3u 911. a ©. 31 ecor A VOLUME I. LANSING, MICHIGAN, TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 1896. NUMBER 15. A P R IL W I LD FLOWERS AT M. A. C. C. P. W H E E L E R. T he weather during t he first t en days of this " singing m o n th " was unusually cool with severe frosts at night. Spring flowers remained in winter quarters till after t he rain storm with t h u n d er and lightning accompaniment on Friday night t he eleventh, when they b u r st into flower in rapid succession, eager for t he w a r m th and sunshine. Among t he earliest flowers to be found about t he col lege grounds and in fact t he one which generally leads t he procession is t he Skun's Cabbage (Symplacarpus foetidus). This mephetic plant is t he one black sheep in an otherwise useful and showy family, which boasts of t he Sweet Flag, Calla, Golden Club, J a ck in t he Pulpit among its members. A walk along t he river bank will show t he curious red and green hoods which protect t he flower, giving out an unsavory odor to a t t r a ct t he curi ous flies which feed on t he a b u n d a nt pollen and carry t he same to older flowers. tranuloides), The Speckled Alder (Alnus incana), now p u ts o ut its long, slender catkins to catch t he wind, followed soon, by t he American Aspen (Populus and t he Wild Hazle-nut (Oorylus Americanus). Soon t he white or Silver Maple (Acer Lasycorpum), along t he river banks, is covered with a multitude of small, dull red flowers, visited by swarms of busy bees, attracted by full cups of honey which a re spread o ut for t h em without price. T he bees pay for this a b u n d a nt spread whether they know it or not, by carrying t he nec essary pollen to imperfect flowers, t h us bringing about nature's method of improvement of t he individual by insuring cross-fertilization. property escaped taxation. Seven only ventured esti mates of t he amount. These varied from 50 to 90 per cent of t he whole. 4. How would you treat personal property with regard to taxation? Fifteen answered " Exactly t he same as real estate;" some would have it taxed upon its earning power. 5. It is frequently said t h at all property is undervalued by t he assessing officer. justifiable in your opinion? Ten, Is t h at statement only, answered t h at it is. Three of t he remainder answered " It is impossible to value it lower t h an its real value at t he present time." T he remaining t en t h o u g ht it valued at its real value. 6. Would t he full valuation of property for taxing purposes be desirable in your opinion? All b ut three answered affirmatively. 7. Are unjust discriminations as between one property holder and another in valuing property practiced to any extent within your knowledge? Only a small number, seven, knew of any instances of this sort. 8. O u g ht t he specific taxes on railroads, insurance companies, etc., in your belief be increased, or do they already bear their share of taxation. Ten made no answer to this question. Ten t h o u g ht they should pay more taxes. The following telegram was sent S a t u r d ay evening: Agricultural College, April 18, 18D6. A. J Cook, Claremont, California: Old college friends unite in deepest sympathy over your great sorrow. In twenty-five years residence at this College Mary Cook h ad won t he love of all and h er death is a personal grief. H er name is precious at t he College. Signed by all t he faculty and their wives. NEWS FROM GRADUATE3 AND S T U D E N T S. E d w a rd C. Varnum, with '79, is a druggist at Jones- ville, Mich. W. J. Goodenough, '95, m., h as resumed his position as d r a u g h t s m an to t he Detroit Dry Dock Co. Will W. Parker, '93, is assistant chemist on fertilizer work at t he Geneva, N. Y., experiment station. Leroy Wilcox, with '82 for over two years, was killed recently in a runaway accident at Irving Park, 111. C. P. Close, '95, is assisting Prof. Beach in horticul A summary of these criticisms shows t h at a majority tural work at t he Geneva, N. Y., experiment station. believe: Our taxing system is too narrow. T h at personal property escapes taxation. T h at corporations do not bear their share of State expense. T h at property. there is no uniformity in t he valuation of A summary of t he remedies suggested shows: T h at twelve would tax all property holders, eleven would extend taxation to others. T h at fifteen would treat personal property t he same as real estate. If we visit t he woods now, t he little white and purple T h at twenty would value all property at its full cash bulbosa), clusters of the shy harbinger of spring (Erigenia may be seen. More common is t he rose-purple of t he Spring Cress (Uardamine and t he whole range of tints in blue and pink and pure white may be (Hepatica found in t he is acutiloba). just opening its delicate pink bells, a thing of beauty forever. T he spring beauty (Claytonia Virginica{, t he Liver-leaf flowers of purpurea), The American elm (Ulenus Americana), and t he rock elm (N. racemosa), are covered with an abundance of unattractive flowers which are wind fertilized giving t he trees a soft, hazy brown color for a few days. The red maples (Acer