Crawford avalanche., 1899-07-13

The Michigan State Agricultural
College is the oldest in the oeuntry. 1t
was established by an act Of the Mich
igan Legislature in 1855, and for thirty
years, like the Massachusetts College,
had only an agricultural course. In
1890, under a materially increased in
come. a mechanical course was added,
and later n woman's course. The laws
of the State prescribe that 1t shall be
a "high seminary of learning, in which
the graduate of the common school can
commence, pursue, and finish course
of study terminating in thorough theo-
retic and practical instruction In those
sciences and arts which bear directly
upon agriculture and kindred indus
trial pursuits"
The college land, comprising GIG
acres, is divided into the farm of $50
acres. devoted to field crops grown un-
der a system Of rotation, forty-five
acres of woodland pasture, la acres
of lawns, gardens and orchards, 240
acres of forest, and AZ acres of expert
mental fields and plats. The farm Is
equipped with cattle. sheep and swine
of the principal breeds. There are an
botanic garden containing 1,2OO species
Of native and foreign hardy herbaceous
plants. with some shrubs, grass gar
den Of 200 species of grasses and clov-
ers, and n weed garden of 100 species
of the most troublesome weeds. The
students in agriculture are required to
work two and one-half hours day on
the farm or garden. The annual aver
age expenses of students for board,
room rent, heat, light, books, laboratory
and other fees are estimated at $125.
These expenses are often reduced by
receipts for labor performed on the
farm or elsewhere about the college.
There are thirty or more professors and
assistants in the faculty, and In addi-
ton to the chairs provided by the Mas
sachusetts College there are professors
of mechanical engineering, domestic
economy, and household science.
Negroes Not Received.
The Mississippi Agricultural and Ma
cnanical College is conducted on the
same general plan. except that women
and negroes are not received as stu
dents. Out of total of 36S students
entered last year $40 elected to take
the agricultural course. BY farm labor
the students may reduce their expenses
there to 500 year.
over 800 students took the farming
course last year in the Kansas State
Agricultural College. in Manhattan
| The college farm comprises over 3OC
acres. and is well equipped with live
stock. The State has supplemented
| the United States grants by the cree
ton of n number of substantial build
| ings. which are valued at $35O,OOO
| Students of both sexes are admitted al
| IA years of age, after passing an ex
animation in reading, spelling, writing
] arithmetic, geography, English gram
mar and United States history. Con
nected with the course of study here
Is industrial training in several of the
! arts, to which each student Is required
to devote at least one hour a day
| throughout almost the entire course
Young men may have farming garden
ing, fruit growing. woodwork. iron
work. or printing. Young women may
take cooking. sewing, printing, fioricul
! ture, or music. Tuition Is free, anf
the annual expenses of the studen
range from 500 to $500. STUDENT
are paid at the rate of 10 cents an houl
for work.