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VOLUME  I. 

LANSING,  MICHIGAN,  TUESDAY,  FEBRUARY  18,  1896. 

NUMBER  6. 

DR. JONATHAN LE MOTNE SNYDER, 

President  of  the  Michigan  Agricultural  College. 

A practical  farmer  and  one of  Pennsylvania's  leading 

educators. 

Elected President  of  the M. A. C. by the  State  Board 
of  Agriculture  at  its meeting in Grand Rapids, February 
#* 
11,1896. 
Jonathan  Le  Moyne Snyder was born  Oct. 29, 1859, on 
a  farm  in  Butler  county, "Western  Pennsylvania.  Until 
nearly  19 years of  age  he  worked  on  the  farm  and  at 
tended  the  country  school.  After  three  years  spent  in 
the preparatory  department  of  Grove  City  College  and 
in  teaching  country  schools  he  entered  the  freshman 
class of  Westminster  College, graduating  in  the class  of 
'86.  During  his  junior  year  he  won  the  inter-society 
contest  debate  which is considered  the  highest  literary 
honor  attainable  at  this  College. 

After  graduation  he  was principal  of  a  village  school 
for  one year,  when  he was elected  superintendent  of  the 
schools of  his  native  county.  This  placed  him  in  direct 
command  of  an  army  of  over  300  teachers  and  15,000 
pupils.  His first  act  of  note in  this office  was the  intro 
duction  into  the  country  schools of  a  graded  course  of 
etudy.  This  proved  to be of so much  merit  that  it  has 
been  followed  by a majority  of  the counties of  his  state. 
The  next  move was  to  improve  the  teaching  force,  and 
mainly  to accomplish  this  end he with others established 
in his native  village  the  Slippery  Rock  State  Normal 
School.  This  school  has  been  very  successful,  and  has 
now an  enrollment  of over 500 students. 

Before  completing  the  term  of  three  years  for  which 
he had  been  elected  he was called to take  charge  of  the 
fifth  ward  school of  Allegheny  City.  This  is  the  larg. 
est  school, with  perhaps  one exception,  in  Pennsylvania, 
and  one of  the  very largest  in the  country.  It  has  over 
30 teachers and 1,500  pupils.  He has been  successful  in 
having  added  to  this  school  the  kindergarten,  and  an 
industrial department  which includes  sewing  and  cook 
ery for  the girls, and  the  different  lines of  manual  train 
ing for  the  boys.  This  department  was  brought  into 
existence  as the  result  of  his  firm  belief  in  the  educa 
tional  value of manual  labor. 
It  is said to be  the  finest 
and  best  equipped  industrial  department  in  connection 
with  any grammar  school in  the United  States. 

He did  not  cease his  studies  when  he  became  a gradu 
ate but  diligently  pursued  a  post-graduate  course  in 
psychology  and  philosophy.  On  the  completion  of 
this  course in  1891 the  degree  of  doctor  of  philosophy 
was conferred  upon  him  by  his  alma  mater.  He  has 
in  the  educational  affairs  of 
taken  an  active  part 
Pennsylvania  and 
is  frequently  on  the  program  of 
the  state  meetings. 

The greater  part  of  his  life  has  been  spent  on  the 
farm  and  among  country  people.  He  owns  a  large 
farm  to  which  he  gives  his  personal  attention  two 
months  each  summer.  He  has  been  through 
all 
phases of  the  work  over  and over again, and understands 
thoroughly  the  conditions  and  needs of  those engaged in 
this  occupation.  He  has traveled extensively both in this 
country  and  abroad.  Dr. Snyder  is  married  and  has  a 
boy  three  years  of  age. 

Dr.  Snyder  will  assume  the  duties  of  his  office  on 
Thursday  of  this  week,  when he meets  with  the  Board 
at  the  College.  The report  of  the  special  faculty  com 
mittee  appointed  to investigate  the  needs of  the  College 
has been made a special order  of  business for  this  meet 
ing, and  it  seems highly  proper  that  our  new  president 
should  meet  with  the  Board  at  this  time  in  order  that 
he may  bring  his  influence  to  bear  upon  the  future 
policy of  the  College. 

RECOLLECTIONS  OF  THE  INSTITUTES. 

PHOF.  O.  D.  SMITH. 

One of the  most significant  features  of  the  institutes 
held  in  those  sections of  the State  where  some  special 
branch  of  agriculture  is being pursued,  was  the  enthu 
siasm  and  hopefulness  of  the  audience.  As an  instance 
it  is but necessary  to refer  to the  long institute  at  South 
Haven. 
It  is safe  to  estimate  that  fully  two-thirds  of 
the  audience on the  last  day were  directly  or  indirectly 
interested 
in  peach  growing,  and  when  Mr.  Morrill 
trimmed  a peach  tree  on the  stage  it  was  impossible  to 
repress the continued  comment  from  all  over  the  large 
hall.  Every move was  watched  with  the  closest  scru 

tiny, and  the  whole audience  was in  a ferment  of  excite 
ment. 

Many growers  present  would  not  have  trimmed  the 
tree  exactly  as  Mr. Morrill  did  and  they  were ready  to 
give their  reasons  for  this  difference  of  view.  This  in 
terchange  of  ideas  was most  helpful.  Throughout  the 
entire program  at  South  Haven  the  same  intensity  of 
interest  was  manifest.  No  listlessness,  no  crankiness. 
In  other  parts of  the  State  where  the  dairy  occupies the 
principal  place  in  the  agricultural  practice,  the  same 
hopeful  enthusiasm  was  patent. 

It was much  less so where  general  farming  was  prac 

ticed. 

It  is not  safe  to  argue, therefrom,  that  each  section of 
the  State ought  to adopt  some  special  line  of  farming, 
to the  exclusion  of a diversity  of crops, but  it does  argue 
in favor  of  laying  especial emphasis on the kind  of  farm 
ing  to  which  the  section  is  particularly  adapted  and, 
making  this  the  chief  consideration,  subordinating  the 
other  features  of  the  farm  work  to  it. 

Every  community  ought  to  do  some one  thing  better 
than  other  communities  not  so  favorably  situated  for 
that  particular  line of  work  can be expected  to do  it. 

So  every  farmer  should  be,  in  connection  with  his 
general  farm  work,  a  specialist  in  some  one  line. 
It 
is true  that  we  cannot  all  be  peach  growers  or  dairy 
men, but  the  world  is  wide  and  there  is  some  one  or 
more lines of products for which every  farmer  and  every 
farm  is peculiarly  well adapted.  The  problem  is to seek 
out  this line and  pursue it  with  zeal  and  enthusiasm. 

A second  suggestion  from  the  institutes  attended  this 
winter  was the evidence of  the  steady  decline  of  super 
stition  and  ignorance  in  farm  methods.  Wherever  a 
Grange  or  Farmers'  Club  was  alive  in  a  community, 
there  we found  men not  only  well acquainted  with  mod 
ern  ideas and  practices, but  men  and  women  capable  of 
clearly and  concisely stating  their  opinion  to  the  audi 
ence. 

All  honor,  then,  to  the  Grange  and 

the  Farmers' 
Club for  the  good  work  they  are  doing  in  suppressing 
superstitions  and  extending  both  knowledge  and  the 
ability  to use  it! 

A third  impression  came  from  the  intelligent  interest 
farmers  are  taking  in  the  economic  questions  of  the 
day.  While  politics  rightfully  have  no  place  in  insti 
tutes it  augurs  well for  the future  of  our  country  where 
every  man  is  king,  that 
the 
Country's  Pride,"  take  an  active  and  intelligent  inter 
est  in the  solution  of  the  perplexing  problems that  con 
front  the  government  today.  Let  us  welcome  these 
discussions  and keep them  above  tbe  plane  of  partisan 
ship. 
Farm  Department. 

the  "Bold  Yeomanry, 

THE PRETENTION OF PEACH YELLOWS. 

F R O F.  L.  R.  TAFT. 

