Repository: UIHistories Project: Book - History of the University (Powell) [PAGE 145]

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Final Period Land Grant Bill

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into his scholars. The entomological professor received no salary or remuneration. They also are crippled by debt, and their success has been further embarrassed by the interference of the board of trustees with the magisterial management of the school. "In the larger eastern cities, as New York, Philadelphia, and Boston, farm schools have been instituted, having for their object the reclamation of younger children who have become demoralized by association with vicious companions. These are doing well, and are being pushed forward with much energy. In many places benevolent persons are founding horticultural schools on a small scale. Near New York city one has lately been amply endowed by a lady, having for its object the instruction of females in horticulture. In most of the eastern colleges a scientific course of study has been adopted which is termed an elective course, and can be pursued instead of the regular classical course. But the scientific course has fallen into disfavor, as in the eyes of the professors, the classical course has the precedence. And while the study of science can be pursued, there is no attempt to practically apply science to agriculture. The Lawrence Scientific School at Cambridge, connected with Harvard University, has a high reputation. The Polytechnic School of Pennsylvania is now endeavoring to engraft upon its regular course an agricultural department and a commission has been appointed to examine locations for the use of an experimental farm. There is at Bolesbury, Pennsylvania, what is called a Farmer's High School but it is a school where higher branches are taught for the benefit more especially of farmers' sons. As yet but little has been done in it in the way of agricultural education. In the state of New York an effort had been made to found an agricultural college. The State has loaned a sum for twenty-one years for the purpose of carrying it on. Land has been bought at Ovid, on Seneca Lake, and buildings erected, with the expectation that it will be in successful operation next fall. This is a manual labor School. In Michigan, for the purpose of endowing an agricultural college, the legislature granted twenty-two sections of land, the avails from the sale of which were devoted to this purpose. The legislature subsequently granted $56,000 in further aid. A large farm in a dense forest