,university of ,michigan's ,making of   
,america collection47                   
,transcriber's note   ,minor punctuation
 errors have been changed without       
notice4 ,printer errors have been       
changed and are listed at the end4 ,all 
other inconsistencies are as in the     
original4        ,,address              
,,delivered ,,by     ,,hon4 ,,henry ,h4 
,,crapo1     ,governor of ,michigan1    
,,before ,,the     ,,central ,,michigan 
,,agricultural ,,society1     ,,at      
,,their     ,,sheep-,,shearing          
,,exhibition1     ,,held     ,,at ,,the 
,,agricultural ,,college ,,farm1     ,on
 ,thursday1 ,may #bdth1 #ahff4          
,,lansing3    ,,john ,a4 ,,kerr  ,,co41 
,,steam ,,book ,,and ,,job ,,printers4  
#ahff4     ,,address4   ,mr4 ,president1
 and ,members of the ,central ,mich4    
,ag'l ,society3  ,,ladies ,,and         
,,gentlemen3 ,remote from the theatre of
 action in the late rebellion1 ,michigan
 has experienced comparatively few of   
the evils that followed immediately in  

its path4 ,the usual pursuits of        
peaceful life1 were here scarcely       
disturbed1 and by the permission of a   
,gracious ,providence1 the industry of  
the inhabitants of our ,state was but   
little diverted from its legitimate     
channels4 ,nevertheless1 while so many  
of her patriot sons were engaged in the 
deadly strife of ,southern              
battle-fields1 and the result of the    
struggle was in the uncertain future1 a 
sombre cloud could not fail to brood    
over our daily life1 interfering with   
the full enjoyment of the blessings we  
retained4  ,now1 however1 the roar of   
cannon and the noise and tumult of war  
is no longer heard in our land2 the     
scenes of carnage and blood which our   
once peaceful and happy country has     
recently witnessed are at an end2 the   
turmoil and strife of armed hosts in    
deadly conflict have ceased2 the public 
mind is no longer excited1 and the      
hearts of the people are no longer      
pained1 by the fearful news of battles  

fought1 and of the terrible slaughter of
 kindred and friends4 ,social order     
again invites us to renewed efforts in  
our respective labor and callings2 and  
we are permitted to beat our swords into
 plow-shares and our spears into        
pruning-hooks4  ,like the calm and quiet
 repose of peace when it follows the    
clamor and din of war1 so is the        
delightful1 cheering and invigorating   
approach of spring1 as it succeeds the  
chilling blasts and pelting storms of   
dreary winter4  ,the truth of this is   
verified to us on the present occasion4 
,we have come together at this          
delightful spot1 and on this beautiful  
spring day1 not only for the enjoyment  
of a festive season1 but also for the   
improvement of our minds and the        
increase of our present stock of        
knowledge on subjects with which our    
several interests and our respective    
tastes are more or less identified4  ,at
 your request and upon your kind        
invitation1 ,i am here to contribute my 

share--small though it be--to the       
general fund4 ,i should1 however1 have  
much preferred the position of a quiet  
learner to that of an incompetent       
teacher--to have listened rather than to
 have spoken4 ,but being here1 it will  
be my purpose--by your indulgence--to   
speak1 in general terms1 upon such      
topics as seem to me appropriate to the 
occasion4 ,i shall not presume to       
theorize1 or to speculate2 neither shall
 ,i travel through unexplored fields    
with no other guide than imagination2   
nor shall ,i attempt to entertain you   
with any rhetorical flourishes1 or      
figures of speech2 but in a simple      
manner endeavor to give briefly my own  
views on the several subjects discussed4
  ,the occasion is undoubtedly one      
affording a wide field for profitable   
discussion2 yet the space which your    
greatest indulgence can be expected to  
allow me will render it necessary that  
,i confine myself to a very few topics1 
and will barely permit a hasty glance at

 some of those only which may be        
considered appropriate in this address4 
,you will therefore1 ,i trust1 remember 
that in case ,i do not refer to subjects
 which you may deem of importance1 it   
will be from this reason1 and not       
because ,i may have considered them     
unimportant4         99       99        
99       99       99  ,in the first     
place1 then1 permit me a brief reference
 to this ,association1 under whose      
auspices1 and by whose                  
directions--acting in connection with   
the officers of the ,agricultural       
,college--this festival is held4 ,your  
,society1 ,i understand1 extends over   
the counties of ,ingham1 ,eaton1        
,clinton1 ,livingston and ,shiawassee1  
and has been formed for the purpose of  
combining and concentrating a wider     
scope of individual action than could   
otherwise be attained1 with a view to an
 increased interest in the subject of   
,agriculture and of ,agricultural       
,fairs2 thereby recognizing the         

principle that in union there is        
strength4  ,the effort is not only      
laudable1 but will1 ,i have no doubt1 be
 productive of the most beneficial      
results4 ,in fact we have in this very  
effort to bring into notice and give an 
increased interest to one of our most   
important branches of husbandry in our  
,state--the growth and production of    
wool--abundant evidence that such will  
be the result4 ,by coming together1 as  
on the present occasion1 in the spirit  
of a free1 frank and social interchange 
of ideas1 an increased interest cannot  
fail of being awakened1 as well as an   
extensive inquiry instituted1 among     
farmers generally1 not only as to the   
most desirable breed of sheep1 but also 
as to the best modes of tending and     
keeping and feeding the different kinds1
 with a view to the greatest profits4   
,the influence of such a gathering as   
this is of much value--not only in      
encouraging a desire for excellence and 
creating a spirit of competition and of 

laudable emulation1 but as furnishing   
the means for an active exchange of the 
more desirable specimens4 ,those who    
assemble are enabled to enjoy a season  
not merely of relaxation from toil1 but 
also for mutual consultation and        
discussion2 and a healthy and growing   
interest in everything pertaining to    
,agriculture1 in all its varied forms   
and branches1 is thereby induced4  ,in  
this connection ,i may be permitted to  
make a few remarks in relation to the   
salutary influence which our            
,agricultural ,societies cannot fail to 
exert upon the farmers of ,michigan1 and
 of the benefits which are certain to   
flow from them4  ,there is no employment
 which keeps man so isolated as that of 
,agriculture2 and these societies serve1
 in a very great degree1 to counteract  
the bad effects of this by bringing mind
 into intercourse with mind4 ,they      
should receive the united and cordial   
support of every farmer4  ,whilst       
professional men are brought into       

