manure.

land, and this no doubt is the case when the seed is ripened; but the introduction of new manures has rendered this objection less important than it formerly was, and it has been found that the refuse of flax itself is a good manure, and that the water in which it has been steeped is a good liquid The water of flax-steeping pits or ponds is often strong enough to kill the fish of rivers into which it has been allowed to flow. Another drawback to the production of flax fiber has been the fluctuations in the market price of the staple, as well as the great amount of labor required to produce good fiber. That well known philanthropist,. Peter Cooper, of New York, has carefully prepared a table from the United States Reports of 1874, showing the average value per acre of the wheat product of the principal wheat growing States, making that of Indiana $11.47, and that of Ohio $15.60. This table is printed on page 358 of the Indiana Agricultural Report for 1875, with a report from the Northwestern Flax Society of Ohio, under the head of "Flax Versus Wheat," showing that in 1868 flax was the most profitable crop raised in Morrow county, yielding $27.08 per acre. "Facts that should be prudently used by every live man in the country. The United States annually import about twenty-five million dollars' worth of flax and its manufactures. Should not these be supplied by American linens from domes-tic flax?"

It was a source of much surprise to the foreigners that attended the Centennial Exhibition to find that in a country so extensive as ours, with a soil so varied, and with a climate so well adapted to its growth, that the production of the flax fiber should be almost entirely neglected, and that with a people so enterprising and energetic we have scarcely made an attempt to introduce the linen manufacture into this country.

Indiana has all the advantages of climate, soil, pure water for steeping,. and suitable autumns for preparing the fiber, as well as enterprise and skill for the construction of machinery for dressing and working up this crop. I can see no good reason why her people should not reach forth and seize this prize. Why should not this source of wealth be added to her other resources?

[NOTE.-The superiority of American flax is clearly illustrated by a comparison of the samples from different countries, on exhibition in the rooms of the Board of Agriculture. -SECRETARY.]

MECHANICAL DEPARTMENT.

R. M. LOCKHART AND J. W. COFIELD, SUPERINTENDENTS. The display in agricultural machinery exceeded that of any other exhibition that has ever been held in the State. The number and variety of the machines shown attracted a great deal of attention, and the many improvements that have been made in farm implements within the past ten years have so greatly changed many of them in appearance and in their practical workings, that it would seem almost impossible to bring

them to a greater state of perfection. We are pleased to state that a great amount of the machinery on exhibition was manufactured in our own State, showing conclusively that we are not behind those of our neighboring States in the extent of our manufactures.

The buildings allotted to the display of farm machinery were not sufficient to enable us to place them all under cover, and it affords us pleasure to state that we had no complaint from exhibitors whom we were compelled to allot space outdoors. Our experience prompts us to assert, that all the exhibitors in this class ask, is a fair chance to show their machinery to advantage, and that they do not insist on the award of cash premiums.

Indiana State Agricultural College and Farm,

OR PURDUE UNIVERSITY.

The University Hall, consisting of the chapel, class room, cabinet, library, offices, etc., was dedicated to the purposes for which it was erected on Wednesday, November 21, 1877, in the presence of a large assemblage of citizens of the State. Among those present were Governor Williams, Ex-Gov. Hendricks, Hon. B. C. Shaw, State Treasurer; Professor E. T. Cox, State Geologist; President Moss, of the State University, at Bloomington; President Jones, of the State Normal School, at Terre Haute; Messrs. Sutherland, Haynes, Ragan, Nelson and Heron, of the State Board of Agriculture; the Board of Trustees and Faculty of the Institution, and prominent citizens of Lafayette and vicinity. The building is admirably arranged for the purpose intended, having two sets of stairways and wide halls. It is 154 by 76 feet in grand dimensions, and four stories high, including the mansard story, with a basement, which is one-half above ground, and makes an imposing appearance, on an elevated location, with an east front, overlooking the city of Lafayette, nearly one mile distant. The chapel will seat five hundred persons, and is appropriately adorned with a full length portrait of Judge Purdue, in honor of whom the University is named.

President White opened the exercises with a few remarks upon the unprepared condition in which the arrival of dedication day found them, (the workmen having only left the building the night before) and announced that the exercises would be opened with prayer by Rev. H. A. Gobin. The prayer was followed by music, "They that trust in the Lord," by a choir, led by Professor Ruggles.

The President announced that Mr. Coffroth, as President of the Board, had expected to make the formal presentation address, but had declined, and that ex-Governor Hendricks had kindly consented to take his place. He then introduced Mr. Hendricks.

OPENING ADDRESS.

"Ladies and Gentlemen: I am here in response to a kind invitation from President White. I think, however, if I had known that I was expected to be here to deliver an address, I should not have been here. But I am here, and the difficulty is, simply, what I ought to do. I suppose the course of study pursued here and the objects of this institution are known to you all. It is not a college-not a university-in the ordinary acceptance of those terms. It is a seat of learning for a particular purpose; its object is to promote the agricultural and mechanical arts—including, also, military and advanced science, and not excluding general science and the classics.

"But the foundation of it all, so far as I know, is expressed in this idea -a course of education which shall be of special benefit to the industrial classes in Indiana, who are engaged in the ordinary pursuits of life. This, I understand, to be the definite object of this institution, and so it is expressed in the acts of the Legislature of Indiana and the Congress of the United States, which gave birth to this institution.