This disease  has  proven  \ery  destructive  to the  orch 
ards of New  Jersey,  Delaware  and  Maryland,  and for  a 
time  seemed  likely  to  wipe  out  the  peach-growing  in 
dustry  in  Michignn. 

In  the  latter  state, the  growers  soon found  that  if  the 
trees were removed  as soon  as  the  first  trace  of  the  dis 
ease appeared,  its spread  would  be restricted.  This  is a 
drastic remedy, but  was so effective that  where from  ten 
to fifty per  cent  of  the  trees  in  an orchard were  attacked 
in  a year,  the number  was  reducsd  to  considerably  less 
than  one  per  cent.,  and  in  sections  where prompt  re 
moval  is  practiced,  the  disease  has  lost  its  terrors, al 
though  its  ravages  are  as  marked  as  ever  in  sections 
where this  is not  done. 

The  Department  of  Agriculture  at  Washington,  and 
the  experiment  stations  of  several  states, have  devoted 
considerable  attention  to this  disease, but  have  not  been 
able to ascertain  its exact  nature.  While  there  can  no 
longer  be any doubt  that  it  is  contagious, or that  it  can 
be conveyed  by budding from  diseased  trees, the  investi 
gations  resulted  in  little  that  was  of  value  to  peach 
growers,  except  as  they  disproved  many of  the  theories 
as to the  nature  of  the  disease, and  supposed  causes  and 
remedies.  They,  however,  brought  out  the  dangerous 
character  of  the  disease,  and  the  bulletins  were of  value 
in  pointing  out  the  appearance  of the  disease in  its  vari 
ous stages, and  the  efficacy  of  the  immediate  removal of 
diseased  trees in preventing  its  spread. 

During  the  last  three  years  many growers  have prac 

ticed  spraying  of  their  peach  trees  with  Bordeaux  mix 
ture, for the  prevention  of  the  curl-leaf  and  rot,  and  in 
addition  to the  benefits  secured  against  these  diseases, 
it  has been  observed  that  there  has  been  a  marked  de 
In 
crease in the number  of  treeB  attacked  by  yellows. 
orchards  where  in  previous  years  the  disease had  never 
failed  to appear, it has  not  shown  itself  for  two  seasons, 
although  in  the  surrounding  orchards  it  has  continued-
its  ravages. 

The  possibility  that  the  freedom  from  yellows  might 
be due to the  use of  Bordeaux  mixture,  was  suggested 
by several fruit  growers  near  Benton  Harbor  to  Roland 
Morrill.  President  of  the  State  Horticultural  society, 
who investigated  the matter and found  the facts  as given 
above.  Mr. Morrill spoke upon  "Peach Culture" at Farm 
ers'  Institutes  at  Fennville,  St.  Joseph  and  South 
Haven,  and  at  each  place  there  were  persons  present 
who reported  a similar  experience. 

While  it  is  not  established  that  the  disease  can  be 
prevented  by the  use  of  fungicides,  the  indications  cer 
tainly favor that  view, and  when  we consider  the  highly 
it 
contagious  nature  of  the  disease,  indicating  that 
spreads  by  means of  germs  of  some  kind,  it  seems pos 
sible  that,  if  the  trees  are  kept  covered  with  copper 
sulphate,  it  may  be kept  from  spreading. 

As a  rule  one  application  of  strong  copper  sulphate 
solution  (1 lb. to 25 gals, of  water)  was  made  before  the 
buds started,  and  Bordeaux  mixture  was  used  from  one 
to  three  times  after  the  blossoms  fell.  While  this  has 
been  found  profitable  against  the  curl-leaf  and  rot, if  it 
also  proves  to  be  a  preventive  of  yellows,  the  use of 
fungicides  by  peach  growers  will  be  greatly  increased, 
and  it  will save  thousands  of  dollars  annually  in Michi 
gan  alone. 

Arrangements  have  been  made  by  the  Experiment 
Station  for  a  thorough  test  of  Bordeaux  mixture  as a 
preventive  of  peach  yellows  the  coming  season, but,  in 
sections  where  the  disease  prevails,  every  peach  grower 
will  do  well  to  thoroughly  spray  his  peach  trees  the 
coming spring, as it  will  pay  as  a  preventive  of rot  and 
curl-leaf, even  if  it  does not  prove  of  value  against  the 
yellows. 

Horticultural  Department. 

DEATH  OF  DR.  WILLIAM  E.  ERASER. 

From  Fernandina,  Fla.,  comes  the  sad  news  of  the 
death  of  an esteemed  alumnus,  Dr.  William  E.  Fraser-
'70,  on  the  sixth  of  October,  1895.  The  following  is 
clipped  from  a Fernandina  paper: 

"Death  is at  all  times  regretted,  but  when  a  commun 
ity  is robbed  of  a  valuable  member  the  blow  is all  the 
more severe, for  the sorrow  is  then  not  confined  to  the 
members of  a family  and  a  few  friends,  but  the  hearts 
of  all  are  touched. 

"Such  a calamity  is  that  which  befell  this  city  early 
last  Sunday  evening, when  Dr.  William  Everett  Fraser 
passed  from  this  life  to  the  life  eternal.  Courteous, 
kind  and  charitable, he  wove  a  garland  of  love  about 
the hearts of  all  who knew  him, and  many  a tear flowed 
at  the  announcement  of  his  death. 

"This  sorrow  was  not  confined  to  the  inhabitant of 
the pretentious  mansion,  but  from  the  hovel  in  which 
dwell the  poor and  needy, the  persons  who had  learned 
from  experience  the  true  worth  of  the  man,  came  tbe 
same  wail. 

"About  three  weeks ago Dr. Fraser  had  an  attack of 
fever,  but  getting  better,  he  was seen  on the  streets.  A 
relapse, however,  again  confined  him  to  his  bed,  from 
which  he  never  arose. 

"Dr. Fraser  was born  in  New  York  State, but  moved 
to Florida  fourteen  years  ago.  About  1886  he came  to 
Fernandina  and  began  the  practic^  of  his  profession— 
homeopathy.  By strict  attentio*!  to his  patients  and  a 
desire  to relieve human  suffering  he had built up a large 
practice. 

"He  was a member  of  Fernandina  Lodge  of  Odd  Fel 
lows, and during  his  illness  was  tenderly  watched  over 
by the  members of  his  order. 

"The  funeral  services  were  held  in  the  Methodist 
church  at  3:30  o'clock  yesterday  afternoon,  Rev. L. M. 
Moore, the  pastor, officiating,  and  the  remains were laid 
to  rest  beneath  the  cedars  in  Bosco  Bello  cemetery. 

"Dr. Fraser  leaves  a devoted  wife  to mourn  his  death. 
During  his  illness  she  was  constantly  by his side, and 
nursed  and  cheered  him  to the  last.  She has the  sym 
pathy  of  the community  in her  sad  bereavement." 

/ 

2 

I 

T HE  M.  A.  C.  R E C O R D. 

~ 

FEBRUARY  IS,  ISM. 

3%>  5 1 \.  "<a.  ©.  decora. 

NEWS  FROM  GRADUATES  AND  S T U D E N T S. 

PUBLISHED  WEEKLI  BY  THE 

by  " sp."  after  name. 

Students  in  Mechanical  Course  designated  by  "  m."  and  specials 

MICHIGAN  AGRICULTURAL  COLLEGE 
EDITED  BY  THE  FACULTY. 

ADDEESS  ALL  M A IL  TO  AGEICULTUKAL  C O L L E G E,  MICH. 

V.  J.  Hooper,  with  '93, is  a  s t u d e nt  at  Detroit  Medical 

college. 

F.  W. Schwaderer,  with'96,  will  r e t u rn  to  M.  A.  C. 

this  spring. 

SUBSCRIPTION,  50  CENTS  P ER  Y E A R. 

