THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
SEPT. i9 
682 
THE MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL 
COLLEGE. 
A Student Talks of Education. 
It may seem strange to the casual ob¬ 
server that the principal vacation of the 
school year here should come during the 
winter rather than during the summer. 
Nevertheless there are two very plausible 
reasons why an agricultural college should 
adopt this plan. 
1. No argument is required to show that 
students of botany, horticulture, landscape 
gardening or agriculture will secure the 
largest benefits by pursuing their studies 
during that period when numerous object 
lessons are afforded by Nature. Now it is 
a well known fact that summer is the time 
when the various phenomena which these 
studies consider can be best observed. The 
wisdom of a summer session at an agricult¬ 
ural college, which offers instructions in 
the branches mentioned above, is therefore 
manifest. 
2. Many students find employment dur¬ 
ing the winter at teaching school, and by 
means of the compensation they receive are 
able to defray a considerable portion of 
their expenses while at college ; but for this 
fact not a few of the students in attend¬ 
ance at the Michigan Agricultural College 
would likely be deprived of the advantages 
of a higher education. Again, as a result 
of being employed as teachers, students 
are not only better off financially, but are 
also richer in experience. Many competent 
judges firmly believe that nothing so de¬ 
velops a young man or so well enables him 
to place a correct estimate upon his powers 
as experience at teaching school. Further¬ 
more, the students are not alone the gainers 
in this transaction. There is a reflex action, 
and as a result of this the public schools are 
greatly benefited by the employment of 
students who frequently possess not only 
special qualifications, but also a clever apt¬ 
ness for the work. A summer session and 
a vacation during winter at an agricult¬ 
ural college, therefore, not only enable 
the students to employ their time to the 
best advantage, but are also a source of 
profit to the public. 
It may not be out of place to state 
briefly the main cause that led to the 
founding of our agricultural colleges and 
to call attention to the fact that they are 
the only institutions whose graduates can 
be relied upon, with any degree of certainty, 
to follow farming as an occupation. Orig¬ 
inally the classical college was almost the 
only agency of higher education. But ex¬ 
perience proved that the direct advantages 
of this system were reaped almost exclu¬ 
sively by the learned professions. Other 
vocations saw that while they were bearing 
their share of the burdens they were not 
getting their part of the advantages. Pub¬ 
lic opinion came to consider it unjnst for 
any one interest to have a monopoly of ed¬ 
ucational advantages. Hence arose a de¬ 
mand for a system of education that would 
meet the wants of other interests as well as 
those of the professions. It was in response 
to this demand that the agricultural col¬ 
lege and the numerous technical schools 
have come into existence. Has the agricult¬ 
ural college justified the expectations of 
its founders ? Whether any system of ed¬ 
ucation is good or bad must, in the end, be 
determined by the finished product. This 
is the standard of measurement according 
to which every educational scheme must 
stand or fall. “ By their fruits ye shall 
know them.” The agricultural college will 
stand this test. It has stemmed the steady 
onward flow of intelligence from the farm 
to the professions. It has even turned the 
tide backwards so that to-day American 
farmers are beginning to share in the ad¬ 
vantages of higher education. No other 
class of institutions in the entire country 
are able to show so large a percentage of 
their graduates who return to the farm. 
This is the crowning glory of the Michigan 
Agricultural College. 
This result may be attributed to four 
causes : 1. The Michigan Agricultural Col¬ 
lege is“in hearty sympathy with the farm¬ 
ing interests. Its general influence does 
not tend to imbue the minds of students 
with the idea that farming is the most 
undesirable of occupations. On the con¬ 
trary, it seeks to impress the fact that farm¬ 
ing is the one occupation of all others that 
is most free from anxiety and that is best 
calculated to furnish the largest amount 
of true enjoyment. That is, in place of dis¬ 
couraging, it lends encouragement to any 
inclination which the student may have to 
return to the farm upon the completion 
of college duties. 2. The instruction in the 
department of applied agriculture imparts 
information^of practical importance upon 
the every-day management of a farm. 3. 
The various sciences in the other depart¬ 
ments are taught with special reference to 
actual farm practice. 4. Students are re¬ 
quired to devote a portion of each day to 
manual labor. By this means the student 
is prevented from acquiring a distaste for 
the physical exertion necessary to success 
upon the farm. 