rubrum), are o ut with most brilliant red to yellow flowers attractive to honey bees. The low grounds are full of pussy willows of one sort, t he glaucous willow (Salix discolor), and on light, sandy knolls may be found t he low prairie willow (S. Lumilis). Botanical Department, April 17. STATE TAXATION. P R O F. W. O. H E D R I C K. The past few years have been prolific of criticisms upon our State taxing systems not only in Michigan, b ut in neighboring states also. There are few northern states east of t he Mississippi river t h at have not had within this time one or more tax commissioners or statisticians delegated to examine their unsatisfactory systems. A few weeks ago t he writer desiring to get the opinion of t he farmers of Michigan upon our taxing system, sent o ut a list of questions thereupon to t he leading men in this industry in t he State. T he answers received were quite satisfactory, a nd it was t h o u g ht t h at a tabulation of them might be attractive to others inter ested in taxation. Up to t he time of this compilation only twenty-three answers h ad been received. Yet they agree so well upon t he leading conclusions and harmon ized so well with expressions of farmers' opinion as given in Grange reports or at farmers' institutes as to be t h o u g ht fairly representative. T he questions and answers are as follows: 1. Is t he taxing system in this State broad enough—that is, does our general property tax together with t he specific taxes get taxes from all who should pay them? T he answer, is n ot broad enough," was quite unanimous. 2. " It W h at classes of persons should pay taxes in your opinion? Twelve answered " all property holders should pay taxes." T he rest favored an extension of our system to incomes, inheritances and other taxes. 3. Do you think personal property escapes taxation under our present system, if so, to what extent? All agreed t h at personal value. T h at ten would secure more taxes from corporations. Department of History and Political Economy. A NOBLE WOMAN. At her home in Claremont, California, surrounded by her grief stricken family, Mrs. Mary Baldwin Cook, wife of Prof. A. J. Cook, '62, fell asleep Friday, April 17. A little over a year ago Mrs. Cook became affected with a slight throat trouble which seemed to be con fined to t he tonsils. By advice of one of t he best doc tors at Los Angeles, one of t he tonsils was removed. The operation afforded b ut temporary relief. An exam ination of some of t he tissue removed from t he t h r o at made by an expert pathologist determined t he presence of a cancerous growth. Coming east to consult h er brother, Dr. James Baldwin of Columbus, Mrs. Cook was advised to place herself under t r e a t m e nt by t he new anti-toxine method at t he New York Cancer Hos t he pital—opposite Central Park. T he treatment at hospital was commenced early last a u t u mn and contin ued for some weeks without apparently more t h an slightly retarding t he progress of t he disease. Becoming satisfied t h at t he treatment h ad accomplished all t h at was possible, late in October she returned to Claremont accompanied by h er son Bert. Day by day, hour by hour, watched and prayed for by her sorrow burdened family she has awaited t he coming of death. B ut with what fortitude none b ut her friends can know. Letters from her hand written not longer t h an two weeks ago contain not one word of complaint —nothing b ut expressions of pleasure t h at " they were all together," and " t h at t he days were so bright." Mrs. Cook's life at M. A. C. dates from t he summer of 1870 to t he fall of 1893. As a bride she established her home in t he two rooms in Williams Hall in t he second story over w h at is now t he Y. M. C. A. rooms, later t he little white house just east of t he orchard was occupied, and finally t he house on t he campus now t he home of Dr. Barrows. Here for nearly twenty successive years t he home of Prof, and Mrs. Cook was a place where any student was welcome to call and be cheered and brightened in his loneliness by t he light of t h at fireside. How many of our alumni and former students will, as they read these lines, t u rn back in recollection to some midsummer night party at Professor Cook's and re member t he cheery smile and greetings of Mrs Cook No " Storied urn, nor animated b u s t" is needed to commemorate such a life. S he lives in t he hearts of her friends. A. C. MacKinnon, with '96, m., is superintendent of shops for t he MacKinnon Mfg. Co., boiler makers and machinists, Bay City. Alva T. Stevens '93, Prof. Agriculture at Greenborough, N. C, h as sent north for two bicycles, with which he and his wife will seek recreation. Tom. L. Bradford, with '92, m., is ass't supt. of t he Ames Iron Works, Oswego, N. Y. He h as given up pole vaulting, as t he result of an injury. C. H. Alvord, '95, and O. J. Cornell, with '96, both of Hillsdale, were among those who applauded M. A. C.'s good plays in t he game with Hillsdale college. " T he most helpful kinds of reading " is an interesting essay written by A. M. Patriarche, '98, for t he " Lyceum Advocate," a monthly printed by t he