L.  W.  Brown,  with  '93, is  one  of  Ypsilanti's  attorneys. 

Business  Office  with  ROBERT  SMITH  & Co.,  State  Printers  and  Binders, 
406  Michigan  Ave.,  East,  Lauslng,  Mich. 

—Hesperian 

Star. 

C  H.  Perrin,  with  '94, TO., is  pastor  of  Asbury  M.  E. 

To  be entered  as  second  class matter  at  Lansing,  Mich. 

church,  Detroit,  Mich. 

It  offers 

In  behalf  of  t he  mambars  of 

t he  faculty  and 
to 

t he 
students  of  the  College,  the  RECORD  extends 
t he 
new  president,  Dr.  Snyder,  a hearty  greeting  and  cordial 
welcome.  The  position  he is about  to  fill  is  one  of  great 
honor  and  dignity,  as  well  as  of  great  care  and  responsi 
bility. 
large  opportunity  for  usefulness,  and 
to  a  man  of  Dr.  Snyder's  energy  of  purpose  and  origi 
nality  of  mind,  as  shown  in  his  previous  history, 
t he 
prospect  must  stir  t he  blood  and  give  him  the  joy  of  t he 
"strong  man  to  r un  a  race."  The  presidency  of  an  Agri 
cultural  College  is  no  sinecure;  it  frowns  with  heavy  de 
mands  on  tact  and  patience,  it  bristles  with  unsolved 
problems,  beside  which  the  duties  of  t he  average 
liter 
ary  college  presidency  look  tame  and  common place,,  b ut 
it  is  here  t h at  t he  great  educational  work  of  t he  world 
is  still  before  us;  it  is  here  t h at  the  "new  education"  is 
to  be  moulded  anew  and  its  forces  harnessed  to  t he  car 
of  h u m an  progress,  with  t r u er  knowledge  of  their  dy 
namics  and  a  better  appreciation  of  the  "lines  of  least 
It  is  often  forgotten  t h at  t he  Agricultural 
resistance." 
College  problem  is  primarily  an  educational  one.  For 
•its solution  it  demands  thorough  knowledge  of  the  farm 
a nd  of  farm  life,  full  and  hearty  appreciation  of,  and 
accord  with,  t he  farmer,  entire  sympathy  with  his  pur 
poses  and  ambitions;  b ut  it  no  less  imperatively  de 
mands  thorough  knowledge  of  t he  principles  and  pro 
cesses  of  education,  thorough 
sympathy  with  youth 
and  long  experience  in  t he actual  work  of  training  brain 
a nd  h a nd  and  eye.  All  these  qualities  we  believe  Dr. 
Snyder's  career  proves  t h at  he  possesses;  and  t he  excep 
tional  combination  guarantees  his  success. 

We  pledge  him  our  thorough  loyalty  and  hearty  sup 
port  and  cooperation  in  his  arduous  duties. 
I n to  t he 
social  life  on  t he  campus  he  and  his  accomplished  wife 
will  be  right  loyally  welcomed,  and  we  hope  to  make 
t h em  feel  at  home  from  the  start.  We  hereby  give  t he 
college  yell for  t he  new president  and  his  wife. 

We  wish  to  call  attention  to  t he  article  in  this  issue 
on  " F a r m i ng  in  Scotland,"  by  A.  R.  Locke,  '91, who  was 
for  two  years  private  secretary  to  Hon.  Ben.  Morse,  con 
sul  at  Glasgow. 
It  is  especially  interesting  as  it  gives 
a  good  opportunity  to  compare  the  home  life  and  farm 
methods  and  productions  of  t he  native  Scotchman  with 
those  of  t he  American. 

We  are  unable  at  this  time  to  present  a  complete  re 
port  of  t he  R o u nd  Up  I n s t i t u te  at  Grand  Rapids,  so  we 
have  reserved  the  material  we  have  on  hand  for  next 
week. 

In  this  last  issue  before  t he  opening  of  the  spring 
t e rm  t he  RECORD  wishes  to  extend  a  hearty  greeting  to 
t he  students  who  will  shortly  fill  our  now  silent  dormi 
tories  and  class  rooms  with  the  life  of  vigorous  young 
manhood.  During  t he  winter  a  number  of  workmen 
have  been  almost  constantly  employed  in  repairing  stu 
dents'  rooms,  corridors,  club  rooms,  and  class  rooms, in 
order  t h at  your  surroundings  may  be  comfortable  and 
pleasant.  Better  t h an  all  this,  however,  is  t he  news 
t h at  nearly  all  of  your  college  companions  have  signified 
their  intention  of  returning,  and  t h at  every  indication 
points  to  t he  entrance  of  a  large  addition  to  the  Fresh 
man  class.  T he  outlook  for  t he  coming  season's  work  is 
most  promising,  and  we  look  to  you  to  help  us  make 
this  t he  most  prosperous  year  in  the  history  of  our  Col 
lege. 

; 

PROCEEDINGS  OP  T HE  BOARD. 

Grand  Rapids,  Feb.  10-11,1896. 

Dr.  J.  L.  Snyder  was  elected  President  of  t he  Michi 

gan  Agricultural  College. 

A  proposition  from  the  F a rm  Department  to  plant  a 
row  of  trees  along  t he  west  side of  the  farm  was  referred 
to  t he  committee  on  Botany  and  Horticulture. 

It  was  resolved  t h at  hereafter,  when  Agricultural 
College  lands  are  sold  at 
least  one-fourth  of  t he  pur 
chase  money  be  paid  at  t he  time  of  sale,  and  in  case  of 
l a n ds  valuable 
timber,  all  of  purchase  money 
for 
shall  be  paid  before  any  timber  is  cut. 

T he  next  meeting  of  the  Board  will  be  held  at 

t he 

College  T h u r s d ay  evening,  F e b r u a ry  20. 

We  are  indebted  to  t he  Hesperian,  Star  for  the  mate 

rial  for  several  personals  this  week. 

W.  P.  Hawley,'92, TO., is  with  the  Troy  L a u n d ry  Ma 

chinery  Co.,  address,  1015 P a rk  Ave.,  Chicago. 

Henry  F.  L a ke  Jr.,  '95 TO., is  teaching  mathematics  in 

t he  Central  Business  College,  Denver,  Colorado. 

Dorr  N.  Stowell,  92,  Woodland,  Mich.,  employs  his 

winter  vacations  from  the  farm  in  t he  school  room. 

Of  t he  Gobleville  (Mich.)  Exchange  Bank  S.  B. 
'88,  is  proprietor  and  A.  B.  Chase,  '93, 

Monroe,  with 
cashier. 

We.are  glad  to  learn  t h at  Wm.  F.  Howland,  with  '91, 
who  was  obliged  to  leave  college  in  t he  spring  of  '91  on 
account  of  sickness,  will  r e t u rn  in  the  spring  and  finish 
with  '96. 

H.  E.  Harrison,  '88, Trenton,  Mich.,  is  a  prize  winner. 
We  learn  from  t he  Trenton  Visitor 
t h at  he  and  Miss 
Nellie  Dewey  recently  captured  booby  prizes  at  a  pro 
gressive  euchre  party. 

A.  J.  Chappell,  '82,  is  a  member  of  the  Antrim  Co. 
Board  of  School  Examiners,  and  has  been  for  six  years 
principal  of  t he  Alba  schools.  He  is  married  and  has  a 
daughter  of  four  years. 

Geo.  W.  Davis,  '92, Tekonsha,  Mich.,  writes:  "Nothing 
very  thrilling  has  happened  to  me  since  I  g r a d u a t ed  in 
1892. 
to 
continue  in  t h at  business." 

I  have  been  farming  ever  since  and  expect 

Wm.  L.  Chase,  '99, whom  we  remember  as  an  excel 
lent  first  baseman  and  a  good  student,  as  well,  is  teach 
ing  a  successful  school  near  Woodland, Mich.  Our  boys 
have  a standing  reputation  for  teaching  good  schools. 

