The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1859-11-29

chemical analysis. IL should also embrace some
instruction in Geology, Mineralogy and Neteo-
rology. in the bearing of these sciences upon
agriculture.
. The Department of Botany and Vegetable
Physiology should embrace the study OF the
structure and habits of 10th weeds and useful
plants, cereals, grasses, fruit and forest trees,
and esculent roots; the laws OF vegetable growth
and culture, the various modes OF propagation
by seeds. budding, grating, &c; the produc-
ton and improvement of varieties; and the gen.
eral values of fruits and Of forest trees.
). The Department of Zoology and Animal
Physiolog. should embrace the study of compar
alive ana.omy; the varieties, habits and diseases
OF domestic animals with the values for draught,
fattening, &c; Zootechny, the breeding,
rearing, feeding, improving and training of AMI
mails a knowledge Of the noxous animals and
insects which infest fields or crops and a study
Of veterinary art.
l. The Department of Civil and Rural Engi-
neering should embrace surveying, plain and
topographic levelng construction of roads,
bridges, walls and drains; the mensuration of
solids, a. heaps OF stone or manure, stacks or
mows Of hay, bins Of grain, contents OF casks or
reservoirs, and of excavations and entertainments
the plotting and laying out of fields. orchards
and ornamental grounds; the mechanical powers
Z
draught or support aud the strength of materi-
ais. Ii should embrace, also, drawing. landscape
and architectural, drawing of farm implements,
animal forms, &c.
>. The Department of Agriculture should be
under the charge of the President OF the College
who will have the general management of both
the Farm and School. 1t should devolve upon
this Department TO exhibit the practical applica
ton of the principles and truths taught by the
other departments, in the blowing and prepare
ration OF soils, the use of manures, the planting
and sowing Of seed, the rotation, management
and gathering of crops; the care. feeding and
working OF stock; the management of the dairy
the poultry yards; the faitening pens and sta
bles; the apiary; the grapery; the garden; the
nursery; the orchard; and the general economy
of the entire estate.
| Ii should also embrace SD much of Politica
| Economy as may show the relations of agricul
ture 10 the other great departments of industry
with the general principles of the production
distribution, and exchange Of wealth, the rela
tons OF labor and capital, and also some kno~l
edge of the law of real estate, and the Law o
contracts. course OF lectures on practca
agriculture should be given by the professor il
the fields in the mode Of clinical medical lee
lures.
| To aid in this department there should b,
| employed foreman of the Farm, and "A foreman
of the Garden, who should have the care an,
supervision al the groups of laborers in thes,
departments. As tie farm is developed, {,
these might be added foreman of the Stable
| and Stock, and foreman of the Nurseries ant
Orchards.
These forsmen should be, if possible, chosen
| from the graduates OF the School who might no
only practically superintend and direct the labor
OF the field, but also render efficient aid IA mon
itors in drilling tho students on the lectures
given 10y the President and professors. On,
might also he employed to give instruction il
Book Keeping.
| SUPPLEMENTARY AND OPTIONAL cot RsEs.
Besides the preparatory aud regular agricuiu
| raj courses, described above, special classes il
| literature and general science might be organ
lied, OF those who wished 10 increase their gen
eral education while pursuing their professona
studies. A study of the mechanic arts. anc
manufactures, OF such classes at least as pertain
most TO agriculture, might also he allowed {,
some extent az it is in the European Agriculture
schools, and workshops provided. Ii is, how
ever, questionable how far the teaching force:
or the funds Of the Institution should be largel,
diverted from their main objects for these subor
| dinate and secondary purposes.
| With the organization, thus briefly outlined
there would be needed personal force of onl,
| seven men III the faculty, viz a President, -four
| Professors and two foremen or field tutors Tn,
four Professorships now filed might perhaps
| with some change of functions, be transformed
into the froiessOrships proposed. In the lack
| of graduates from whom To select men Of tole-
rablc competency might be readily found to ill
temporarily the posts of foremen. The studen,
who has filled with considerable ability the pos,
| al. Al
might prove eligible to that Of foreman Of tina,
department
The question demands the seriou. consideration
Of the Board, whether the office of Steward sho'd
not be abolished, and the Boarding House rented
10 some competent person, who would agree e
| supply board AT certain fixed ratce, and TO pur
| chase AT some equitable rate, such of the farm
produce as might be needed in his department
The adoption OF this plan OF organization might
result ia the departure of such students az ar.
now there for mere academical study. but il
would doubtless attract those who would be NOR.
| legitimate students Of AN Agricultural College an,
would make the Institution more fully realize III,
purpose OF its establishment, and the fondly cher
Ished hopes OF the agricultural public in our owl
and other States. Instead OF jOstlng in the rae,
with other academical or collegiate institutions
and under disadvantages, because deprived O
with tie mongrel mixture of professional will
disciplinary studies, which must ever condemn
To the rank Of q second rate school, il would ri=
To the dignity OF true school Of art. and reic,
peerless IN its sphere rs the fostering guide a
that grandest of all useful arts, the culture of Tn
alsupportlng soil. And how powerfully nigh
ali institution thus organized promote this crea
farming interest! Its graduates would 60 fort,
as torchbearersi in the path of agricultural reform
And how broadly would the light created by thi
zealOas and XcUsive study Of agricultural science
aided by the wisely conducted experiments of
great model farm, shine forth over the broa
farming interests of the State, making our fertil
acres bloom with more elegant as well as eco
nomical cultivation, and rich with the burden G
more abundant fruitaye,
IL ia easy To p edict, on the other hand. the
unless this or some other radical change occur
III the character OF the Institution, it must prov
sooner or later pitiful failure
II il 10 to remain a mere academic school "a
now Is, with the costly advantages of a Stat
farm attached, to furnish facilities for manu-,
labor, and which parents seek a. they sesk an
other high school as . place where thew ma
cheaply and conveniently educate their son. III
people of the State will repudiate it a. a useles
burden on the finances and a mere mockery G
their purposes and hopes, and some future legi.
lature will listen more tavorably than the last .
the proposition to sell it out at public auction.
Already secret, but half-expressed feeling c
painful disappointment, turks in the hearts Of i,
. l.. 4. 4