frequent contact with each other--and   
the trader is in constant intercourse   
with his customers--and the mechanic is 
associated with those employed with him 
in the shops--the farmer spends most of 
his time with his family1 and with his  
flocks and herds1 and sees comparatively
 little of others4 ,the ,agricultural   
,fair brings--or should bring--all the  
farmers together1 with their wives and  
daughters1 where a healthy1 social      
intercourse is enjoyed4 ,there a higher 
standard of excellence in everything is 
formed4 ,he there learns that what of   
his own he had been led to believe was  
the best--whether in flocks or herds1 or
 farm products--may be greatly improved1
 and his ambition and pride1 as well as 
his interest1 are at once excited to    
make an advance4 ,at the same time the  
industrious housewife1 and the blushing 
,miss1 by an examination of the cloths  
and flannels--the carpets and           
quilts--the embroidered skirts and      
capes--the collars and slippers1        

discover that these articles are worthy 
not only of their admiration but of     
their emulation1 and they1 too1 resolve 
to copy from a standard of merit higher 
than their own4 ,thus is excited among  
those so brought together a spirit of   
competition1 and a desire in their turn 
to excel4  ,another important benefit   
resulting from ,agricultural ,fairs1 is 
a more rapid and general diffusion of   
knowledge among the farmers in regard to
 the advantages and practical utility of
 new inventions1 for the saving of time 
and labor in agricultural operations4   
,this is illustrated very clearly by the
 exhibition of ,mr4 ,parish's ,stump and
 ,grub ,extractor1 on exhibition here4  
,this machine1 ,i understand1 was       
patented on the first day of the present
 month1 and now all in attendance at    
this ,fair have had an opportunity of   
witnessing its operations and judging   
for themselves of its merits4 ,an       
effective machine of this kind is of    
incalculable value to the farmer in     

removing at once from his fields the    
unsightly stumps that disfigure them1   
and which adds so much to the labor of  
cultivating those fields4 ,of the       
machine itself1 ,i may be permitted to  
say1 by way of digression1 that it      
surpasses in the effectiveness of its   
operations anything of the kind which ,i
 have yet had an opportunity of witness4
  ,but this is not all4 ,the mutual     
consultation and discussion consequent  
upon ,agricultural ,fairs1 begets a     
spirit of inquiry and a desire for      
information in relation to every subject
 connected with the farmer's calling1   
and to gratify which he has recourse to 
periodicals and other works in which its
 various branches are discussed and     
explained4 ,he will there learn what    
agricultural chemistry has done for him1
 and the importance and value of the    
analysis of the different kinds of soil4
 ,he will also find the result of the   
various systems of husbandry practiced  
by others as well as the effects of     

experiments made1 and thereby secure to 
himself their benefits without incurring
 their cost4 ,and although no amount of 
reading alone can make a man a farmer1  
yet the knowledge derived from a perusal
 of agricultural papers devoted to the  
interests of the tillers of the soil    
will be of incalculable value to him4   
,,sheep-,,husbandry4  ,it will          
undoubtedly be expected that            
,sheep-,husbandry1 not only from the    
importance of the subject itself1 but   
because of its being the principal      
feature in this exhibition1 should      
receive at my hands a due share of      
consideration4  ,i am free to confess1  
however1 that the subject will be       
approached with no small degree of      
hesitancy and distrust on my part1 not  
only because of my want of practical    
knowledge in regard to it1 but also     
because it may be fairly regarded1 ,i   
think1 in many respects at least1 as a  
sort of debatable ground4  ,different   
views are undoubtedly entertained by    

equally intelligent and experienced men1
 upon this as well as upon other equally
 important subjects2 and the fact ,i    
believe is well established that        
,doctors not only may but do very often 
disagree1 and that1 too1 sometimes very 
tenaciously4 ,should ,i advance opinions
 at variance with those entertained by  
well-informed and practical men who may 
listen to me1 ,i will simply remark that
 ,i am not here to lay down rules and   
establish principles for the guidance of
 any one1 but to discuss principles and 
rules of action1 as well as practical   
questions1 with a view to lead others   
the more carefully to inquire into and  
investigate the same4  ,the subject of  
,sheep-,husbandry with us is certainly  
an important one--wool being a great1   
leading staple product of our ,state2   
and very much attention is now being    
paid to it1 which is fully justified by 
the advantages of our soil and climate  
for the keeping of sheep4 ,the farmers  
of ,michigan are fully aroused to the   

importance of this interest1 and have   
labored zealously1 and at much expense  
and cost1 to improve their breeds of    
sheep1 and to foster and develop this   
great interest4 ,they have certainly    
done much in this direction2 but        
more--very much more1 ,i                
apprehend--remains yet to be done4  ,it 
must1 however1 be remembered that a     
blind zeal1 without that knowledge which
 is the result of experience1           
observation and study1 will do very     
little in the right direction4  ,sheep1 
like cattle1 should be selected for     
specific purposes1 and in reference to  
affording the greatest profit under     
existing1 and probable future           
circumstances4 ,the exclusive           
cultivation of this or that breed--of   
the fine or coarse1 or of the long or   
short wools--whether kept exclusively   
for their wool1 or both for their wool  
and the shambles1 should never be       
practiced1 unless under special and     
unusual circumstances4 ,the farmer in   

this1 as in every other agricultural    
department1 must endeavor to see his    
relation to the merchant1 and adopt a   
practice having in view the chances of  
ultimately reaching the most certain as 
well as the most profitable market2 for1
 after all1 the connection between the  
producer and the manufacturer and       
merchant1 is but a partnership for loss 
and gain4 ,the merchant will call upon  
the manufacturer for such woolen goods  
as his market demands1 irrespective of  
the mere opinion which any one may      
entertain in favor of this or that kind 
of wool2 and the manufacturer1 in his   
turn1 will call upon the farmer for just
 what is wanted4 ,the farmer should     
therefore1 in the selection of his      
flocks1 have in view the market upon    
which he is to rely for the sale of his 
wool2 the texture and weight of fleece2 
the health and vigor of body and        
constitution1 as well as the habits and 
economy of the animal4 ,he should       
sedulously seek to bring his sheep to a 

high degree of perfection in every      
respect4 ,in seeking to obtain quality  
of fleece it is a self-evident fact that
 he should not overlook quantity2 and   
that quantity should also be considered 
in connection with quality4  ,it is a   
patent fact1 of which if we needed      
evidence it may be found in this        
exhibition as well as in the numerous   
county exhibitions of similar character1
 which have recently been held1 where   
very rarely any other class of sheep are
 seen1 that a strong preference for     
fine-wooled ,merinos is very generally1 
if not almost exclusively1 entertained  
at the present time among the farmers of
 this ,state1 and money in the purchase 
of that class is of but little account4 
,it is well known that very high prices 
are being paid not only for single      
specimens but for whole flocks of this  
breed4 ,this is probably all right1 so  
far as it is necessary for the purpose  
of attaining excellence in flocks1 upon 
points already spoken of4 ,to such a    

