Book Description

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1855 edition. Excerpt: ... application for a State appropriation, not because we doubted the wisdom of such expenditures, nor because we did not feel the need of a much greater outlay, but because we thought we had better devote our energies to demonstrating that there is something to be taught before our overtasked people in Ohio would be willing to pay anything for the teaching. Yours truly, NORTON S. TOWNSHEND. By these documents you see that neither of these States have a State Agricultural College, under State patronage, if they have under any patronage. There is no such school in Massachusetts. It is true that in some of the colleges in different States there has been established a Professorship of lgrriculture. There is one such in Yale College. We can say then, and with pride and satisfaction we say it, that Michigan is the first of these United States to try the experiment of establishing a State Agricultural School and experimental and model farm, under government patronage. We hope and trust the experiment will prove an eminently successful one. It is true, the enterprise is one of vast importance, and by the people of the State, by the Legislature, and by yourselves it has been duly considered, and you have decided that in order to render the institution of the highest practical utility, it should be established upon its own basis, and entirely seperate from any other institution. But although you have arrived at this conclusion, it is right that you should examine the arguments of those who, after giving the subject some attention, "cannot believe" that in establishing an independent school "the best thing has been done." Hence I am pleased to have the opportunity of laying before you, as I have done, the written arguments and...