Saginaw, E. S. high school. Myron S. Gregory, with '92, principal of t he Honor schools, Benzie county, is rejoicing at t he increasing strength of his eyesight. He hopes some day to finish t he course at M. A. C. T he St. Louis J o u r n al of Agriculture, for March 26, contains a very suggestive article on " F e e d i ng and Breeding Steers," from t he pen of Prof. F r ed B. Mum- ford, '90, of t he Missouri Agricultural College. Rev. F r a nk 'Barnett, with '77, pastor of t he Baptist church at Pontiac, visited the College Wednesday, accom panied by his son Howard. His congregation will dedi cate a new church costing $20,000 about J u ne 1. C. J. Strang, an all around newspaper man, formerly in t he employ of Robert Smith & Co., and recently win ning an enviable reputation as a job printer in Grand Ledge, brought his family here last S a t u r d ay and will now give his undivided attention to t he achievement of success for The Sentinel.—Sun Sentinel. field Daniel Strange of Oneida township, in a communica tion to t he Charlotte Leader, t h at he would be proud to represent t he Democrats at their national convention. Mr. Strange was t he candidate in this district in 1892 on t he Democratic ticket for Con Sen gress. He is educated and talented.—Sunfield tinel. acknowledges I have been following horticulture ever since I left my alma mater. I love t he choice of my vocation better t h an ever, and mean to make a success. We have 85 acress in fruit, viz.: almonds, lemons, and prunes for profit, and two acres of different varieties for family use. I hope to have t he pleasure to send, some day, one of mv sons to M. A. C. Lakeside, Cal. S A M 'L C. D O N D O R E, '91. ARBOR DAY E X E R C I S E S. Program of exercises for Arbor Day at Michigan S t a te Agricultural College, to be held in t he chapel at 1:30 p. m., Friday, May 1,1896: Hymn—" T r i b u te to Nature." Introduction Address by his Excellency Invocation. - . . P r e s i d e nt J. L. Snyder J o hn T. Rich, Governor of Michigan Music—" Blest Spring Time." " T he Early Forests of Michigan," Music—" The Brave Old O a k /' "Michigan Forests of Today," Music—" Woodman, Spare t h at Tree." " W h at now shall be done with our forests," Dr. R C KerMA x v e u z i e> ' . . M r. A. A. Crozier Music—" Swinging 'Neath t he Old Apple Tree." " Arbor Day on t he F a rm " Hymn—Whittier. Prof. L. R. Taft. Dr. W J Beal 2 THE M. A. C. RECORD. Aran.a, is*. 9fe 9i\. a. ©. ^cora. PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY THE MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE EDITED BY T HE FACULTY. ADDEESS ALL M A IL TO LOCK BOX 262 L A N S I N G, M I C H. S U B S C R I P T I O N, 50 C E N TS P ER Y E A R. Business Office with ROBERT SMITH & Co., State Printers and Binders, 406 Michigan Ave., East, Lansing, Mich. Entered as second class matter at Lansing, Mich. Every young m an o u g ht to rejoice when he finds him self so entirely in accord with his work as to become seemingly indispensable to t he place he fills. T he mem ory of this perfect adjustment in t he case of a teacher promoted, lingers in t he mind of both pupils and parents and makes t he lines of his successor fall in anything b ut pleasant places. W h en a member of t he faculty called at Lawton, Mich., on H. W. Lawson last Friday evening at t he close of his first week of service as principal of t he schools at t h at place, he found him gloomily realizing the full force of t he above remark. C. B. Smith, '94, h ad been his prede cessor and h ad done his work so well as to be fairly worshipped by t he pupils and idolized by t he parents. Lawson thinks the pace set him is almost too fast b ut he will risk Dawson. T he mantle could not have fallen on worthier shoulders and it is safe to prophesy t h at t he schools will keep on their upward t r e nd as long as Mr, Lawson can be induced to stay there. T he Board at its recent meeting transacted some very important business for t he college. Probably t h at which will stand for t he most is t he change of t he long vaca tion from the winter to t he summer months. Next year college will open about t he middle of September and close the middle of J u n e. Heretofore, unlike most other schools, t he work continued during t he summer in order, mainly, to give t he students an opportunity to study agriculture during the harvest season. This plan also teach made it possible for a n u m b er of students to school during the winter vacation and thereby gain t he means by which they could defray their expenses during t he remainder of t he year. A great many of t he friends of the school have urged from time to time t h at t he plan ordinarily pursued by colleges would be m u ch more satisfactory to the majority of those interested, hence t he change. Agriculture will now be studied to very good advantage during the spring and fall, and students who do not spend their vacation on a farm will be required to spend at least one long vacation at t he college. It is bdlieved t h at students, from t he practical standpoint, will lose nothing, while on t he other hand they will be benefited in many ways by t he change. It