preference there should be no objection1
 if it be not carried so far as to      
superinduce an unprofitable             
reaction--and provided that the demand  
for the grade of wool produced by these 
sheep is to have no limit1 and that all 
which can be grown is sure always to    
command a remunerative price4 ,but will 
this probably be so8 ,let us consider4  
,as ,i have already intimated1 the      
demand for any particular quality or    
kind of wool will not depend upon the   
fact that farmer ,a or farmer ,b has    
such wool to sell1 taken from sheep for 
which he paid very large prices1 and of 
which he has now a very large flock2 but
 rather because that particular kind and
 quality of wool is called for by the   
manufacturer simply to fill the orders  
of the merchant1 who in his turn is only
 desirous to supply the demands of the  
consumer4  ,from an examination of our  
imports1 it appears that in #ahfc1 of   
sixty millions of woolen goods1 about   
forty millions were manufactured of the 

longer worsted wool4 ,this wool is      
required to make a fabric of lustrous   
appearance for imitations of ,alapaca1  
and for a supply of which our           
manufacturers now depend mostly on      
foreign countries ,the price of combing 
wool has been for some time increasing  
rapidly1 in comparison with other wool1 
in consequence of its consumption       
gaining upon its growth4 ,and ,i saw    
recently that the ,british farmer had   
been urged to increase the production of
 this article to its fullest extent1    
both from a consideration of duty as    
well as of interest4  ,the manufacturer 
of ,alapaca cloths--a most beautiful    
fabric of recent introduction--and their
 extensive use1 has not only led to this
 increased demand1 but has enhanced the 
price of this kind of wool1 which will  
undoubtedly be maintained1 as new       
fabrics requiring to be made from long  
wools1 especially for the garments of   
ladies1 are now being introduced in     
great variety1 and are becoming daily   

more popular and of more general use4   
,another cause for the continued and    
increasing demand for these wools is the
 facility with which they can be used   
for the purpose of making imitations of 
,lama fabrics and ,alapacas2 and ,i have
 no doubt that factories for the        
manufacture of these goods will rapidly 
multiply in ,new ,england and elsewhere1
 and will soon1 to a very great extent  
take the place of those now consuming   
the fine wools4  ,in support of these   
views1 permit me to give the following  
extracts from the work of ,mr4 ,randall1
 the well known and enthusiastic        
champion of the ,merinos4 ,he says3     
,in the ,american market there is a much
 larger demand for medium      than fine
 wools1 and the former commands much the
 best price in      proportion to its   
cost of production4  ,again he says3    
,american producers of very fine wool   
have ever fed an expectation1      but  
never obtained the fruition of their    
hopes4  ,these are significant          

admissions1 coming as they do from such 
a quarter4         99       99       99 
99       99  ,the ,south ,downs are a   
variety of sheep of decided merit2 but  
have never1 ,i think1 been fully        
appreciated by the farmers of ,michigan4
 ,they are of large size and            
symmetrically formed1 with hardy and    
robust constitutions1 and their wool is 
fine1 short and curled1 and destitute of
 fibrous spires that give to it the     
felting properties4 ,it is neither a    
short nor a long staple1 but ranks in   
this country as middle wool4 ,the       
shorter staples are made into flannels  
and light woolen goods2 and the longer  
are extensively used for combing4 ,their
 mutton is unsurpassed2 its flavor is   
delicate1 and the flesh juicy and well  
intermixed with fat4 ,they are the most 
prolific breeders--the proportion of    
ewes bringing twins being at least fifty
 per cent4 ,i recently saw a fine flock 
of ,south ,down ewes in the ,state of   
,new ,york of which more than           

three-fourths of the whole flock had    
twins4  ,among the more desirable       
varieties or families1 for the          
production of long wool1 in this        
climate1 are1 perhaps1 the ,cotswolds1  
noble specimens of which you have had an
 opportunity of inspecting on this      
occasion2 and have1 ,i trust1 with me1  
been highly gratified at their weight of
 carcass1 combined with their fine forms
 and apparent hardiness of constitution1
 as well as the superior fleeces they   
have now yielded4  ,my purpose1 however1
 is not to advocate the claims of this  
or that class of sheep at the expense of
 any other1 but to present such views   
for your consideration as may lead to a 
more thorough and candid investigation  
of the whole matter4  ,let me say in    
continuation of this subject1 that in a 
comparison between the ,cotswold and    
other long wool varieties1 with the fine
 wool ,merinos the advantage as to      
weight of fleece is decidedly with the  
former2 and especially so when their    

respective fleeces are thoroughly       
cleansed and scoured2 for whilst the    
loss of the long wools very rarely      
reaches twenty per cent41 that of the   
,merinos generally much exceed fifty per
 cent41 and the fleeces of prize rams   
often more than seventy per cent4       
,manufacturers are already beginning to 
make a discrimination between wool that 
is clean and that which is not so4      
,suppose they buy the ,south ,down1     
,cotswold and ,leicester wools1 and     
their grades1 from which is lost by     
scouring twenty per cent4 only1 whilst  
upon the finest ,michigan wool there is 
lost fifty per cent4 and more--making   
the cost of the latter1 at ordinary     
prices1 one-third more per pound than   
the former1 how long will it be before  
they will study to increase their       
consumption of long wool when they can  
make from thirty to forty per cent4 more
 cloth with the same money8 ,they will  
certainly seek to avoid1 in some way1   
the necessity of buying with their wool 

so very large a per centage of grease   
and dirt1 as they claim they are now    
doing in the purchase of fine wools4    
,the ,south ,downs1 as ,i have already  
stated1 as well as the long wool sheep1 
have a decided advantage in the quantity
 and value of meat which they yield for 
the shambles2 for no one1 ,i apprehend1 
will deny the fact they not only yield  
more wool but very much more flesh to   
the live weight than do the ,merinos4   
,and this is a fact worthy the serious  
consideration of farmers1 and certainly 
a strong argument in favor of the more  
general breeding of long wool sheep4    
,the war1 and perhaps other causes1 have
 very seriously reduced our supply of   
meats1 the waste of which cannot soon be
 repaired4 ,many of our soldiers will   
not again return to rural life1 which   
will be quite too tame for them after   
the long1 protracted excitement of war4 
,they will seek other occupations1 and  
be consumers rather than producers of   
meats4 ,in addition to this a tide of   

