MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COL LEGE, chartered in 1855, and opened in 1857, situated at Lansing. It was the first institution for agricultural education established in the United States. The Michigan State constitu tion provided that legislature shall as soon as practicable provide for the establish ment of an agricultural school.a In 1850 the ' legislature petitioned Congress for a grant of land for an agricultural college within the State, but no attention was paid' to' this peti tion. In 1855, however, the legislature appro priated land and money for such a college and located i: on a farm of 684 acres. From that time until 1862 the college was supported by State appropriations, and in that year received control of the Federal land grant. The courses offered in the college include full four-year courses in agriculture, engineering, home eto nomics, forestry and veterinary medicine. Also '
short courses (varying from 8 to 16 weeks in length) in general agriculture, horticulture, poultry, creamery management and cheese making. Graduate work is also provided for. The college holds each year, during the winter months, about 500 farmers' institutes through out the State. The State Experimental Station is also connected with the college and receives' a separate Federal appropriation annually. The extension work is carried on co-operatively with the United States Department of Agri culture under the terms of Act of Congress of 8 May 1914, known as the Smith-Lever Act. The farm consists of about 1,013 acres. and the buildings are valued at about $900,000. The library (1916) contains about 40,000 volumes. The total annual income is approximately ; $750,000; the students number 2,000 and the faculty and assistants 140.