From  the  Hesperian 

Star  we  learn  t h at  H. L.  Becker, 
'98,  is  canvassing,  L9roy  Ring,  '98,  is  studying  in  a  De 
'98, TO., is  working  in  an 
troit  law  office,  Geo.  W.  Corey, 
architect's  office  and  studying  French,  and  Willis  T. 
Herron,  with  '92, is  assistant  in  the  Boyne  City  schools. 

Married,  at  the  residence  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  H.  H.  Ladd. 
192  Eighteenth  street,  Detroit,  Mich.,  on  Tuesday,  J a n, 
21,  1896, Dr.  Percy  A. Barlow,  with  '93, TO., to Miss  Bessie 
L a d d.  The  groom's  father,  Rev.  George  W.  Barlow  of 
Caro,  officiated,  assisted  by  Rev.  W.  H.  Shields  of  Calva 
ry  church,  Detroit.  Roy  C.  Bristol,  '93, acted  as  best 
man.  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Barlow  are  at  home  at  192  Eight 
eenth  street. 

B.  F.  Bain,  '93  TO.,  left  t he  employ  of 

t he  Russell 
Engine  Co.,  Massillon,  Ohio,  last  spring  and  engaged 
with  t he  American  Stoker  Co., Dayton,  Ohio.  He  says, 
"My  work  alternates  between  t he  drawing  room  and 
for  the  purpose  of  making  boiler  trials  and 
traveling 
installations  of  the  stoker. 
I  find  the  work  quite  pleas 
ant. 
I  would  consider  it  a  most  pleasant  treat  to  have 
any  of  my  M. A.  C. friends  call  on  me  whenever  passing 
t h r o u gh  this  part  of  the  state." 

W.  A.  Dohany, 

'84,  pharmaceutical  chemist,  693 
Michigan  Ave.,  Detroit,  says:  "If  you  ever  see  fit  to  call 
on  me  I  will  show  you  t he  greatest  money  making  d r ug 
store  in  the  city,  in  connection  with  which  I  operate 
a  full  steam  printing  office  and  electric  light  plant 
I  also 
which  lights  nearly  every  store  in  the  block. 
branch  offices  of  the  American  Express  and 
have 
Western  Union 
the  climax, 
I  have  a  nickle-in-the-slot  phonograph  with  t he  loudest 
talking  diaphragm  in  the  state." 

telegraph;  and, 

to  cap 

At  t he  meeting  of  t he  State  Horticultural  Society 
held  in  Adrian  Dec.  5,  1895,  t he  following  alumni  and 
students  of  M.  A.  C.  were  present,  all  b ut  one  of 
them  taking  active  part  in  t he  presentation  of  papers  or 
in  t he  discussion:  C. J.  Monroe,  with  '61; W.  W.  Tracy, 
'67,  Detroit;  George  D.  Moore,  '71, Medina; E. H.  H u n t, 
'77,  Saranac;  L.  H.  Bailey,  '62,  Ithaca,  N.  Y.;  E.  H. 
Dresser,  with  '84,  Jonesville,  and  G.  C.  H u m p h r e y,  '97, 
Adrian.  There  were also present  three  of  our  professors, 
Dr.  W. J.  Beal, Prof.  L.  R. Taft  and  Prof. W.  B.  Barrows. 

C.  H  Piper,  with  '92  TO.,  H a r t,  Mich.,  writes  to  t he 
Hesperian 
Star:  "During  the  summer  season  I  till  t he 
soil  on  the  old  farm,  an  occupation  which  1  enjoy  very 
much  since  I  attended  t he  M.  A.  C,  and  which  I  equally 
disliked  before.  This  winter  I  am  building  a  house  in 
t he  village,  doing  t he  carpentry  work  myself,  with  no 
other  experience  t h an  t h at  obtained  in  t he  mechanical  I 

shops  of  t he  M.  A.  C,  and  on  the  farm  repairing  hay 
racks,  rail  fences,  e t ;.  And  what  may  seem  to  some  a 
little  surprising,  I  am  actually  accumulating  some  prop 
erty  during  "these  good  old  Democratic  times." 
I  m u st 
not  forget  to  mention  t h at  I  am  still  single. 

AT  T HE  COLLEGE. 

At  t he  library  building  next  F r i d ay  evening  (Feb 
ruary  21,) an  informal  reception  will  be given  to  President 
Snyder  by  the  faculty.  Everybody  connected  with  t he 
College  id  invited  to  be  present  to  welcome  our  new 
executive. 

Mrs.  Wood worth  visited  in  Grand  Rapids  last  week. 

Ralph  Millis,  '99,  returned  to  college  last  week—to 

stay. 

F.  B.  Ainger, 

'93,  took  dinner  at  college  Sunday, 

Feb.  2. 

A  heavy  fall  of  snow  at  college  last  Wednesday  and 

Thursday. 

Board  in  t he  Bachelor  C l ub  has  been  fixed  at  $2.45 

for  t he  winter. 

C.  C.  Pashby,  instructor  in Mathematics,  is  recovering 

from  an  attack  of  t he  grip. 

Dr.  Beal  spent  last  Sunday  (Feb.  9), in  Chicago  with 

his  daughter,  Mrs.  R.  S.  Baker. 

V.  J.  Willey,  '93, principal  of  the  School  for  the  Blind, 

made  t he  college  a  call  last  Friday. 

Prof.  Wheeler  and  family  left  Saturday  for  a  visit  to 
relatives  and  friends  at  Carson  City  and  H u b b a r d s t o n. 

Prof,  and  Mrs.  Chamberlain  returned  last  week  from 
Chicago,  where  they  had  been  spending  their  vacation. 

Mr.  Edward  Kramer,  agent  for 

the  DeLavel  Sep 
arator  Co.,  spent  Sunday  with  Prof,  and  Mrs.  Wood-
worth. 

Thorn  Smith,  assistant  chemist 

in  t he  experiment 
station,  will  occupy  t he  room  in Station  Terrace  vacated 
by  Mr.  Kenney. 

Next  term  F r e s h m en  will  use  Beman  and  S m i t h ' s, 
geometry;  Sophomores  in  rhetoricals,  will  use  Burke's 
speech  on  "Conciliation  with  America." 
finished 

reading  Victor 
Hugo's  "Bug  J a r g a l"  last  Wednesday  evening  and  will 
now  take  up  Moliere's  " Bourgeois  Gentilhomme." 

The  vacation  French  class 

Prof.  W.  O.  Hedrick,  of  t he  department  of  History 
and  Political  Economy,  stopped  off  a  couple  of  hours  at 
M.  A.  C.  on  his  way  to  Grand  Rapids  last  Friday. 

R.  J.  Cleland, 

'89,  has  purchased 

t he  L a m p h e re 
jewelry  establishment  in  Lansing  and  will  continue  t he 
business  under 
competent 
jeweler. 

supervision  of 

the 

a 

There  are  rumors  t h at 

t he 
Bachelor  members  of t he  teaching  force  will  marry  with 
in  a  few  weeks. 
It  m u st  be  t h at  t he  faculty  ladies  have 
had  another  afternoon  tea. 

three  or  four  more  of 

Another  gone  from  the  Bachelor  fraternity.  Wednes 
day,  February  12, at  the  residence  of  t he  bride's  parents 
in  Cold water,  Mr.  F.  C.  Kenney,  assistant  secretary  at 
M.  A.  C,  was  united  in  marriage  to  Mis3  Eva  B.  Shaw. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kenney  will  be  at  home  in  t he  new  hospi 
tal  building  at  M.  A.  C.  after  t he  first  of  March. 