has been the custom to t u rn loose two hundred or more young men in November for a three months' vacation. L a st year 21 per cent of this number t a u g ht school; some of them did so out of actual necessity, b ut t he majority took up this work because their services were not needed on the farm during t h at season of the year. It is very evident to anyone who carefully investigates t he matter t h at even for those students who are earning their own way t h r o u gh college, t he new plan will be to their advantage. There are at present very few district schools t h at have three month terms. Every year t he n u m b er should, and will, grow less. Outside of this employment there is very little work to be had. On t he other hand, under t he new plan, mechanical students who desire work will find employment with our larger machinery firms in setting up and p u t t i ng their harvest machinery into operation; others will go on our lake boats, some as " greasers'" and some in other lines of work. Agricultural students will, it is believed, have little trouble in securing employment at good wages on farms and in the fruit district. B ut t he great majority of students are needed at home during t he summer months. Here they will labor and p ut into practice t he knowledge they have gained at t he college. They will keep up their interest in the farm, and when graduated they will be likely to settle down in t h at vocation for which they have made special preparation. It might be noted right here t h at t he students who teach school during the winter vacation very rarely make farmers. They usually follow teaching or t a k e up a pro It is all right in a way for a young man to fession. enter a profession, b ut it is t he object of this school to make farmers and mechanics and not professional men, T h e re h as been a demand, growing from year to year, for short courses of study. A great many young farm ers, farm hands, and farmers' boys can neither take t he time nor money to pursue a four years' college course, b ut many of them can and are anxious to take six or eight week courses during the winter. Some want to learn dairying, some stock feeding, others fruit culture This demand could be properly met or floriculture. these term and coordinating t he only by changing special courses with the regular college work. As intimated above, a number of special courses have been adopted by the Board and will be p ut into opera tion next winter. These are designed to meet t he needs thoroughly of a large class of farmers and will be practical. It might also be added t h at the four year's agricultural course of study has been thoroughly over hauled and made more practical. It will be impossible in t he future for a boy to take this course for even one year without receiving much information t h at he will use in everyday life upon t he farm. It is the intention of t he Board to make this college coeducational after this college year. The State Grange, many of t he alumni, and other friends of t he school have t he Board this move on t he part of been urging for years. Abbot hall, one of the finest buildings on t he grounds will be refitted and given over to the ladies, who will be under t he care of a careful and competent matron. The course of study has not yet been pub lished, b ut it is generally understood t h at there will be a full four year's course, with perhaps some short special courses in cookery and other domestic studies. The long course in a general way, will be t he same as t he agricultural course in mathematics, English and t he greater part of the science work. Optional courses will be offered in dairying, poultry raising, floriculture, etc. B ut instead of the technical agricultural studies there will be given a thorough course in domestic science. This will include cooking, sewing and such other useful subjects as every woman in charge of a home should > know. On t he other hand, t he artistic features of home making will not be neglected. Elective courses in music, painting and other branches of a like nature will be provided for. It is t he purpose to offer to the ladies ad vantages equivalent to those now offered to young men, and to afford to t he young women of our S t a te Dot only the opportunity to acquire scholarship and culture b ut to prepare in a scientific, accurate and intelligent manner for taking charge of t h at institution ordained of God, and upon which t he happiness and prosperity of any people so largely depends—the home. AT T HE COLLEGE. Mr. and Mrs. K. L. Butterfield have new bicycles. The cupola stack at the foundry has been lined with fire brick Born, Monday, April 13, to Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Witt- stock, a boy. Mr. A. A. Crozier received a visit from his father, of Ann Arbor, last week. including t he planting of shade trees and fixing up t he lawns. Ice cream and cake were served, followed by toasts—one from t he president, Mrs. Chamberlain, which was responded to by Prof. Babcock. The game of ball with Albion last S a t u r d ay resulted in a crushing defeat for M. A. C. Score: Albion 31; M. A. C. 