foreign immigration is setting in upon  
our shores1 where they will continue to 
swarm for years to come as never before1
 hungry for meat2 and it has been       
conclusively demonstrated that the ratio
 of our ordinary increase of population 
far exceeds the production of cattle and
 sheep1 which deficiency in beef and    
mutton must hereafter be supplied in    
some way4 ,i will again quote from ,mr4 
,randall's work4 ,he says3       ,i am  
strongly impressed with the opinion that
 the production of      mutton has been 
too much disregarded as a concomitant of
 the      production of wool4 ,near     
large meat markets mutton is the prime  
consideration1 and wool but the         
accessory4  ,here1 then1 is a potent    
combination of circumstances1 which were
 never before brought together1         
guaranteeing an abundant remuneration1  
as ,i believe1 to those who may engage  
in this particular branch of husbandry2 
and the field1 although now new1 will   
nevertheless1 ,i have little doubt1 be  

very soon successfully occupied4 ,i     
cannot but hope that our ambitious and  
enterprising stock breeders will secure 
to themselves their full share4         
,perhaps ,i have already exhausted your 
patience by dwelling so long upon this  
subject2 but regarding it--as ,i most   
certainly do--as a very important one1  
and this being an appropriate occasion  
for its discussion1 you will1 ,i trust1 
bear with me a moment longer1 whilst ,i 
venture to make a few practical         
suggestions1 before taking leave of it4 
,let me then say1 in this matter of     
,sheep ,husbandry1 in addition to what  
has already been said1 that you should  
guard against extreme views of any kind4
 ,merinos are undoubtedly a valuable and
 a very desirable breed of sheep1 as    
witness the noble specimens exhibited on
 this occasion2 but you do not want them
 and nothing else1 unless they will pay 
a better profit than any other sheep2   
nor should you pay an extravagantly high
 price for them merely to enrich the    

sheep-breeders of another ,state2 nor   
because it is fashionable to do so4 ,you
 should remember that the ,south ,downs1
 the ,leicesters1 the ,cotswolds1 as    
well as some others perhaps1 also have  
their respective claims to favor and are
 worthy of your consideration4 ,my own  
opinion is that a grade of sheep may be 
produced by a cross between the         
,cotswolds and some other varieties1    
which will furnish a staple of fine1    
long1 combing wool of lustrous          
appearance1 that will prove--all things 
considered--quite as remunerative as    
fleeces from the choicest ,merinos and  
their grades4  ,you should1 also1 avoid 
the too common error of overstocking    
with sheep when the price of wool is    
high4 ,sheep ,husbandry has been a very 
profitable branch of business for the   
farmers of this ,state2 but like every  
other business it may be overdone1 and  
is liable to fluctuations and changes4  
,sheep must be well fed and cared for in
 order to produce heavy fleeces2 and    

there is certainly a limit to the number
 which may profitably be kept upon any  
farm2 and it not unfrequently happens   
that a flock of fifty sheep on a small  
farm1 will yield a larger net profit    
than would a flock of five hundred if   
kept upon the same farm4  ,when the     
price of wool is high1 the farmers are  
too reluctant to sell off their sheep1  
and thus become liable to an overstock4 
,in fact1 this is now the great danger  
of the wool-growers of ,michigan4 ,the  
best economy1 and the most judicious    
management1 will be to keep down the    
number of your flocks to your means of  
pasturage and feed2 and constantly aim  
to improve the grade and quality of     
those you retain by disposing of the    
less desirable specimens for mutton4    
,your motto should be to elevate the    
standard of your flocks1 rather than to 
increase their number beyond your means 
of feeding4  ,another evil is also to be
 guarded against1--that of giving your  
attention to sheep to the exclusion of  

cattle4 ,i am aware that in the past    
there have been--in this ,state--few    
advocates for the raising of cattle1 and
 that the sound judgment of any man     
would at once be brought into question  
who should attempt to do so4 ,but ,i    
think there has been more of prejudice  
than reason in this4 ,the farmer1 as a  
mere matter of policy1 should not       
confine himself to any one thing1 as    
thereby the fluctuations and changes    
incident to any branch of business1 may 
very possibly--nay very                 
probably--disappoint his hopes and      
expectations4 ,if he has only sheep on  
which to rely1 a sudden fall in the     
price of sheep and wool1 or a general   
prevalence of any of the diseases to    
which sheep are always liable1 would be 
a serious disaster to him2 whereas1 if  
his attention is directed to both sheep 
and cattle1 as well as to horses1 swine1
 c41 his chances of certain and         
continued success are very greatly      
multiplied4 ,in fact1 cattle are already

 commanding enormous prices in          
consequence of a general scarcity       
everywhere1 not only for the shambles1  
but for the dairy1 and this deficiency  
will not1 ,i apprehend1 be very soon    
supplied4 ,i have recently visited some 
of the more highly cultivated portions  
of the ,state of ,new ,york1 where ,i   
found good fair cows were worth one     
hundred dollars each and not easily to  
be had at that4 ,good sized1 first      
quality working oxen1 are now worth here
 #bej per pair2 and a large lot of      
cattle has recently been sold for beef  
in ,flint1 at seven cents per pound1    
live weight4 ,horses1 too1 are scarce1  
and must continue to be so for a long   
time1 as their destruction by the late  
war was very great1 and years will be   
required to replace those so destroyed1 
especially in the rebel and border      
,states1 which must be supplied from the
 ,north4 ,swine1 also1 are now          
deficient1 and principally because1 a   
few years since1 for a time the price of

 pork was very low1 and their growth was
 in consequence1 at once almost         
abandoned4 ,the farmer should take a    
broader view of things1 and pursue a    
steady1 onward course1 avoiding all     
extremes1 as well as sudden changes4 ,as
 a large portion of his farm products   
are more adapted to the feed of cattle1 
horses and swine than to sheep1 he      
should1 if for no other reason1 keep a  
due proportion of these animals1 any    
excitement in favor of sheep            
notwithstanding4 ,my own opinion most   
decidedly is1 that the time has come    
when the best interests of the farmers  
of ,michigan require that a portion of  
the attention now being devoted to sheep
 husbandry should be directed to that of
 other kinds of stock4  ,but1 to return 
again from this digression to the       
subject of sheep and wool4  ,one of the 
most serious difficulties with which the
 farmers have to contend1 is the        
combinations that are too often sought  
to be made by purchasers to secure their