R.  J.  Coryell,  '81, Walkerville,  Ont.,  stopped  off  on  his 
way  to  the  Round  Up  I n s t i t u te  to  visit  college  friends. 
He  finds  Peche  Island,  with  no  neighbors  and  only  an 
occasional  opportunity  to  visit  t he  mainland  in  winter, 
t he  narrow  quarters  in  Howard 
quite  different 
t he 
Terrace,  b ut  has  to  admit  t h at  he  r a t h er  enjoys 
change.  He  can  make  all  the  noise  he  wants  to  with 
out  disturbing  either  t he  eagle  or  t he  lion. 

from 

A  few  of 

the  experiment  people  h ad  dinner  all  by 
themselves  at  Director  Smith's  recently.  The  piece  de 
consisted  of  five  varieties  of  beans  which 
resistance 
were  grown  by  t he  station  last  season  and  which  Mrs. 
Smith  had  kindly  prepared  for  a  test  as  to  quality.  T he 
varieties  were  Kidney,  Marrow,  Schofield,  Navy,  and 
Tree.  A  majority  voted  in  favor  of  the  "kidney"  as  t he 
best  in  flavor.  This  variety  cooked  the  soonest  of  any 
a nd  the  " t r e e"  required  the  longest  time. 

GOOD  ROADS  CONVENTION. 

T he  Good  Roads  Convention  to  be  held  in  Lansing  on 
March  3,  was  called  by  Governor  Rich  at  t he  request 
of  several  thousands  of  petitioners  in  different  parts  of 
t he  state.  T he  chief  purpose  of  t he  meeting  as  suggest 
ed  by  t he  petitions  is  t he  organization  of  a  State  League 
is  hoped  t h at  all  who  favor  good 
for  Good  Roads. 
roads  and  who  can  afford  t he  time  and  expense  will  be 
present  and  take  part  in  t he  direction  of  t he  movement. 
No  formal  program  has  been  adopted  b ut  it  is  expected 
t h at  some  of  those  who  have  been  foremost  in  desiring 
t he  meeting  will  be  on  hand  to  direct  matters  to  some 
profitable  end.  Principal  among  these  are  t he  Michi 
gan  delegates  to  t he  Road  Parliament  held  in  Atlanta 

It 

PEBBUAEY  IS, 1896. 

T HE  M.  A.  C.  R E C O R D. 

3 

last  October,  Messrs. B.  A.  Joy,  W.  H.  Wallace  and  W. 
L.  Webber. 

There  were  present  at  t he  A t l a n ta  Parliament  repre 
sentatives  from  nearly  all  t he  states  in 
t he  Union. 
Notes  were  compared  on  t he  condition  of  the  laws  and 
t he  progress  of  road  building 
in  t he  several  states. 
P a rt  of  t he  report  made  to  Gov.  Rich  by  t he  Michigan 
delegation  is  as  follows: 

"As  to  New  Jersey  (a  pioneer  in  good  roads)  it  was 
said  t h at  although  some  of  t he  roads  earliest  built  in 
t h at  state  had  cost  from  $5,000  to  $8,000  per  mile,  yet 
even  with  t h at  expenditure,  t he  advance  in  t he  price  of 
real  estate  upon  t he  assessment  roll  was  such  t h at  t he 
rate  on  the  dollar  of  taxation  h ad  actually  decreased. 
t h e re  a  cheaper  method,  and 
B ut  they  have  adopted 
now  build  good  stone  roads  for  t he  country  highways 
at  a  cost  varying  from  $900 to  $1,200 per  mile. 

"The  states  of  Massachusetts,  New  York,  Pennsylva 
nia,  as  well  as  New  Jersey,  have  taken  steps  in  t he  in 
terest  of  good  roads  by  state  appropriations,  and  some 
other  states  have  given  state  aid  to  a  greater  or  less  ex 
tent  in  t h at  direction.  B ut  as  yet  it  would  seem  t h at 
there  has  been  no  uniform  system.  All  t he  reports 
were  unanimous,  however, t h at  wherever good  roads  had 
been  made,  by  whatever  system  or  at  whatever  cost,  the 
people  were  satisfied  with  them  and  wanted  more,  t he 
added  value  to  t he  real  estate 
in  consequence  of  such 
construction,  in  every  case  reported,  demonstrated  t he 
investment  to  be  a  wise  one. 

"We  regret  t h at  there  is  a  clause  in  t he  Michigan 
t he  state  from  aiding 
in  t he  construction  of  good 

constitution  which  prohibits 
directly  from  its  treasury 
roads. 
In  some  of  t he  states  t he  policy  h as  been  adopt 
ed  of  allowing  counties  to  build  these  roads,  and  when 
ever  t he  proper  state  officers  have  examined  the  roads  as 
constructed,  and  approved  t he  same,  one-third  of  t he 
cost  of  the  road  is  paid  from  t he  state  treasury,  a  cer 
tain  percentage  is  paid  by  assessment  upon  the  property 
t he  remainder  paid  by  t he  county  at 
benefited,  and 
In  some  states  the  good  roads  have  been  paid 
large. 
for  wholly  by  local  assessment,  on  what  is  called  t he 
two-mile  or  t he  one-mile  plan,  assessing  in  proportion  to 
benefits,  in  some  cases  a  strip  of  land  four  miles  wide, 
of  which  t he  road  is  t he  middle,  and 
in  other  cases  a 
strip  of  land  two  miles  wide,  b ut  usually  this  is  done  by 
special  legislation." 

T he  report  concludes  with  a  recommendation 

that 
there  be  called  such  a  convention  as  is  to  be  held  next 
month,  to  discuss  t he  subject  and  to  advance  t he  cause 
of  good  roads. 

STUDENT  E X P E R I M E N T S. 

(.Under this head  will  be  given from  time  to  time brief  reports  of 
experimental  work  d me  by  students  of  the  College on  the  farm, 
the  gardun,  or  in  the  laboratory.] 

Ever  since  t he  organization  of  the  College,  instruction 
by  the  experimental  method  has  been  a  prominent 
feature  of  its  work. 
In  chemistry  the  s t u d e nt  handles 
his  own  reagents,  makes  his  own  tests,  and  burns  his 
In  botany  he  studies 
fingers  if  he  makes  a  mistake. 
plants  as  they  grow  in  t he  field  to  learn  their  habit,  and 
in  t he  laboratory  with  the  aid of  microscopes  examines 
their  structure  for  himself;  on  t he  farm,  tillage,  drain 
age,  and  harvesting  are  learned  by  doing  them,  and  in 
t he 
t he  garden,  grafting,  spraying,  and  t he  care  of 
greenhouse  are  studied 
in  t he  same  way.  Sometimes 
new  or  doubtful  methods  are  tested  and  t he  results  are 
of  general  and  permanent 
interest.  We  shall  give  in 
t h is  and  subsequent  issues  of  the  RECORD  the  results 
•of  some  of  these  experiments. 

H OW  MANY  K E R N E LS  F OR  A  H I LL  ? 
This  experiment,  begun  by  Herman  L.  Hoffman,  of 
Dansville,  Mich.,  was  to  determine  how  many  kernels  of 
corn  should  be  planted 
in  a  hill  for  t he  best  results. 
The  variety  used  was  Hathaway  Yellow  Dent,  a  kind 
largely  grown  in  this  state.  The  corn  was  planted  dur 
ing  the  last  week  in  May,  in  hills  three  and  one-half 
feet  apart  each  way,  and  received  ordinary  field  culture. 
Eight 
tests  were  made,  ranging  from  one  to  eight 
kernels  in  a  hill,  t he  number  of  hills  for  each  test  being 
110.  The  ears  and  stalks  were  hauled  from  t he  field 
and  weighed  as  soon  as  husked,  during  the  second  week 
in  October.  T he  results  appear  in  the  following  table 
and  show  less  variation  in  yield  t h an  might  be  expect 
ed.  The  weight  of  stalks  gradually,  t h o u gh  somewhat 
irregularly, 
t he  number  of  kernels 
planted,  while  the  yield  of  corn  increased  in  like  man 
ner  up  to  four  kernels  in  a  hill  and  t h en  diminished. 

increased  with 

Stalks  in  a  Hill. 

Ponnds of  Ears. 

Ponnds  of  Stalks. 