5. The junior hop did part of it and a b ad attaok of t he rattles the rest. Mr. Purfile, instructor in the pattern shop at t he U. of M., visited our mechanical d e p a r t m e nt last Wednesday and was m u ch surprised at the excellence of our equip ment, admitting t h at in several respects we are ahead of t he University. Our dairy department keeps the most complete milk record of any institution in t he country. Tests of t he butter-fats and sohds-not-fats are every milking of every cow. This with records of feeding, temperature, and change of conditions makes a very complete record. taken from T he Horticultural department has sent out the 500 col lections of flower seeds for t he decoration of Michigan rural school yards. To each school were sent directions for preparing t he ground, planting the seeds, and caring for t he plants, and also a few words of instructions for Arbor Day planting. As a result of Prof. Smith's visit to Paw Paw, several experiments under t he supervision of t he Director will be carried on by farmers in t h at vicinity during t he coming season. H. O. Sheldon will experiment with corn; J a s on Woodman, with varieties of grasses, a nd A. H Smith with plants for green manuring. Two of our seniors are doing thesis work in t he dairy department. Mr. Buek's work is on t he comparative efficiency of different methods of creaming—centrifugal separator, cold deep setting, and shallow pan setting. Mr. Morse will trace odors in milk from feeding bagas, carrots, etc., and study methods for removing them. Mr. Sees' thesis is along an interesting line of work. "Census of t he Bird Population of our Grounds." He has a chart upon which he will indicate the location of each nest found. These nests and t he birds, he will watch closely so as to be able to estimate t he success of incubation, and t he varieties and t he n u m b er of birds in each variety t h at make this their nesting place. Several former students attended t he Junior party among them were: C. S. Goodwin, with '94, O. Gorenflo, with '97, TO., now attending U. of M.; J. P. Churchill, '95, m., Chicago; J. H. Kimball, with '95; R. C. Bristol, '93, and O. H. Reed, with '96, w., Lansing; F. M. Paine. '89, Traverse City; F. N. Bierce, with '97, TO., Dayton, O.; W. C. Stewart, with '97, Flint; Miss Mary Green, with '98, Charlotte. At a meeting of the Senior class last Tuesday, t he fol O ur fat steers brought the highest price paid in De lowing officers were elected: troit markets this spring. One section of agricultural freshmen is taking work in t he dairy this last half-term. Hon. W. E. Boyden spoke to Prof. Mumford's class in agriculture on " Shorthorn history " last Wednesday. The ladies of the Feronian Society will entertain t he the Union Literary Society next Friday members of evening. The Hesperians recently finished laying a fine hard wood floor in their rooms, and celebrated t he occasion by having a hop. Mr. and Mrs. Bachtel, of Flint, visited Mr. and Mrs. Dean at the College, last week. Mrs. Bachtel is a sister of Mr. Dean's. The pine, spruce, arborvitae, and balsam trees have been planted along the west side of t he farm and in t he lot east of No. 7. In t he dairy, additions are being made to t he apparatus future for Pasteurization, and much more stress will in be given to this subject. Prof. G. W. Howell, Superintendent of Gladwin schools, called on Prof. Taft last Tuesday to discuss plans for decorating his school grounds. Under t he auspices of t he Republican Club, Gov. Rich will address the students on t he subject of Taxa tion next Friday evening, April 24. Everybody is cordially invited. Last Wednesday several members of t he faculty met at Prof. Holdsworth's and organized a Dante Club, with Prof. A. B. Noble president. T he club will first read Dante's "Inferno." Class Officers.—George Williams, President; F. N J a q u e s, vice president; J o hn W. Tracy, secretary; W. T. Barnum, treasurer; S. B. Young, marshal. Literary Officers.—C. A. Jewell, orator; L. P. Fimple, historian; R. B. Buek, prophet; L. D. Sees, poet; R. L. Clute, toastmaster. Last Wednesday Dr. Grange, assisted by t he Sanitary Commission, held a post mortem on t he grade cow, Hebe, one of t he animals t h at in t he recent tuberculin test showed strong evidence of having tuberculosis. Pearly deposits were found in the walls of the intestines, and the mesenteric glands and one posterior mediastinal gland was also affected. Later Dr. Grange found t he posterior pharyngial glands to be badly affected, all of which gives u n n r s t a k a b le evidence of tuberculosis. For purposes of experimentation three Guinea pigs were inoculated, one from t he pearly deposits of intestines, one with pus from t he mesenteric glands, and one with caseous matter from t he posterior mediastinal gland. PROCEEDINGS OF T HE STATE BOARD OF A G R I C U L T U R E. Proceedings of t he meeting held at the College, April 14-15. TUESDAY E V E N I N G, A P R I L, 14. from received All members present except t he Governor. A communication was faculty recommending the degree of Master of Science for L. C. Colburn, of the class