 wool at the lowest possible figures4   
,the manufacturers and wool buyers1     
undoubtedly act in concert1--at least to
 some considerable extent1--to depress  
the price1 and especially so1 before and
 about the time the new clip is coming  
in4 ,they are well drilled in this1 and 
many of their operations are systematic 
and efficient4 ,at such time they       
pretend not to be in want of wool1--that
 the demand will be light1 c4 ,purchases
 are made very sparingly1 and temporary 
supplies are procured from other        
sources1 even at a higher cost than the 
farmers ask4 ,this is done upon the     
ground that an occasional sacrifice of  
this kind pays well in the end1 if      
thereby they are able to keep down the  
price of the great bulk of domestic     
wool4 ,sometimes fictitious sales are   
reported1 and various other means are   
employed to this end1 with the view that
 a few holders1 at least1--either from  
necessity or timidity1--may be induced  
to sell1 and thus aid their efforts to  

establish low prices4  ,it thus becomes 
the duty of the farmers to act with much
 consideration1 study and wisdom2 and   
purely as a matter of self-defense1 to  
adopt some concert of action among      
themselves for the protection of their  
own interests4 ,when the price is low   
and the market dull at the time of      
shearing1 there should not be too much  
haste in making sales4 ,in #ahfa1 ,i    
think it was1 the farmers were over     
anxious to sell1 for no other reason    
than because at that time the price of  
wool was very low and the market dull4  
,they then overlooked the well          
established commercial fact that        
depressed markets generally advance1    
rather than retrograde1 and that        
,government disbursements then certain  
to be made would create funds and a     
higher market1 and that the demand for  
the staple would increase4 ,they        
consequently sold for twenty-five cents 
per pound1 fleeces1 that in less than   
three months commanded forty-five to    

fifty cents4 ,they also1 in many        
instances1 offered to sell their fleeces
 for less than half the sum they would  
bring in a very few weeks4 ,on the other
 hand1 as is too common1 when wool at   
the time of shearing commands a high    
price and the market is brisk1 the      
farmers are inclined to hold on for     
still higher prices4 ,but this is       
another mistake in the opposite         
direction4 ,the rule should be1--sell   
when the market is quick1 and prices are
 good2--and hold on when the market is  
dull and prices are low4  ,before       
leaving this subject1 permit me to call 
your attention to another important     
matter in connection with sheep         
husbandry in this ,state4 ,sufficient   
care has not heretofore been taken to   
clean and otherwise properly prepare    
this great and important staple for     
market1 and the consequence has been    
that the character and representation of
 ,michigan wool1 ,i am sorry to         
discover1 has been very seriously       

lowered in the market1 and a great loss 
to the producers has thereby been       
sustained4 ,it is a fact1 perhaps not   
generally known1 that from this cause   
alone1 ,ohio wool sells for about five  
to ten cents per pound more than        
,michigan wool4 ,in an interview which  
,i recently had with an extensive       
eastern manufacturer1 who was induced   
last season for the first time to       
purchase a lot of ,michigan wool1 he    
expressed his surprise that the         
,michigan wool growers should be so     
heedless of their own interests as to   
overlook this important fact4 ,from his 
statements ,i learned that the prejudice
 of the manufacturers against ,michigan 
wool was so great that many of them     
would not buy it at hardly any price    
when they could get ,ohio wool4 ,he said
 a large proportion of our wool was     
poorly washed1 and that this was true of
 a great proportion of our finest and   
best lots2 and that it was not only sent
 to market in this condition1 but was   

badly and slovenly put up1 with much    
larger twine than they use in           
,ohio1--the fleeces1 also having a torn 
and jagged appearance2 and many of them1
 when opened1 were found to contain the 
unwashed tags4 ,he1 however1 expressed  
himself highly pleased with the quality 
of the wool he had purchased1 and said  
it compared favorably in that respect   
with any he had ever received from      
,ohio2 and he believed if our wool could
 be sent to market as clean and in as   
good condition otherwise as the ,ohio   
wool1--and the prejudice which has been 
created against it1 in consequence of   
this not having been the case           
heretofore1 could once be removed1 he   
doubted not that ,michigan wool would   
command in the market the highest prices
 and the most ready sales4  ,this is    
certainly a serious matter1 and prompt  
and efficient measures1 of some kind1   
should at once be taken to remedy the   
evil2 and every wool-grower should feel1
 as he really is1 personally interested 

in the work4 ,i commend this subject1   
gentlemen1 to your serious              
consideration1 and trust some concert of
 action will be had to prevent a        
continuance of this great evil1 and to  
place ,michigan wool where it should    
most certainly stand1 at the head of the
 list4 ,if this can be done in no other 
way1 ,i would suggest the formation of a
 ,wool-,growers ,board of ,trade1 or    
some other efficient organization for   
the purpose--if for no other--of tracing
 out and holding up to scorn every      
individual who shall aid in inflicting  
so serious an injury to this great      
interest1 and of doing so great a wrong 
to his neighbors and fellow-citizens1   
and that1 too1 from the base and        
fraudulent motive of selling dirt and   
tags as fine wool--for be assured that  
any imposition of this sort1 practiced  
upon manufacturers1 will recoil upon our
 own heads2 and where one cent will thus
 be saved1 thousands1 yes1 tens of      
thousands of dollars1 will1 as a        

necessary consequence1 be indirectly    
lost to the farmers of ,michigan4 ,and  
the loss they have sustained from this  
cause during the last three or four     
years will undoubtedly exceed the       
enormous sum of two millions of dollars4
  ,but ,i must take leave of this       
subject4   ,,the ,,state ,,agricultural 
,,college4  ,permit me now to occupy    
your attention for a brief space whilst 
,i speak of this ,institution--the      
,state ,agricultural ,college--upon     
whose grounds we are now assembled1 and 
where by the kindness and courtesy of   
its officers1 we have been so cordially 
welcomed and so pleasantly entertained4 
,it is not1 ,i think1 inappropriate to  
the occasion that ,i should do so4  ,let
 me remind you then1 in the outset of my
 remarks on this subject1 that this     
,institution is in its early infancy2   
and that notwithstanding the beautiful  
landscape which is spread out before us2
 with its verdant fields just springing 
into luxuriance1 dotted with the finest 

