402 
WISCOJ^SIN STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
which agriculture must long remain the leading pursuit, it cannot 
be such that knowledge of that pursuit as will enable him to better 
understand those engaged in it and to fully sympathize with them 
will not prove of great value. And so, while I wish to see many 
practical farmers graduate from this college, I shall not count it a 
misfortune if some turn aside into these or other lionest callings. 
While to teach what is known as the leading work of the college, 
it should also do what it can to increase our knowledge, and so it 
will be my endeavor to advance the care of agriculture by the care¬ 
ful trial of experiments in breeding and feeding, i-n plant culture, 
in treatment of the soil, and management and application of fertil¬ 
izers. 
The College of Agriculture of this University stands ready to 
give, to any who seeks it, such instruction as will help him in his 
work as a farmer. It cannot guarantee success to its students, but 
it can make success more probable. Its facilities are good, al¬ 
though far from perfect. Its teachers will do all they can for their 
pupils. It has many wants, but the greatest by far is that a greater 
number of the farmers of the state shall be able to appreciate the 
value of its instructions for themselves or their sons. 
While believing that the fullest preparation is advisable for the 
farmer as for those fitting for other callings, it is remembered that 
many cannot, and many more think they cannot, give the time 
necessary for this. To all such this college holds itself willing and 
anxious to be of assistance. Whether they can spend but one year 
or but one term, it will do what it can, although such will work 
under many disadvantages. 
The work is wide enough and important enough to satisfy any am¬ 
bition. It has its difficulties, but these are not insurmountable. 
It has been well said that the welfare of the state depends on the 
intelligence and prosperity of the farmer. Of no nation is this 
more true than of our own. To advance the intelligence of any 
class is to help them to higher prosperity, a better morality, and a 
purer religion. To aid in this work is the aim of this college of 
agriculture, and shall be my own aim and my own work in it. 