of '88; also recommending the degree of Master of Agriculture, for Eugene Davenport, '78, each having presented an acceptable thesis. T he recommendation was adopted and the degrees were conferred. t he L a st Thursday evening the Terrace Club, alias "Ladies' Mutual Benefit Association," h ad a jubilee at t he resi dence of Mrs. Holdsworth, to celebrate their success in getting the Board to remove the woodshed back of t he terrace and to make other improvements in t he vicinity, A communication was received from t he experiment station council endorsing t he recommendation of Dr. Grange t h at t he cattle which have recently been sub jected to t he tuberculin test and pronounced diseased, should be kept for experimental work in t he line of A P R IL 21, 1896. THE M. A. C. RECORD. 3 investigation concerning tuberculosis as to methods of infection and possible remedies, and was referred to t he farm and experiment station committees. CORRESPONDENCE. URBANA, I I I ., M a r ch 31, 1896. WEDNESDAY, A P R IL 15. Editor M. A. C. Record: Same members present. T he report of special committee appointed by t he board which was presented at last meeting was t a k en from t he table. The question of changing the long It vacation from winter to summer was considered. was resolved t h at t he change be made, and t h at t he fall t e rm for 1896 begin Monday, September 14, and continue 14 weeks; t he winter term to begin J a n u a ry 4,1897 and continue 12 weeks. The spring term to begin April 5, t he school and continue 12 weeks and t h at thereafter year begin on Monday, of t he t h i rd week in September, t he length of terms and vacation to be as noted for t he year 1896 7. T he President presented a scheme of study and work for t he agricultural course which had been prepared with t he advice of a committee from t he faculty which after consideration was adopted. The President and faculty were authorized to make such minor changes in t he schedule as may be found necessary to properly conduct t he required study and work. It was resolved t h at a committee consisting of Pres. committee Snyder, Mr. Munroe, and appointed by the board be requested to consider t he arrangement of a ladies course and arrangements there to for in connection with t he funds at hand and report t he board at t he next meeting special t he The special committee in charge of t he publication of t he M. A. C. RECORD reported as follows: In accordance w i th instructions from t he board we have proceeded to make terms of cooperation between the faculty and t he s t u d e n ts for the publication of t he RECORD. The report was accepted and amended by making t he selection of t he editorial managers on the p a rt of the faculty subject to t he approval of t he board and was t h en adopted. The sum of $200 was appropriated for clerical work in t he connection with t he publication of t he RECORD for current year. The salary of Instructor Westcott was increased to $750 per annum. The joint committee on farm and experiment station t he cattle recently con reported, recommending t h at demned by the tuberculin test be t u r n ed over to the experiment station, to be isolated from t he College herd a nd retained for experimental work under t he direction of Dr. Grange, with t he assistance and cooperation of the agricultural department of t he experiment station, a nd t h at t he sum of $210 be appropriated from experi m e nt station funds, for t he purchase of material and equipment to begin the work. The report was accepted and adopted. The sum of $250 was added to t he apportionment for t he veterinary department for t he current six months to be used in the purchase of additional equipment for bacteriological work. The chairman of the committee on farmers' institutes was requested to canvass the faculty and ascertain what arrangement can be made for institute work by college men u n d er the newly adopted system of college terms and how m u ch of their time we can depend on for this purpose. institutes made a T he superintendent of report regarding t he I n s t i t u te work of t he year, which was referred to t he committee on institutes to take such action on t he recommendations contained therein as t he committee deems best. to T he president and secretary were authorized arrange for such distribution of electric lights as will supply t he library with light. A communication was received from t he ladies of Howard Terrace relating to t he sanitary condition of t he Terrace and adjacent building. The matter was refer red to t he president and secretary. T he building of closets for dormitories was left with t he president and secretary. The president, Prof. Vedder, and secretary were authorized to confer with t he manager of the street railway line relative to t he extension of t he line to a point nearer t he college buildings, and this committee was authorized to make t he street railway company the following proposition: If the line is extended along t he highway to t he township line near t he hospital build ing, t he board will erect a neat station, build a cement walk to connect with t he present