specimens of the choicest breeds of     
sheep and cattle1 with the ,college     
grounds skillfully laid out and now in  
process of being tastefully adorned by  
,art1 a few years only have been        
numbered with the past since not only   
this spot1 but all the surrounding      
country1 as well as almost the entire   
territory of our young1 but noble and   
now highly prosperous ,state1 was an    
unbroken wilderness1 covered with the   
primeval forest1 the entangled woods    
giving shelter and concealment to wild  
and ferocious beasts1 as well as to the 
wandering and savage red man4 ,what a   
change has thus been wrought in a few   
short years6 the result of the toil and 
privation of the adventurous pioneers1  
of whom many have already become        
intelligent1 enterprising and forehanded
 farmers4  ,and more than this3         
,michigan1 although but recently        
settled1 and one of the youngest in the 
great sisterhood of ,states1 has been   
the first to establish a professional   

school for the agricultural education of
 her sons1 in which is not only taught  
the sciences and their application to   
agriculture1 but also agriculture as an 
art1 with such experiments as are       
calculated to impart a more thorough and
 practical knowledge of the same2 and   
connected with the study of these a     
department of manual labor2 the         
legitimate effect of all which is to    
increase the student's desire for       
knowledge as well as his love of study1 
and to remove the barrier too often     
existing between the educated and       
laboring classes--which can only be done
 by giving a better education to those  
who labor1 and by removing the          
prejudices of the educated against      
labor4  ,but ,i propose to speak more   
definitely of the aims and objects of   
this ,institution1 as well as its claims
 to the favor and support of the farmers
 of ,michigan4 ,they need not be told1  
,i think1 that its design is to promote 
their benefit4 ,but have the farmers of 

this ,state1 as a class1 heretofore     
recognized this fact8 ,and have they in 
return for the advantages which it      
proposes to them1 given it that         
countenance and encouragement which it  
claims at their hands8 ,i fear not4     
,there are1 it is true1 noble exceptions
 to this2 yet it is also true that a    
large proportion of their number have   
looked upon it with suspicion and       
distrust1 as though its purpose was to  
do them a wrong--to inflict upon them an
 evil4 ,they have not merely withheld   
from it their aid and support1 but their
 active influence has too often been    
exerted to its disadvantage and         
prejudice4 ,this is certainly           
wrong--very wrong6  ,let us look a      
little into this matter4 ,is            
knowledge--a knowledge of those sciences
 which are intimately connected with    
agriculture as an art--of no value to   
the farmer8 ,is it necessary that he    
should be a dolt in order to be fitted  
for his vocation8 ,will ignorance and   

bad husbandry increase his crops or     
enable him to find a better market for  
his products8 ,or1 will his enjoyment1  
in his daily round of toil1 be any      
greater because unconscious that he is  
groping his way along in the dark8 ,no6 
,for however that may have been in the  
past it is certainly not the case now4  
,and although ignorance1 as it is said1 
may be bliss1 yet in these days1 at     
least1 it must be a sort of negative    
bliss4  ,ignorance is certainly not     
power2 nor does it lead to wealth as a  
means of comfortable support and        
enjoyment--which is the legitimate end  
of all labor4 ,will ignorance give      
respectability1 or sweeten the toil of  
the husbandman8 ,will it elevate his    
thoughts and desires to higher and      
nobler aims1 or inspire him to look from
 nature up to nature's ,god8 ,will it   
lead him instead of a fixed stolid gaze 
upon the earth over which he walks1 to  
engage in the study of those great and  
omnipotent laws which regulate all      

matter1 and which so wonderfully1 yet   
certainly control both the animal and   
vegetable kingdoms8 ,no6 ,it will       
accomplish none of these desirable ends1
 but the very reverse of them all4      
,this proposition is so self-evident to 
intelligent men1 that to advance it to  
such an audience as the one before      
me--except as the basis of an           
argument--must be entirely superfluous4 
,but what was the social position of the
 farmers1 let me ask--even in this      
highly favored country--fifty or sixty  
years ago8 ,were they not then regarded 
as men without knowledge--devoid almost 
of sensibilities--unfitted for anything 
except the mere routine of daily labor  
and toil--and capable only of delving in
 the soil day by day8 ,and were they not
 then considered1 even by themselves as 
well as by others1 as occupying the very
 lowest position in the scale of        
society8 ,such were the facts4 ,every   
person who was regarded as too ignorant 
and uncultivated for other pursuits1    

was1 by common consent1 considered as   
having a prescriptive right to farming  
as a vocation4 ,in fact ignorance was   
regarded as the proper and sufficient   
diploma for the farmer4 ,and as a       
consequence he was not only poor and    
without influence1 but too often        
considered by others as without         
respectability merely because he was a  
farmer2 and all that was conceded to    
him--in fact all that he claimed for    
himself--was a simple subsistence upon  
the hardest fare1 without any of the    
luxuries1 and very often with a scarcity
 of the necessaries of life4  ,remember1
 ,i am speaking of the farmers1 as a    
class1 fifty or sixty years ago--before 
there were any county fairs1 or         
agricultural colleges1 newspapers or    
magazines1 and when agriculture was the 
result of labor without knowledge1      
system or calculation4  ,but although   
the farmers have emerged from this      
condition very slowly1 yet what is their
 position now8 ,are they not regarded as

 being on a level at least with those of
 other callings in social importance8   
,do they not occupy positions of        
confidence and trust in society8 ,are   
they not found in our ,legislative      
,halls in fair proportion with men of   
different pursuits8 ,this is certainly  
true3 and the advance alone is the      
result of a higher mental culture--of a 
wider range of thought--and of an       
increased fund of knowledge1 and        
consequently of an improved system of   
farming4  ,and if the advance of        
agriculture and the condition of the    
farmer have been tardy1 as compared with
 the improvement in other departments of
 labor--in other avocations of life--it 
is solely because science and study have
 not as soon been applied to            
agriculture--and because also the farmer
 has not been permitted the advantages  
resulting from so early a development of
 facts connected with his calling as    
have other classes of men4  ,but the    
great work is now fairly in progress of 

elevating the farmer to his true        
position in the social order of         
society--of teaching him that his       
vocation1 instead of being the dull1    
unintellectual lot of the ignorant1 is  
the most noble and dignified1 as well as
 the most conducive to men's happiness  
in which he can be engaged2 and nothing 
is now wanting to secure the steady     
advancement of this work1 but for the   
farmers to do justice to themselves and 
to their calling1 by laying hold of the 
means for that end which are placed     
within their reach4 ,assuming all this  
to be undeniably true1 where can be     
found more potent agencies in the work  
of elevation than ,agricultural         
,colleges8 ,and why1 then1 should any   
farmer in this ,state hold back from    
giving this ,institution his cordial and
 hearty support8 ,and stranger          
still--why should he put himself in     
antagonism to its success8 ,such an     
attitude1 to my mind1 is not merely     
unwise1 but preposterous--yes1 suicidal4