Let us consider some of these advantages 
which a course of study at the Michigan 
Agricultural College offers : 1. It serves to 
some extent the same purpose that all 
study does. That is, it imparts information, 
trains the intellect, thus affording mental 
discipline which renders the mind supple, 
effective and strong, arouses a spirit of in¬ 
vestigation, broadens one’s views by de¬ 
stroying the narrowness of ignorance, be¬ 
sides securing the strength of character 
which the faithful performance of duty 
alone can impart. 2. We have seen that it 
is the only course of study that can at all 
be relied upon to induce educated men to 
select farming as a pursuit. 
Someone may ask, “Of what practical use 
will a course of study at the Michigan Ag¬ 
ricultural College be to me ?” In reply to 
this it may be said that “knowledge is 
power,” only as its possessor makes it so. 
Were it possible for an indolent person to 
acquire an education it would prove of no 
advantage to him. He who is thinking of 
acquiring an education, therefore, should 
not only understand that its acquirement 
means application, but also that increased 
effort is necessary to wield an education to 
any advantage. In order that this in¬ 
creased effort may be effective there must 
be a purpose at which to aim, an ambition 
to satisfy, and these must be supplemented 
by wisdom in action. It cannot be em¬ 
phasized too strongly that no amount of 
education can take the place of what is 
ordinarily termed common sense. In ad¬ 
dition, greater activity is not only neces¬ 
sary, but it is an obligation which every 
one who has enjoyed higher educational 
advantages owes to himself and others. 
The public always expects superior achieve¬ 
ments of those who have been the benefic¬ 
iaries of our colleges. An education, there¬ 
fore, to be of any advantage to its possessor 
not only means the performance of a larger 
amount of work, but it alto implies 
greater responsibility. Every one should 
be forewarned, however, not to expect too 
much from a course of study at college. 
He who relies upon a college course to 
make himself an educated man is certain 
to reap disappointment. That is, there is 
an important distinction between a college 
education and an educated man. The for¬ 
mer is not adequate to produce the latter. 
It may assist to this end but in itself is 
insufficient. An educated man is the re¬ 
sult of a lifetime’s persistent study and ex¬ 
perience. Let no one despair, however, 
who finds himself unable to drink in and 
assimilate all knowledge in a four years’ 
college course. He who after long-contin¬ 
ued study finds the realms of knowledge 
just opening to his vision is in a healthy 
intellectual condition. It is the college 
course which brings this state of mind 
that is most highly to be prized, and that 
course of study which causes those who 
pursue it to imagine they know everjthing 
is seriously defective and lacks the essen¬ 
tial element of an educating force. 
A very important point that every one 
should consider who thinks of attending 
college, is the question of expense. The 
wise man who contemplates any line of ac¬ 
tion always sits down first and counts the 
cost. In reply to the question of how much 
it would cost a year to attend college, it 
may be said that much depends upon the 
individual who attends. This statement 
requires no other proof than the fact that 
many students at the same institution 
spend three and often four times as much 
as others. The expense really necessary 
for all purposes, including clothing, for one 
year need not be more than $150. The fact 
that the expenses of many exceed this fig¬ 
ure does not show that it is insufficient, so 
long as there are those who find it ade¬ 
quate. If expenses exceed one’s income, 
there are but two ways to make ends meet; 
either the income must be increased or the 
expenses decreased. Most people, students 
included, find it more expedient to make 
use of the latter method, and Cicero wisely 
observed that “ economy is of itself a great 
revenue.” Students, however, are fre¬ 
quently able to increase their incomes while 
at college by their services for which com¬ 
pensation is rendered. 
Experience seems to indicate that as a 
rule an education is well worth the money 
outlay. The fact that many have attained 
commendable success without a liberal 
education does not prove that such an edu¬ 
cation would not have been beneficial. The 
wonder is, therefore, that more ambitious 
young people do not invest in that which 
is beyond the reach of fire and flood. What 
substantial reason is there why our agri¬ 
cultural colleges should not enroll double 
the number of students they do ? It would 
seem that there is an indifference existing 
upon the subject among the farmers them¬ 
selves, or that their attention has not been 
sufficiently called to the advantages which 
these institutions afford. The farm¬ 
ing community should come to under¬ 
stand that their interests will be more 
largely promoted by giving their children 
a liberal education than by any benefits 
they are likely to derive from the continu¬ 
ous discussion of the “ eternal tariff,” the 
question of flat money, or the Sub-Treasury 
scheme of the Farmers’ Alliance. This is 
all the more true since the superior intelli¬ 
gence that would thus be attained by the 
masses would do much to secure the per¬ 
manent settlement of these and other ques¬ 
tions upon a proper basis. 