1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
8 
7 
8 

106.5 
152. 
174.75 
181.25 
16a. 
133.75 
134. 
140. 

156.5 
159. 
148. 
161. 
152.5 
198.75 
167. 
176.75 

CORN  SMUT. 
In  1894 Mr. W. J.  McGee, of  Chicago, performed  ah  ex 
periment  to  determine  how  s m ut  attacks  t he  corn  plant, 
whether  in  t he  seed  at  t he  time  of germination,  or  after 
T he  seed  and  soil 
t he  plant  appears  above  ground. 
were  both  subjected  to  treatment  designed  to  kill  any 
s m ut  spores  they  might  contain.  The  corn  was  grown 
in  t he  treated  soil  until  it  was  well  started  then  trans 
planted  to  t he  open  ground. 
If  it  afterward  became 
infection 
affected  by  s m ut  t h at  would  indicate  t h at  the 
took  place  above  ground  after  t he  corn  had  started. 
Following  is  Mr.  McGee's  statement: 

"I  took  soil  and  baked  it  five  hours  at  a 

temperature 

above  150°  F.,  then  broke  it  up  fine  and  p ut  it  in  paste 
board  boxes,  moistened  it  with  water  which  had  been 
boiled,  then  planted  in  it  some  Flint  corn  which  had 
been  soaked  for  five  minutes  in  water  at  135°  F.  1  then 
covered  the  boxes  with  pieces  of  glass  and  set  t h em 
where  the  corn  would  grow  well.  The  corn  was  plant 
ed  on  t he  25th  of  April  and  was  transplanted  to  the 
open  ground  t he  first  day  of  J u n e,  at  which  time  it  was 
from  five  to  twelve  inches  high. 
It  grew  slowly  at  first, 
and  some  corn  which  was  planted  in  t he  field  on  t he 
same  day  almost  overtook 
transplanted 
plants  were  set  one  in  a  hill  in  two  rows  of  36  hills 
each. 
In  due time  smut  appeared  on  these  rows  as  on 
other  parts  of  the  field,  in  amount  as  shown  in  t he  fol 
lowing  table: 

it.  These 

Date. 

Pieces  of 
Smut. 

Date. 

Pieces  of 
8mut. 

July  18. 
Jnly20 
August  22  . . .. 
August  22 
August  30 
August  30 

1 
1 
55 
35 
11 
13 

September  5 . .. 
September  10.. 
September  10... 

September  12._ 

12 
4 
5 
3 
1 
8 

The  conclusion  arrived  at  is  t h at  "corn  may  be  infect 
ed  with  smut  after  it  has  reached  a  considerable  growth 
and  is  not  necessarily  infected  in  t he  root." 

FARMING  IN  SCOTLAND. 

[Read  at  Ionia  Co.,  Institute,  Ionia,  Jan.  23, '96, by 
Alfred  Locke,  '91, Belding.] 

Although  I  was  in  Scotland  for  a  period  of  over  two 
years,  my  duties  were  in  no  way  connected  with  the 
agricultural  industries  of  t h at  country,  and  my  knowl 
edge  of  their  farming  is  in  no  way  definite  and  particu 
lar,  b ut  rather  a  general  knowledge,  which  I  was  en 
abled 
t he 
country,  and  visits  to  several  farms  within  Lanarkshire 
in  t he  neighborhood  of  Glasgow. 

to  obtain  by  various 

journeys 

t h r o u gh 

Scotland  as  you  all  know  is  not  a  great  agricultural 
country.  The  area  of  its  good  farming  lands  is  small. 
The  greater  portion  of  the  country  is  adapted  only  to 
sheep  and  cattle  raising. 
It  is  divided  into  the  high 
lands  in  t he  north,  and  t he  lowlands  in  t he  south  and 
east. 

Within  t he  highlands  sheep  and  cattle  are  t he  only 
sources  of  profit  to  t he  farmer. 
In  t he  south  and  east 
although  not  free  from  hills  and  untillable  soil,  there 
are  raised,  besides  many  sheep,  cattle  and  horses,  oats, 
barley,  wheat,  hay,  turnips,  cabbages  and  cauliflowers. 
T he  land  is  owned  almost  entirely  in  large  estates,  by 
t he  nobility  and  t he  wealthy  land  owners,  and  is  rented 
in  parcels  of  from  ten  to  one  thousand  acres  to  tenants. 
T he  large  farms  of  from  five  hundred  to  one  thousand 
acres  are  such  as  are  valuable  for  grazing  only.  The 
rents  are  high,  although  in  the  depression  in  farming  in 
the  last  four  years,  they  have  fallen  about  twenty  per 
cent.  There  is  still  a  cry  for  reduced  rents,  b ut  under 
their  system,  there  being  more  farmers  t h an  farms  to 
rent,  competition  of  t he  applicants  for  t he  farms  keeps 
the  rents  higher  t h an  the  profits  of  farming  will  war 
rant. 

E a ch  land  owner  employs  a  factor  who  manages  t he 
renting  and  collects  t he  rents.  You  will  see  t h at 
t he 
factor  is  the  hardest  taskmaster  t h at  t he  farmer  has  to 
deal  with,  for  he  is  persevering  in  t he  performance  of 
his  duties  and  on  failure  to  pay  t he  rent  no  mercy  is 
shown;  and  there  where  a  levy  for  rent  takes  preced 
ence  to  a  levy  for  taxes,  there  is  little  possibility  of  es 
cape. 

in  passing  from 

We  will  consider  only  t he  farmers  in  t he  lowlands. 
Their  buildings  are  of  stone,  and  generally  of  b ut  one 
story  in  height.  Their  stables  are  built  attached  to  t he 
house  so  t h at 
t he  back  door  of  t he 
kitchen  or  hallway  one  passes  directly  into  t he  cow-
stable,  or  "byre",  as  it  is  there  called.  The  horse  stable 
may  be  separate  b ut  is  generally  adjoining.  The  front 
door  yard  is  t he  front  barn  yard,  b ut  although  a  barn 
yard  it  is  neat  and  clean.  T he  American  farmer  might 
learn  a  great  many  things  relative  to  cleanliness  of  sta 
bles  and  yards  from  t he  Scotchman.  The  floors  of  t he 
stables  are  either  of  earth,  cement,  or  stone;  and  at  one 
farm  which  I  visited  t he  stable  floor  was  flooded  with 

water  each  day,  conducted  by  a  pipe  from  a  spring  near 
by,  washing  t he  floor  clean,  and  t he  m a n u re  conducted 
thence  to  a  cistern  where,  being  allowed  to  decay,  it 
would  be  dipped  and  hauled  in  tanks  to  t he  fields  and 
t he  growing  crops.  Great  economy  is 
there  p ut  upon 
practiced 
in  saving  all  manures  and  making  use 
of  them.  T he  coarse  compost  of  nearly  every  farm  yard 
is  dumped  on  low  ground  where  water  stands  or  where 
water  can  be  r un  upon  it.  This  hastens  t he  process  of 
decay,  and  economizes  t he  evaporation  of  t he  elements 
of  fertility, 

The  favorite  cattle  for 

t he  dairy  farms  are  those  of 
t he  Ayrshire  Shorthorn  breed. 
These  cattle  receive 
their  name  from  t he  county  of  Ayr,  which  contains  t he 
finest  dairy  farms  in  Scotland.  Great  care  is  taken  of 
t he  cattle  in  all  seasons  of  t he  year,  and  their  coats  are 
often  kept  as  well  groomed  as  is  a  favorite  horse  in  this 
country.  Great  care  is  taken  in  the  selection  of  breed 
ing  stock,  and  no  where  upon 
the  dairy  farms  do  you 
find  the  "scrubs",  if  I  may  use  t he  expression,  t h at  you 
may  see upon  so many  of  t he  farms  in  this  country.  Upon 
one  farm  which  I  visited  t he  farmer  owned  thirty  cows 
of  t he  Ayrshire  Shorthorn  breed,  and  any  of 
them 
would  have  done  credit  to  any  cattle  exhibition  t h at  I 
have  ever  seen.  The  farmer  quoted  me  prices  of  differ 
ent  cows  which  he  pointed  out  to  me,  and  t he  values 
ranged  from  one  h u n d r ed  and  twenty-five  dollars  to 
five  h u n d r ed  dollars  a  head. 