 ,if the ,college is not what it should 
be1 the more his self-interest should   
prompt him to bestow upon it his aid4   
,it is the ,farmers'                    
,institution--founded for his benefit1  
at much cost2 and if he does not feel an
 interest in it and labor to make it a  
success1 who will8 ,who should8  ,but   
why have a portion of the farmers of    
,michigan seemed to look with distrust  
upon this ,institution1 and in some     
cases1 ,i regret to say1 seemed to      
regard it as a sort of wrong to         
themselves2 and if they have not        
actually opposed1 have1 at least1       
withheld from it their support8 ,i must 
confess1 that should ,i give what seemed
 to me to be the true answer to these   
questions1 it might be regarded by some 
who have not very carefully looked into 
the subject1 as an assumption on my part
 unwarranted by facts4  ,would that it  
were so2 that ,i were mistaken4 ,but    
having given the subject some little    
thought and investigation1 you will1 ,i 

trust1 permit me the honest expression  
of my own views upon this important     
matter4 ,it is for that purpose and none
 other1 that ,i am here4 ,but you1 ,mr4 
,president1 as well as all those now    
present1 can certainly take no personal 
exception to these views1 as the very   
fact of such presence shows that you are
 not of the class to which ,i may       
allude2 and ,i am gratified in being    
able to say that ,i believe there are   
very many others1 not present1 who are  
the warm and devoted friends of this    
,institution2 and who1 with you1 ,i most
 certainly hope1 constitute the rule and
 not the exception4  ,but the answer3   
,and in giving which1 ,i will avail     
myself of the privilege conceded to a   
certain class of men1--that of answering
 one question by asking another4 ,why   
then do men ever oppose or neglect their
 own interests8 ,to my mind1 only from  
want of knowledge1 from prejudice or    
self-will--or some other of the same    
brood of enemies to man's success in    

laudable undertakings2 and of which     
ignorance is the chief1 and may be      
regarded as the prolific source of all  
the others4 ,in this case1 undoubtedly1 
as in others1 some are opposed from a   
mere notion of opposition1 or from a    
mere whim2 others again1 simply to agree
 with1 or differ from1 some1 who are    
either in favor or opposed2 whilst some 
must oppose whatever they themselves do 
not originate2--and1 others again1 have 
no doubt been led honestly to entertain 
a distrust which has finally grown into 
an opposition1 through the influence of 
misrepresentations1 or from a perversion
 of facts by those whose interests1 from
 some cause1 are at variance with its   
success4  ,but ,i am quite certain that 
the whole opposition and indifference to
 this ,institution1 so far as it may    
come from the farmers themselves1 is    
unnatural and fictitious1 and will soon 
pass away as does everything else which 
is built upon such foundation4 ,it is   
said by some that the ,institution has  

been a mistake from the beginning2 that 
it was located wrong2 that it was not   
started right2 that it has been badly   
managed2 and that it is an expensive    
concern1 and will never pay2 and a great
 deal more4 ,but it is very easy to say 
all this1 and yet there may be very     
little reality in it1 and still less    
reason4  ,let me here say to the        
objectors and fault-finders1--suppose   
all this be true8 who then is to blame8 
,is the ,institution itself responsible 
for all these mistakes8 ,or1 are they   
not rather the consequences of          
unavoidable and untoward circumstances1 
magnified and aggravated by your        
opposition1 and over which its friends  
and managers could have no possible     
control4 ,i admit the probability that  
the early success of the ,college would 
have been more certainly secured1 had an
 old and highly cultivated farm been    
purchased for the purpose2 but for this 
the means were wanting4 ,you say1       
perhaps1 that ,college students should  

not be required to clear land and dig   
stumps4 ,true2 but when the officers and
 managers of such an ,institution are   
compelled to do this1 and to reach the  
end desired as best they may through    
such means1 they are certainly entitled 
to all praise1 and richly deserve the   
meed of commendation for even partial   
success1 and which should be all the    
dearer to us because of being reached   
under such adverse circumstances4 ,that 
the facilities which the ,college now   
possesses are inadequate to the proper  
accommodation of those who wish to avail
 themselves of its advantages1 and even 
to the extent of the limited number of  
students now belonging to it1 is        
certainly to be regretted4 ,but this is 
an evil to be overcome by the patient   
and persistent efforts of its friends1  
and not by the antagonism and opposition
 of its enemies2 by making the most out 
of the limited means at command1 and not
 by abandoning the whole because the    
means are not now all we could desire4  

,that its management may have been a    
matter of criticism with those who have 
known but little about it1 or who have  
taken little or no pains to investigate 
the facts1 is not strange2 yet1 for one1
 ,i am clearly of the opinion that--when
 all the difficulties with which it has 
had to contend1 are duly considered--its
 management1 thus far1 has been all that
 any person could reasonably hope for or
 expect2 and more--that its officers and
 professors are entitled to great credit
 and much praise1 for securing under so 
much discouragement1 that degree of     
success which is apparent here even to  
the casual observer2 and claim of us1   
and are entitled to receive at our      
hands1 a proper and just recognition of 
their valuable services1 and the        
fidelity with which they have been      
rendered4         99       99       99  
99       99  ,farmers of ,michigan6 ,be 
not led astray by such objections as ,i 
have stated1 or by any others of a      
similar import4 ,you have here a noble  