In considering the benefits which the 
farming interests have derived from the ag¬ 
ricultural colleges due allowance must be 
made for the agricultural depression that 
has existed during the last eight years. 
Undoubtedly, this has tended irresistibly 
to induce the rising generation to secure 
such an education as would equip them 
for usefulness in some more lucrative pur¬ 
suit. This Influence was felt at the Mich¬ 
igan Agricultural College during last 
year. It was on this account that a ma¬ 
jority of the new students, for the first time 
in the history of the institution, selected 
the mechanical in preference to the agricult¬ 
ural course. When, therefore, farming 
shall have been restored to a paying basis 
we may confidently expect the agricultural 
colleges to enter upon an enlarged field of 
usefulness. In any event, it is certain that 
the Agricultural College of Michigan is an 
established fact. It has passed through the 
crucial period of its existence. It has sur¬ 
vived the combined attacks of all its foes 
and to-day it stands as a monumental suc¬ 
cess. Provided it heeds the lessons of ex¬ 
perience, its future usefulness is already 
assured and the hearty sympathy and ac¬ 
tive cooperation of the farmers of the State 
will largely increase its power for good. 
Lansing, Mich. Charles emerick. 
Poultry Yard. 
A “NEWBREED’’-THE ARGONAUTS. 
Mr. H. S. Babcock has issued an account 
of his new breed of poultry which sails 
under the above name. The following de¬ 
scription of it is taken from the Fanciers’ 
Journal: 
Mr. Babcock describes what an ideal gen¬ 
eral-purpose fowl should be like, which Is 
essentially an American ideal, embodying 
clean, yellow shanks and skin, gocd table 
and laying qualities, a pea comb and a 
hardy constitution. By adding the buff 
plumage he claims the goal is reached 
where the eye of the fancier and market 
poulterer is satisfied. In other words, he 
considers buff superior to white, and it 
takes considerable argument to prove the 
white less valuable than the buff. We are 
personalis very much in love with buff 
fowls, but still consider the white fowls of 
surpassing value as dressed poultry. 
To combine in a fowl features that make 
it a fancier’s fowl and a market fowl par 
excellence is a task well worthy of the 
“Argonauts.” The two don’t harmonize 
very well, and while the buff fowl may de¬ 
light the fancier by virtue of the difficulties 
in breeding th.e rich colored plumage, it 
will also deteriorate in the hands of the 
market poulterer. The latter does best 
with a plainly garbed fowl like the white 
general-purpose breeds. However, if the 
Argonaut will prove Itself adapted to gen¬ 
eral purposes so much better than the white 
breeds, we shall cheerfully acknowledge 
that the “ ideal fowl ” has been found. 
The Argonaut has a pea comb and clean, 
yellow shanks, although occasionally a 
chicken may appear with willowy shanks. 
The plumage is buff, with the exception 
of the main feathers on the wings and tail, 
which show more or less black. The shape 
(Continued on next page ) 
It gives us pleasure to refer to the advertisement of 
Dr W. R Tutt which appears in our columns. For 
over twenty five years Tutt’s Pills have been before 
the public, and each succeeding year their valuable 
properties become better appreciated. They now 
stand second to none for the relief of that much 
abused and overtaxed organ, the liver, and for the 
removal of that cause of so many ills, constipation. 
They are used in everv civilized < ountry, and carry 
with them voluminous testimonials or their safety 
and efficacy. Tutt’s Liver Pills should have » "'gee 
in every household. 
Worth Buying. 
The following books are selected from 
our extended list as the most desirable on 
the subjects of which they treat. Sent by 
mail post-paid on receipt of price. A com¬ 
plete list of books on rural subjects sent on 
request. _ 
Fruits, Etc. 
American Fruit Culturist. Thomas. $2.00 
A. B. C. of Strawberry Culture. 
Terry (140 p.; ill.) Paper.40 
Apple Culture, Field Notes on. 