"It is to separate by the course of studies pursued here from the ordinary institutions in the country devoted to the pursuits of learning in general and advanced science. But, as I have said, it is the particular province of Purdue University to promote the interests of the agricultural and mechanical arts-these two great interests that do more than aught else in upholding our glorious State. A donation was made by Congress of nearly 400,000 acres of land. The portion of it that fell to this State was sold by the trustees, who made it realize a handsome sum, and through the careful management of those into whose hands the matter was committed, there was perhaps $200,000 realized.

"Mr. Pierce, who has been the treasurer of this institution, has seen to it that this money was productive all the time, till this institution was fairly on its feet, so that at the last report, made near the close of my administration, the endowment was nearly $365,000. No part of that can go for the improvement of this property, for the building of this house, or any other house, but to support the institution after it is in full operation. "The improvements that are made on this property-this splendid building which we dedicate this evening-comes from the magnificent donation made by Judge Purdue, and the donation given by Tippecanoe county to secure the appropriation of the Legislature so that the building should be erected at this place.

"I understand to-day the improvements are complete. This temple of learning is finished; this college building, in which the classes meet to make recitations to the professors, and to hear their instructions, I see is a convenient and suitable building. What house in Indiana is of more interest or importance to the people than this, which we dedicate this day to the peculiar purposes for which it was founded by the acts of Congress and the Legislature of Indiana, that is to promote the interests of agriculture and mechanical arts.

"Agriculture is the base of our wealth and prosperity, and this same glory is shared by the mechanical arts, and it is to the promotion of these two things that this institution is devoted for all time to come. I understand, through the able and careful management of the trustees and faculty of this institution, its finances are in a most favorable condition, and this house is now completed, and the professors and their classes that gather in their rooms have now commenced the practical solution of the question whether labor can receive a support from science and all other kinds of learning. [Applause.] Not the compliment only, but the support and encouragement. It remains to be seen whether this institution can be so conducted that the mechanic in his shop, the farmer in his field, will receive a lasting and useful benefit from this institution. There is no advancement of labor like that which makes it intelligent. Intelligence, I repeat, is the natural and proper adornment of labor. So that we see every citizen of Indiana has a personal and direct interest in this institution which has for its purpose making labor more intelligent.

"I have taken a great deal of interest in this institution. During my administration I was over here almost every quarter. I do not know that I should have been here any more were it not for the kind invitation from your President to be here to-day. To the President and faculty of this institution I would say, carry out the noble and beneficent objects which are contemplated in the foundation of the university, and the blessing of the citizens of our noble Commonwealth will return upon your heads.

"Mr. President, I understand from you that this house is now completed and well adapted to the purpose for which it was intended. I see myself the rooms are conveniently located; these walls are firmly built, and may last for centuries. After you and your associates have passed to your rewards, this institution will still remain an ornament to your city, a source of blessing to the State. I congratulate myself and the people of Indiana on the completion of this building, devoted to the adornment of agriculture and the mechanical arts, with all the beauties and powers of science. These are the keys which I deliver to you on behalf of the trustees. It remains with you and your associates to make this institution a source of power and a blessing to the laboring classes of our State." [Great applause.]

RESPONSE BY PRESIDENT WHITE.

On receiving the keys, President White feelingly remarked:

"In accepting these keys I accept, in a formal way, what has been already undertaken. I feel, and the faculty associated with me feel, that the task which has been intrusted to us is one requiring great wisdom, energy and patience. An institution of this peculiar character must be developed. Like all other institutions of learning, it must have upon its head the gray hairs of experience before it can arrive at what it was intended to be. It requires twenty-one years before the child is supposed to reach the age of manhood. And shall we require a less time for the development of an institution like this university, considering the peculiar objects for which it is founded?

"No; it must have time to grow and develop itself before it can arrive at the full measure of its energies. It is but an infant now. Judge not the deeds of its manhood by the work of to-day. I have increasing confidence in the success of this institution. I believe that it will accomplish a great work in a few years.

"Before the completion of this building we have been hampered in all our operations. We have had classes reciting in different buildings, and some even in dormitories, but now we feel we have an opportunity to carry on our instructions without anything to hinder."

The President extended his remarks at some length, expressing his hope for the future of the institution, and its growth and development to the highest usefulness. Concluding, he announced that Rev. J. W. T. Boothe would offer the dedicatory prayer, which would conclude the formal dedicatory exercises.

The prayer was followed by the dedicatory hymn, written by Captain W. D. Wallace, and set to music by Professor Ruggles.

DEDICATION HYMN.

"Sign there is of coming glory,

Sign the people all shall rise,
That the State, ere old and hoary,

Builds her schools with enterprise.

This the sign, 'bove every other

Culture, greatness, go together.

CHORUS Rejoice! a mighty work's begun!
Rejoice! a noble duty's done!

The torch of learning kindled here
Shall burn the brighter with each year.

"Lo! behold this goodly college!

Reared to educate no class,

But a temple TRUE of knowledge,
Built to elevate the mass.

This the object-there's no other,

Every man's the other's brother. -[CHORUS.

"Come all people help to build it!

Keep its honor ever bright!

Raise it till the sunbeams gild it

First at morning, last at night.

This our duty-all together

We can make it last forever. -[CHORUS.

"Now, to science and all learning,

We, the people of the State,

Joyful, hopeful, heavenward turning,

This proud pile here dedicate.

Noble structure! Priceless treasure!

Deeds there are time can not measure. "-[CHORUS.

President White then introduced Governor Williams.