This  particular  farmer  leased  a  farm  of  one  hundred 

and  twenty  acres  at  an  annual  rental  of  over  nine  h u n 
dred  dollars.  W i th 
t he  exception  of  a  few  h u n d r ed 
bushels  of  potatoes  which  he  might  sell  each  year,  he 
paid  his  rent,  lived,  and  made  a  small  profit  o ut  of  t he 
t he 
milk, butter,  cheese  and  t ue  stock  t h at  he  sold  off 
like  an 
farm.  To  a  Michigan  farmer  this  will  sound 
exaggerated  statement,but  I  believe  it  nevertheless  true, 
for  I  lived  long  enough  among  the  Scotch  people  to 
learn  t h at  a  Scotchman's  statement  could  be  relied 
upon. 

thirty 

It  will  be  well,  in  this  connection,  to  state  t h at  this 
farmer  lived  within  ten  miles  of  Glasgow,  and  t h at  milk 
sold  at  the  city  at  from  six  to  seven  cents  per  quart, 
b u t t er  at  from 
to  forty  cents  per  pound,  and 
cheese  at  from  twenty  to  thirty  cents  per  pound.  On 
this  farm  no  sheep,  horses,  or  hogs were  raised.  A  few 
hens  of  a  choice  breed  were  kept,  and  when  my  friend 
who  accompanied  me  and  I  took  our  leave  from  t he 
farm  at  t he  termination  of  our  visit,  t he  good  housewife 
presented  each  of  us  with  a  fresh  hen's  egg,  saying, 
"Ye'll  no  ken  w h at  a  fresh  egg  is  in  yon  city."  We  ap 
preciated  her  kindness,  and  had  t he  eggs  poached  for 
our  breakfast  t he  next  morning. 

Upon  other  farms  there  may  be  made  a  specialty  of 
horse  raising  b ut  to  no  great  extent,  except  among  t he 
wealthy  classes.  T he  Clydesdale  is  t he  pride  of  t he 
country,  and  is  used  exclusively  for  heavy  work  in  t he 
cities.  B ut  upon  t he  farms  lighter  horses  are  used. 

I  did  not  visit  any  sheep  farms,  and  can  tell  you  little 
about  them,  except  t h at  t he  only  sheep  rajsed  are  those 
of  the  coarse  long  wools  like  those  of  t he  Shropshire, 
Leicester,  and  Southdown  breeds.  They  make  remark 
ably  good  mutton,  and  their  wool  is  chiefly  used  in  the 
manufacture  of  carpets  and  tweeds. 

Oats  are  an  important  crop,  and  they  grow  r a n k er 
and  yield  better  than  any  t h at  I  have  ever  seen  in  this 
country.  The  principal  variety  grown  is  known  as  t he 
Scotch  P o t a to  oat.  This  oat  has  a  large  berry,  and 
would  be  likely  to  shell  in  our  dry  climate. 
It  makes 
excellent  oat  meal,  a  staple  article  of  food  in  Scotland. 
A  great  difference  is  noticed  in  its  meal  and  t h at  made 
from  oats  grown  in  t he  United  States.  Apparently  t he 
Scotch  oat  has  a  softer  and  a  more  oily  consistency. 
Scotch  dealers  claim  t h at  even  t he  Canadian  oats  make 
richer  meal  t h an  those  t h at  we  raise,  and  claim  t h at 
t he  reason  for  this  is  t h at  in  our  country  we  have  too 
much  dry  and  hot  weather  which  ripens  t he  grain  too 
quickly. 
I  sent  home  a  sample  of  Scotch  oats  which 
were  planted  b ut  the  dry  summer  proved  to  be  unsatis 
factory  to  them  and  they  refused  to  show  their  heads  to 
t he  farmers  of  Ionia  county. 

t h at 

Potatoes  are  planted  and  cultivated  similarly  as  with 
us,  except 
in  all  cases  t he  soil  is  well  prepared, 
trenches  dug,  and  in  many  cases  t he  farmer  fills  t he 
bottom  of  t he  trench  with  well  rotted  manure.  T he 
growth  is  rapid  and  t he  plant  grows  about  twice  as 
large  as  with  us.  This  is  due  to their  moist  climate  and 
frequent  rains.  The  t u b er 
is  rich  and  of  fine  flavor. 
They  have  no  potato  bugs  there  to  poison  or  to  h u n t, 
and  t he  small  Scotch  boy  never  wakes from  t he  night 
mare,  having  dreamed  t h at  t he  tables  were  t u r n ed  and 
t h at  a  potato  b ug  had  him  and  was  about  to  smash  him 
between  two  shingles. 
Scotland  exports  large  quanti 
ties  of  potatoes  to  the  United  States,  there  being  gener 
ally  a  good  market  for  them  in  New  York,  Boston,  Phila 
delphia,  and  Baltimore  and  the  freight  to  these  ports  is 
m u ch  less  t h an  by  rail  from  here  to  New  York. 
(To  be 

continued.) 

T HE  M.  A.  C.  R E C O R D. 

FEBRUARY  18,  1896. 

WHY 

Of  course  you  are  going  to  College 
But  you  h a v e n 't  quite  decided 

WHERE 

Every  progressive  young  man  wants  a 
good  Education  and 

WHEN 

He  can  g et  it  without  expending  a  fortune 
he  should  not  hesitate. 

7C  O/a**  C[(±rvt  Of  those  who  have  decided 
IsCni  to  gQ  S 0 J n ew h e re 
iO 

rcr 

DO  N OT K N OW  W H E RE  TO GO 

THEN 

Why  not  see  what  we  have  to  offer  at  t he 

MB11111 i ll 

M. 

A. 

Not  one  Laboratory,  but  eight  large,  magnif 
icently  equipped  buildings  for  t he  proper 
instruction  in  sciences  relating  to 

AGRICULTURE  ANU  MECHANICS 

A  Library  containing  18,000  Volumes 
Three  Large  Dormitories 

All  Surrounded  by  the 

Most  Beautiful  Park  in ttie  State 
you want  a  practical  education  and  you  w a nt 
M. A.  C. 

to know  what  is  going  on  around  you 

H as  the  best  facilities  for  teaching 
the  practical  application  of  the  sciences. 

You  can  work  your  way  t h r o u g h. 
Others  have  done  it,  you  can. 

WE  ALL WORK  HERE 

And if  you have  to  work  extra  to pay your way, no on© 
will  remark  it  to  your  disadvantage,  but  will  respect 
you  for  doing  so. 

SOME 

Of  our  most  noted  graduates  paid  their 
College  expenses  by  hard  labor. 

The  work  of  the  class  room  is  supplemented  with 
practical  work  in  field,  garden  and  shop;  and  this 
together  with  military  drill,  gymnasium  practice and 
athletics promotes vigorous health.  A  street  car  line 
connects  us  with  the  city, thus  giving us  exceptional 
social and religious privileges. 

Expenses  are  Reasonable 
T u i t i on  F r ee  to  residents  of  the  State;  $5.00  per 
term  to non-residents.  Board in clubs costs about $2.50 
per  week.  You  can  get  board  and rooms in the city if 
you desire. 

The students maintain  Six  O p en  L i t e r a ry  Soci 

e t i es  and T h r ee  F r a t e r n i t i e s. 

Our next term begins Monday, February  24, '96. 
The next  College Year begins Monday, August 24, '96. 

And now, if you are interested  in  getting  an  educa 
tion, an education  that  is  broad  and  practical, one that 
does not develop the intellectual  at  the  expense  of; the 
physical, one that  does develop  the  skilled  farmer  and 
mechanic, send  us  your  name  and  let  us  furnish  you 
with catalog and further  particulars. 