Bailey (90 p. ; ill.).’..75 
Fruits and Fruit Trees of America. 
Downing (1,500 p.; ill.). 5.00 
Fruit Garden. Barry (500 p.; ill.).... 2.00 
Grape Culturist. Fuller (283 p.; ill.). 1.50 
How to Grow Strawberries. Knapp. .25 
Peach Culture. Rutter. Paper, 50 cts.; 
Pear Culture for Profit. Quinn. 1.00 
Propagation, Art of. Jenkins.30 
Small Fruits, Success with. Roe. 1.50 
Small Fruit Culturist. Fuller 1.50 
Vegetables, Etc. 
Celery Manual. $0.25 
Cabbages. Gregory (25 p.).30 
Carrots and Mangold-Wurtzels. .30 
Gardening for Profit. Henderson— 2.00 
Gardening, Success in Market. Raw- 
son (p. 210.; ill.). 1.00 
Garden—How to make it Pay. 
Greiner 1260 p.: ill.). 2.00 
How Crops Feed. Johnson (400 p.: ill.) 2.00 
How Crops Grow. Johnson (375 p ).. 2.00 
Mushroom Culture for Amateurs. 
May (Eng.; 50 p.; ill.) paper.50 
My Handkerchief Garden.25 
Onion Raising. Gregory.30 
The New Onion Culture. Greiner... .50 
The New Potato Culture. Carman. 
Paper, 40 cents; cloth.75 
Truck Farming at the South. Oemler. 1.50 
Floriculture. 
Azalea Culture. Halliday (110 p.; ill.) 
Special price. $1.00 
Bulbs. Rand (350 p. ; ill.). 2.50 
Cactaceous Plants. Castle.50 
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Gardening for Pleasure. Henderson 
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Hand-Book of Plants. Henderson 
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Home Florist, The. Long. 1.5') 
Orchids: Structure, History &Culture .60 
Practical Floriculture. Henderson . 1 50 
Rose, The. Ellwanger (290 p.). 1.25 
Tuberous Begonias. 20 
Window Gardening.1 
General Agriculture. 
Agriculture. Storer (2 vols.). $5.00 
A. B. C. of Bee Culture. A. I. Root.. 1.25 
Ensilage and Silos. Colcord. 1.00 
The Silo and SUage. A. J. Cook.25 
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Manures, Book on. Harris (350 p.)... 1.75 
Culture of Farm Crops. Stewart- 1.50 
Live Stock, Poultry, Etc. 
Feeding Animals. Stewart. $2.00 
Milch Cows and Dairy Farming. Flint. 2.00 
Dairyman’s Manual. Stewart. 2.00 
Practical Poultry Keeper. Wright.. 2.00 
Poultry Culture. I. K. Felch. 1.50 
Harris on the Pig. Joseph Harris— 1.50 
Veterinary Adviser. James Law- 3.00 
Miscellaneous. 
Annals of Horticulture. Bailey. 
Paper, 60 cts.; cloth. $1.00 
Botany, Lessons in. Gray (226 p.; ill.). 1.50 
Botany, Manual of. Gray (800 p.; 
plates.). 2.50 
California Views (in color). Nutting.. .50 
Forestry, Practical. Fuller (280 p.; ill.) 1.50 
Fruit Pastes, Syrups and Preserves.. .25 
Fertilizers. J. J. H. Gregory.40 
Home Acre. Roe (252 p.). 1.50 
Horticulturists’Rule Book. Bailey.. 1.00 
How Plants Grow. Gray (216 p.; ill.). 1.00 
Grasses: How to Know Them by their 
Leaves. 1.00 
Insects Injurious to Plants. Saunders 
(425 p. ; ill.) . 2.00 
Insects, Injurious. Treat (270 p.; ill.). 2.00 
Landscape Gardening. Parsons. 3.50 
Nature’s Serial Story. Roe. 2.50 
Ornamental Gardening. Long. 2.00 
Preparing Vegetables for the Table . .50 
Rural Essays. Downing. 8.00 
Talks Afield. Bailey. 1.00 
The Garden’s Story. Ellwanger. 1.25 
The New Botany. Beal.25 
The Nursery Book. Bailey . 1.00 
Timbers and How to Know Them_ 1.00 
Woods of the United States. Sargent. 1.00 
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