system of walks, and purchase $200 worth of tickets. The field known as t he flat-iron north of t he road was placed in charge of Prof. Taft with directions to plant trees and shrubs under t he direction of t he committee on botany and horticulture. Adjourned to meet at call of t he president of t he board. I enclose subscription to t he M. A. C. Record. I ts establishment is one of t he best movements ever insti t u t ed at t he college. You m u st not imagine t h at because I am engaged in a neighboring state t h at I have any less interest in t he It is a noble old pioneer and welfare of t he old college. as such is laboring under t he disadvantage of upholding and teaching a subject at present not popular: indeed, it has never been popular. It stands, therefore, as an educator of public sentiment. There are a h u n d r ed men ready to do some u n u s u al thing, even indifferently well, to one t h at is able to do ordinary things unusually well. This is not because t he unusual thing is of a higher order, b ut because it is easier. Many of our young men have been leaving agriculture from a feeling t h at it is b ut an ordinary occupation, t h at it does not pay, or t h at a salaried position is better. Already, however, some of t he brightest are beginning to observe t h at a man may outlive his occupation; t h at a salaried position rarely builds up a business; and t h at ownership of land is a power in t he world. Accordingly, from unexpected sources any fair observer of current affairs can b ut note a real interest in the soil and I encountered a few days ago agents buying farm lands for a Chicago syndicate. its productions. These things mean something and seem to Bay to t he younsr man, " Get land, buy land, keep land, and do not sell it or squander it." If there be a golden day ahead, wherein t he soil shall be tilled by lovers of a rural life, t h en such institutions as t he M. A. C. will not have lived and labored in vain. May t he old fashioned " country gentleman " speedily r e t u rn to us, t h at future great men may find good homes in which to be born. Fraternally yours, E U G E NE DAVENPORT, Dean of College of University Agriculture, of Illinois. NOTES ON BASE BALL. T he first nine will not play ball on Memorial Day, T he team has chosen C. E. Hoyt umpire and J. T. Berry, scorer. Manager Herrmann wants another pitcher. If any man on the campus has a talent for throwing he Bhould report at once. Through the kindness of Dr. Beal and Secretary But- terfleld, t he team now has a dressing room near t he ball ground, in which are lockers where each member of the team can keep his base ball property in security. Those who have paid their base ball subscriptions will find receipts for t he same at t he secretary's office. Those who have not paid will please h a nd in t he amount of their subscriptions at the secretary's office and get their receipts. T he subscription list has not yet grown to such alarming proportions t h at additions will not be thankfully accepted. t he letter and spirit of Please remember students, faculty, and all, t h at our they need encouragement; players are young and t h at t he t h at we are supporting faculty's desire for a strictly amateur team of good standing in scholarship; t h at we are beginning all over again, building a foundation for a team t h at we hope to make worthy of your support next year and t he years to come; and, finally, t h at we are m u ch more in need of your hearty support and friendly criticism t h an of your adverse criticism. If you have criticisms to make go to t he manager or captain and not to the players. NEW YORK F A B M E R S' I N S T I T U T E S. K. L. BUTTERPIELD. On my r e t u rn from Wisconsin, I found in my mail a circular from Mr. Geo. A. Smith, Director of New York F a r m e r s' Institutes, giving dates of their meetings. By this I discovered t h at during t he week of March 23 there would be held a n u m b er of institutes in western New York. Being anxious to study t he New York sys tem, I again packed my grip and hied for Ira. I spent two days there, two more at Albion, and one at Penfield. These places are all on or near t he line of t he New York Central Railroad, Albion, being about t he center of t he apple growing district of t he state, and of a very intelli gent community. to observe t he workings of t he New York system. t h us h ad a fair opportunity I The appropriation for farmers' institutes in New York in any state. This largest is $15,000 per year, t he enables t he management to hold nearly three h u n d r ed two-day meetings during t he season. Besides this they summer in getting an send out lecturers on request during t he to granges, farmers' clubs, etc. There are no local insti t u te societies, b ut t he superintendent, or " director " as he is called in New York, gets into correspondence w i th institute, some local person interested whom they call t he " correspondent," and who makes all necessary local arrangements. T he programs are made out in t he office of t he director, a small advertisement on t he back of a four page program paying t he entire three to five