricultural department itself. 

 There was in a word too little knowledge and too much fanciful theoriz- 

 ing for any substantial unity of purpose or agreement in procedure. The 

 storm ended by the professor's withdrawal. 



When in 1870 or 1871 it came to be understood that Dr. Miles could not 

 accept his first engagement strenuous efforts were made to fill the place. 

 All this came to nothing. There was really no ont to appoint, with any 

 confidence in the outcome. Then it was said we must make a professor. 

 Fortunately instructors in the biological and physical sciences gained, 

 rapidly in the new state institution. Laboratories were equipped as 

 aever before in our land. Laboratory methods soon largely supplement- 

 ed or supplanted the lecture system of instruction in science. Students 

 began to deal with thingsi rather than with printed or spokem words. The 

 change in educational procedure amounted to almost a revolution due not 

 alone to the founding of the lana grant colleges, but carried forward' by 