ADDEESS  " T HE SECRETARY,"* 

Agricultural  College, 
Michigan, 

Rudy. 

Diehl- 
Mediterranean. 

Egyptian. 

Curriil. 

WHEATS  ON  MUCK. 

WHEAT  ON MUCK  LAND. 

A.  A.  CROZIER. 

In  the fall of  1891  eight varieties of  wheat  were  sown 
in  quarter  acre  plots  on  muck  land  upon  the  station 
grounds.  Six of these varieties, namely, White Clawson, 
Red Clawson, Rudy,  Egyptian,  Poole  and  Diehl-Medi-
terranean,  were  selected  as  being the most  productive 
among  the  varieties  grown  by the  station  in previous 
years.  Of  the  other  two  varieties,  one  called  Curriil 
was sent with high recommendations  from  the  Kansas 
experiment  station  and another known  as  Golden  Chaff 
was received through  Dr.  Kedzie  from  the  originator, 
Mr. Robt. Dawson, of Paris, Ontario.  The eight varieties 
as grown on the muck  differed  greatly  in  their  ability 
to withstand  the succeeding winter, although on upland 
in the adjoining  field  the same  varieties  all  passed  the 
winter with but  slight injury.  Only  two  of  the  kinds, 
the old White Clawson and the new variety  called Gold 
en Chaff, produced  on  the  muck  anything  like  a  fair 
crop.  The  yields  of  grain  in  pounds  per plot  were as 
follows  and  compared  closely  with  the  success  of  the 
different  varieties  in  passing  the  winter:  Golden 
Chaff, 164^  5 White Clawson, 112^ • Red  Clawson, 72 ; 
Poole, 50;  Rudy,  40}£;  Diehl-Mediterranean,  15; 
Egyptian,  7;  Curriil,  V/z.  The  relative  yields  are 
shown  in  the  accompanying  illustration.  The  station 
has 30 acres of the Golden Chaff  under  cultivation  and 
hopes to be able to distribute  seed of it next  season. 
Experiment  Station. 

BOTANY  AT  HARVARD. 

PBOF.  0. F. WHEELER. 

Cambridge, Mass., is the most famous university town 
in this country.  To the botanist,  the  Gray  Herbarium 
and the  Botanic Garden possess the greatest attractions. 
Here  is  the  largest  and  most  valuable  collection  of 
plants  in  America,  here  also  is  the  largest  botanical 
library.  Early in this century  the overseers of  Harvard 
set  apart  eight  acres  lying  along  Linnaean  street  be 
tween Garden  and Raymond  for  a botanic  garden.  In 
1805 Prof. Peck laid out the  grounds  and  built  a  small 
greenhouse.  In  1822  Thos.  Nuttall,  the  botanist  and 
ornithologist,  followed  Prof.  Peck.  Nuttall  did  little 
teaching  but  a  good  deal  of  valuable  systematic work 
during the twelve years he remained at Harvard,  From 
1834 to 1842 there  was no regular  professor  but  instruc 
tion in botany  was given  by Dr. Harris  and  Dr.  Gould. 
Up to this time the garden  remained  in  charge  of  Wm. 
Carter, an eccentric Yorkshire man.  Dr. Asa  Gray was 
chosen  professor  of  Natural  History  (Botany)  in  1842. 
The  chair  had  lately  been  endowed  by  Dr.  Fisher, of 
Beverly, Mass. 

The  house  occupied  by  Dr.  Gray  was  built 

in 
1810 and  is  still the  residence of  his widow.  Dr. Gray 
entered  with  enthusiasm  on his career and began giving 
instruction  in  botany  regularly,  with  the  greatest  suc 
cess.  Soon it  became  necessary  to  enlarge  the  profes 
sor's house to make room for  the  rapidly  growing  her 
barium.  This room afterwards  became Dr. Gray's study. 
In  1862  he  gave  his  large  collection  of  two  hundred 
thousand  plants and  his excellent  library of  twenty-two 
hundred  volumes  of  botanical  works  on  condition 
that  a fire-proof  building  be provided.  In  1864 such  a 

building  was erected  at  a  cost  of  fifteen  thousand  dol 
lars.  A subscription  of  ten  thousand  dollars  was  then 
raised  for  its  support.  Here  is  now  stored  the  great 
herbarium  numbering  at  present  over  four  hundred 
thousand  specimens, all carefully  arranged  according  to 
the system of Bentham and Hooker, with alphabetical in 
dexes to each  case and with  a general key  to  the  whole 
collection.  Here are to be  found  the rare  and  valuable 
type  specimens  from  which  the  descriptions  of  new 
species of  plants have been  made by  Dr.  Gray,  Sereno 
Watson  and other  botanists. 

Sereno  Watson,  after  Dr.  Gray, was  the most distin 
guished  American  student  of  systematic  botany.  He 
was Dr. Gray's  assistant  from  1871 to  1888.  After  Dr. 
Gray's death  in 1888 Mr.  Watson  was  made  Curator  of 
the  herbarium  and  library,  which  positson  he  held 
at the time of his death  in  1892, when Dr.  B.  L.  Robin 
son, the present Curator, was  appointed. 

On  the  walls  of  this  famous  herbarium  hang  the 
portraits of all the distinguished  botanists of  the world. 
The marble busts of Sir Wm. Hooker,  Robt. Brown and 
the elder  De Candolle,  with life sized medallions of  Dr. 
Torrey  and  Dr.  Gray,  keep  watch and  guard  in  this 
sacred  room.  The  library,  now  containing  over seven 
thousand  volumes,  in  a  separate fire proof  room,  joins 
the  herbarium  and  is  indexed  in  a  careful  manner. 
Beyond the herbarium  are rooms for special work and  a 
small but  well arranged  lecture room.  To  the  east  are 
the well kept greenhouses in the various rooms of which 
are  now  growing  over  twenty-four  hundred  different 
plants  from  all  parts  of  the  world. 
la  the  botanic 
garden  are  growing  twenty-eight  hundred  species 
and  four  hundred  varieties  of  plantp.  Fifteen  hun 
dred  of  these  are  American  and  thirteen  hundred 
foreign.  The  plants  are  well  arranged  for  a  show 
garden and at  the  same  time  the  systematic  arrange 
ment for instruction  of classes is not  lost sight  of. 

Since the death  of Dr. Gray, Dr. Geo. L.  Goodale  has 
filled  the Fisher  chair of Natural  History.  Dr. Goodale 
is now established  in the new university museum  where 
he is building up a grand  economic botanical  collection. 
His trip around  the world a few years since enabled him 
to gather  much interesting  material  and  numerous  ex 
cellent  photographs  which  are  shown  to  the  best  ad 
vantage.  Dr. Goodale is  especially  interested in  teach 
ing physiological botany.  Dr. Farlow is professor of cryp-
togamic  botany,  and,  with  his  assistants,  is  doing  a 
great  work  in  this  difficult  branch  of  botanical  study. 
Nowhere in America are the  opportunities  for  botan 
ical study  in  all  departments  so  great  as  at  this  great 
center of  learning. 
Botanical  Department. 

THE  M.  A.  C.  ALUMNI  OF  CHICAGO 

On  February  9, organized  by  electing W. R. Rummler, 
'86,  rooms 709-710 Ogden  building,  Chicago,  President; 
and R. S. Baker,  '89,  editorial  rooms  Chicago  Record, 
secretary and treasurer.  A  considerable  number of M. 
A. C. students  find  their  way  to Chicago and vicinity. 
They contemplate  holding  a  banquet  once  a year and 
meeting  at  other  times  for  acquaintance  and  talking 
over the numerous interests of  their alma mater.  They 
are gratified  with the appearance of  the  RECORD.  Dr. 
Beal and daughter, Jessie, '90,  and  Professor  Chamber 
lain, '88, were present  at the organization.