,institution1 in faithful and competent 
hands--one that will soon be of         
incalculable value to you--and one1 too1
 that will reflect much credit not only 
upon you1 but upon the whole ,state4    
,and although it may not now be all you 
could wish or desire1 yet when we       
consider what it now is in view of the  
difficulties with which it has had to   
contend1 we have a sure guarantee1 that 
it will yet be a success and will       
realize all your reasonable             
expectations4 ,let me ask of you1 in all
 earnestness and candor1 to give it now 
your warm1 your hearty support1 so that 
you may not only assist in securing for 
yourselves and the public the great end 
of its establishment1 but that you may1 
by and by1 safely1 and without the fear 
of successful contradiction1 lay claim  
to the honor of being among its early   
friends and upholders4 ,there is        
something noble and magnanimous in      
rendering substantial aid and support to
 a cause in the hour of its weakness and

 in the time of its need2 whilst there  
is something not only selfish but mean1 
in stepping forward with proffers of    
assistance1 and with spurious claims of 
imaginary or intended favor1 when such  
assistance is no longer needed1 and when
 the heat and burden of the day has been
 borne by others2 for1 be assured1 that 
the time is coming when no farmer will  
covet the distinction of having been    
among the number of the enemies of this 
,institution4  ,the advantages of our   
,agricultural ,college1 in connection   
with an experimental farm1 are too      
obvious to every intelligent mind to    
require that ,i should occupy your time 
in dwelling upon them4 ,and1 when ,i    
speak of an experimental farm1 ,i do not
 mean a mere model farm1 by which a     
specimen of good farming only is        
exhibited2 but1 like this1 a farm       
embracing a variety of soils--adapted to
 an extensive range of experiments--and 
where the value of the different kinds  
of grain may be tested1 as well as the  

relative advantages of different modes  
of tillage2 the relative effect and     
value1 by actual trial1 as well as by   
analysis1 of various manures as         
fertilizers2 and the economy of labor2  
as well as the comparative value of the 
different breeds of cattle1 sheep1      
horses1 swine1 c41 c41 with a view to   
the introduction and dissemination among
 the farmers of the ,state1 of such as  
should prove the most profitable2 or of 
such as could be most successfully used 
for obtaining the most desirable grades4
 ,such a farm as this1 under the        
efficient and skillful management of its
 present able and persevering           
,superintendent1 cannot fail to be of   
very great benefit to the farmers of    
this ,state1 and should1 both as a      
matter of duty to others and of interest
 to themselves1 receive their united and
 generous support4 ,and ,i am firmly of 
the opinion that when they shall afford 
this ,institution such aid1 it will soon
 become one of the first among our noble

 institutions of learning1 and will be a
 just cause of pride1 not merely to the 
farmers themselves1 but to every        
intelligent person throughout the whole 
extent of our noble ,state4  ,and now   
let me invoke1 for the future prosperity
 and success of this ,college1 not      
merely the liberality of the farmers--or
 what they may regard as such--in the   
payment of a trifling tax for its       
maintenance1 but what is of equal       
importance1 and which it has a right to 
demand in justice to itself--their      
earnest advocacy of its claims4         
,,agricultural ,,college ,,students4    
,but ,i have already1 ,i fear1          
trespassed quite too far upon your      
patience1 and should1 perhaps1 before   
this1 have relieved you from further    
infliction4 ,yet seeing before me1      
many--if not all--of the students of    
this ,college1 ,i must beg your         
indulgence for a moment longer1 whilst  
,i address to them a very few remarks4  
,let me say1 then1 to you1 young        

gentlemen1 that you are now in the      
enjoyment of privileges for the         
acquisition of that knowledge so        
essential to success in after life1     
which were denied to me--and the absence
 of which ,i have felt as a great and   
serious loss through the whole period of
 my existence4 ,see to it that you place
 a just value upon these privileges1 and
 that you do not abuse them4 ,whilst    
most of you1 ,i trust1 are fitting      
yourselves for the employment of farming
 as an avocation1 some1 perhaps1 may be 
looking forward to other professions and
 pursuits4 ,i1 however1 on this         
occasion1 must confine my remarks to    
those of the former class4  ,and to such
 ,i would briefly remark1 that the value
 and importance of an agricultural      
education to the youth whose lives are  
to be devoted to the highly reputable   
occupation of farming1 begin now to be  
admitted1 and happy will it be for our  
common country1 when such education     
shall be regarded as a necessity4 ,labor

 is no longer degrading1 but is         
creditable and dignified2 and           
agricultural pursuits are no longer     
regarded as disgraceful or ignoble by   
any except the fop and the coxcomb1 but 
are of all employments the most         
honorable in which men can be engaged4  
,nor is it1 as has been too often       
supposed1 a cheerless life of toil and  
fatigue1 but has many substantial and   
endearing charms4 ,it is also the       
fountain-head for the supply of all our 
wants2 and when contrasted with other   
employments1 its advantages cannot fail 
to be appreciated4 ,whilst those who    
seek a profession must be content to    
spend many weary years of wasting       
study--of constant struggle--before they
 can begin to live1 the farmer has at   
once before him1 health and quiet1 ease 
and contentment1 as well as the         
enjoyment of sober pleasures which do   
not cloy1 and whilst the chances of     
those who engage in commercial pursuits 
are1 that about ninety-five out of every

 one hundred are destined to failure1   
the farmer is exempt from such a hazard1
 for the chances of failure with him are
 found to be only about four in every   
one hundred4  ,i do not1 of course1 in  
this comparison1 include those who1     
having no land of their own1 are obliged
 to toil for others as laborers1 and who
 cannot therefore be ranked as farmers4 
,to the farmer1 if each day does bring  
its labors1 it also brings its          
pleasures2 and even as he toils in his  
dusty fields1 he can derive unalloyed   
pleasures1 not only from the study and  
care of his bleating flocks and lowing  
herds1 but from the prospect of an      
abundant harvest as he looks over his   
fields of waving grain or contemplates  
his orchards of rich and luscious       
fruits4 ,and each day renews to him     
these pure and substantial pleasures1   
which afford not only gratification1 but
 health4 ,with the farmer there are no  
all-absorbing cares1 no corroding       
anxieties1 no vitiating excitement4 ,he 

is measurably freed from the seductions 
of enervating pleasures4 ,from the green
 fields and fresh air he drinks constant
 draughts of inspiration4 ,his great    
study is1 or should be1 ,nature and     
,nature's ,god4 ,to him each season has 
its profits and its pleasures2 for he   
knows that while he rests or sleeps his 
fields are working for him4 ,he is also 
freed1 in a great measure1 from the     
baleful influences which attend that    
false ambition so often excited by other
 pursuits4  ,my young friends1 when you 
leave your ,alma ,mater and fix upon    
your route for life's journey1 let your 
choice of a profession be carefully and 
wisely made2 and then1 with undeviating 
course1 pursue it steadily and          
persistently to the end1 for in this    
only will be found your reasonable      
chances of ultimate success4         99 
99       99       99       99  ,mr4     
,president1 ,i have already detained you
 and this audience quite too long2 and  
with many thanks for your kind and      

patient attention1 ,i will now bring my 
remarks to a close4         99       99 
99       99       99  ,transcriber's    
note   ,the following changes have been 
made to the text3  ,page #aa3 recently  
visted changed to recently visited4     
,page #ab3 not generally kown changed to
 not generally known4  ,page #ai3       
knowlege so essential changed to        
knowledge so essential4