state workers at expense. There are from each institute, each one therefore appearing b ut once or twice upon t he program with a set talk; as with us, where institutes overlap, some speakers will remain b ut a day in a place. Some member of t he state ^force pre sides at each session. Local speakers occasionally appear upon t he program, b ut not so frequently as I was told t h at t he people preferred to have formerly. fewer local speakers. their meetings is n ot very different from ours, except in one particular. The topic, when presented, is not likely to be discussed very freely, b ut at t he beginning of each session except t he first about an hour will be devoted to a question box, all t he questions being written and being asked on any topics. It is expected t h at most of t he questions will be on t he topics treated t he previous ses- ion, b ut this is by no means always done. The general conduct of I will note some of t he strong features of t he system t he first one being t he magnitude and extent of t he work. It is by far t he most extended of any system. it really does a vast T he appropriation is large and amount of work. Another good point about t he plan is, by reason of this magnitude partly, t h at it reaches into t he smaller and less progressive districts of the state. Another feature of t he New York work is t he high grade I presume t h at t he of t he men employed as workers. New York institutes have t he benefit of more strong farmer specialists t h an has any other state. They are, as a rule, not only practical and successful men, b ut they are able to talk intelligently about the scientific side of their business. T he experiment station workers at Geneva and Cornell and t he professors of Cornell university, are occasionally used, b ut not very frequently for lack of time on their part. t h at One feature of the New York meetings is t he compara If the meetings I attended are they were fair tively small attendance. a criterion, and I was informed samples, it would be safe to say t h at t he average attend ance at t he New York meetings is less t h an half of ours, when communities are compared. P e r h a ps t he strongest criticism to make, from t he standpoint of t he Michigan man at least, is t he lack of local help. There is no local organization of any sort, local people are not encouraged to appear on t he program, they do not very often ask questions except t h r o u gh the question box, so t h at the identity of individuals is lost and t he development t h at comes from taking an active p a rt is missing. In New York they do not feel t h at t h is is a weakness, b ut we should certainly consider it so. There is a misfortune in t he New York system lying in the fact t h at the insti t u te work is a p a rt of t he department of agriculture, t he head of t he governor, and himself appointing his subordinates; t h us the directorship becomes a political office. This is a misfortune certainly, not so m u ch because of t he failure true, b ut to get good men, because t h at because of t he frequent change, and t he fact t h at a man has not opportunity to develop certain lines of work during t he time he holds t he office. this d e p a r t m e nt being appointed by is not yet Comparing t he work in New York with t h at of other states, I can conscientiously give New York t he credit of having t he most extensive system of any, and as I said above, it probably has more strong specialists r i g ht from t he farm t h an any other state. B ut I do not t h i nk the meetings are nearly so well attended as in t he west; I do not t h i nk t h at they are quite BO well conducted as in Wisconsin, and I t h i nk t h at in a m a t t er of local help, New York is behind Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan. In t he m a t t er of local organization and in recognition of woman's work, Michigan is far in the lead. Supt. of Institutes. '97 E N T E R T A I N S. Everyone was assured of t he success of t he J u n i or hop by t he hustling spirit evinced by t he members of t he class in getting t he armory ready. " Is it going to rain Friday night? " has been t he chief question for t he past week. Happily it did not and '97's hop passed into College history as one of t he most successful ever held. W u r z b u r g 's orchestra of Grand Rapids, consisting of ten pieces furnished excellent music. President and Mrs. Snyder received t he participants at t he west entrance. Many of t he faculty and former students from abroad attended. All day Saturday t he J u n i o rs busied themselves in p u t t i ng t he armory into its everyday attire. 4 T HE M. A. C. R E C O R D. APRIL 21, 1896. OBTAIN AN M. A. C. CATALOG And note the instruction offered in the M E e H A / N i e AL eOCJ-RSE. The work is carried on in the following departments: Mechanical Engineering, Physics and Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Civil Engineering, Drawing, Chemistry, LITE-RATU-RE A/ND LA/NGUAGES. EXCELLENT SHOP AND LABORATORY EQUIPMENT. Moderate Admission Requirements. Low Expense. College Year Begins Sept. 14,1896. "THE SECRETARY." For Catalog address