The coming of President Northrop marks an era in the history of the University. The days of foundation laying were fairly past. The results of the years of labor that had been so unselfishly given by John S. Pillsbury, Dr. Folwell and other members of the faculty, were just beginning to make themselves felt. The faculty and regents were back of the new president in a way to insure the carrying out of the plans suggested by him so that they should reach their highest efficiency. The high schools. of the state were just beginning to send their finished product to the University for further

year President Northrop was formally inaugurated in the newly erected coliseum.

SOME OF PRESIDENT NORTHROP'S PROBLEMS.

Despite the favoring conditions surrounding the beginning of President Northrop's administration there were problems which he had to meet, sufficient to tax the wisdom and executive ability of any man. One of the first problems was inherited from the previous administration and seemed no nearer settlement at the opening of President Northrop's administration than it had a number of years before, namely, the question of an agricultural education that would

training and everything conspired together to bring about a rapid increase in attendance and a rapid development of departments hitherto organized merely on paper.

The year President Northrop came to the University two buildings were erected at the department of agriculture, a farm house at a cost of $25,000 and a barn at a cost of $15,000 and the old coliseum was erected on the campus at a cost of $35,000. During the first year of the president's administration the agricultural experiment station was organized and the college of engineering was organized as an independent college and at the close of the first

This problem

reach the agricultural classes. was not to be settled in a day. Despite every effort that was made to enlist their interest, the people engaged in agriculture refused to come to the University to secure training to fit them for the highest usefulness in their chosen calling. The fact that the question had not been solved by the University was sufficient ground for those who believed in an independent agricultural college, to press their claims to have the University divided and two separate institutions created. These claims were pressed with great vigor and even bitterness during the early years of the administration of President North

rop. When the legislature of 1887 met, this feeling had reached an acute stage and that year President Northrop made an address before the State Horticultural Society in the house of representatives upon "Agricultural education." The common sense, straight-forward, plea of President Northrop made itself felt and had weight in preventing unfriendly action during that session. It was during this session of the legislature that a series of charges were made against the University and its regents and formally presented to the legislature. A committee of investigation was appointed and the investigation was held, none of the charges being sustained by any evidence.

AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION ON TRIAL.

A short review of what had been done by the University to solve the problem of agricultural education is worth while at this point. The creation of a department of agriculture was provided for in the charter of the University (1868) and the college was one of the first to be organized. The organization which was merely tentative and lasted but two years, provided for a college of agriculture and mechanic arts as a single organization. In 1871, at the time of the reorganization, the college of agriculture was established as an independent college. Originally the work of this college was the same as for the college of science, literature and the arts up to the end of the sophomore year. The degree of bachelor of agriculture. was conferred upon those who completed this work and in addition two years of special agricultural work covering the junior and senior years. Provision had early been made that "any person not a candidate for a degree, who may appear to be competent to receive instruction, may attend the classes and undergo examinations in any subject and if successful, will receive a certificate to that effect." In addition to the regular college course an elementary course outlined especially to meet the needs of prospective farmers was provided. In 1875-76 a special lecture course for men engaged in farming was offered upon conditions that thirty persons signify their intention to pursue the course.

This course was to cover ten weeks and to be both scientific and practical, no fees, examinations or conditions were prescribed for admission. Special effort was made to secure the attendance of men actually engaged in farming upon this special lecture course and although the course was offered without restrictions of any kind for five years, the demand was never sufficient to justify its being given. This scheme was a pet hobby of President Folwell who felt that it promised great things provided farmers could be secured to take advantage of what the course offered. Professor Lacy, who was head of the agricultural department at that time, never approved of Dr. Folwell's plans in this respect and the co-operation necessary to put it into effect was never secured until after the coming of Professor Edward D. Porter, who Professor succeeded Professor Lacy in 1880.

Porter approved this plan and backed it with enthusiasm. This accounts for the fact that when a slight change was made in the plan and the lecture course was shortened, 191 students were enrolled during the year 1881-82, the course being open to both men and women and the session lasting but four weeks.

The following year the attendance upon this lecture course increased to 281 and the attendance in other courses in this college increased to ten. The special lecture course for the year 1883-84 had a total enrollment of 1,118 persons who attended one or more lectures and registered their names and post office addresses. This large enrollment was secured by offering popular lectures upon subjects relating to agriculture and home economics open to both men and wom

en.

These lectures were given at the college of agriculture on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of each week. There were two lectures each day, one at ten and another at two o'clock. Each lecture was followed by a conference and open discussion.

The first week was devoted to horticulture and the amber cane industry; the second week to the breeding and rearing of domestic animals, their diseases and treatment; the third