Repository: UIHistories Project: Book - History of the University (Powell) [PAGE 357]

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First Years of Work

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to be reckoned with but predatory humans as well; who, when fences were down or easily broken through, regarded the university's carrots and potatoes as a legitimate means of lessening the cost of living. In addition to these troubles, the spring of 1868 was unusually rainy; in several instances the first planting was entirely washed out and had to be done over. The plan of letting out the lands to tenants had not proved successful; not that the tenants were unfaithful, such was far from the fact, but in order to bring the farms up to a plane where the term "model" might be even remotely applied, very different agricultural methods from those ordinarily in use must be introduced and consistently followed. The lands had been badly worked. Draining, clean culture, clover, and fallow crops were necessary if the soil was to be sufficiently improved to show an accomplishment distinctly beyond that of the neighboring farms. To do all this meant that the university must have more help and help would cost money. Yet in spite of all discouragements a real beginning was made during the year. A part of the land was kept absolutely clean and as a result sixty-one varieties of vegetables, displayed at the Champaign county fair, received as a whole a complimentary premium besides notice on specialties. They were not placed for competition as it was considered inadvisable for the university to enter such contests with private collections. Periam resigned in March to enter upon other work, and the task of developing the university's agricultural properties devolved upon Professor Bliss with three assistants; an Englishman, Thomas Franks, appointed by the board with the title of gardener to the university; Vickroy, to help in the nurseries and orchards, and Upstone, to help on the farm; all employed by Professor Bliss under authority given by the board. Like Periam, Bliss found his task appalling, and he, too, almost went down in despair before the problem of the main stock farm. The former owner assured him that it was because it was such capital ground for the application of agricultural science that he had sold it—it had reached that state of exhaustion where it no further could be expected to pay until considerable money had been spent upon it. What better could an agricultural college ask than broad, completely exhausted acres that required