After much urging, the board appropriated
$200.00 last November for the
purpose of procuring seeds of grains,
grasses, vegetables, etc from Russia, China,
and other countries, to be used for the
purpose of producing new varieties by
cross fertilization. Prof. Halsted will
superintend the experiments in plant
breedings, but we are very anxious [t]o
procure a professor of agriculture,
who would not become tired of testing
the new varieties of plants produced by Prof.
Halsted. We don't want a man who is
weak in any line of farms work, but we
want one who is strong in the kind of
work suggested above and in learning
[boys?] how to grow big crops again on
our old, worn farms. If you should
find the time to do so please give me
the names of several men who would be
suitable for the place, as it might not
be possible to get some men who would
fill the bill. If you will be so kind as to
suggest the names of suitable men to
fill the chair of agriculture at Ames I
will be very thankfull and hold myself
in readiness to serve you at any time
in the future. Please give my best
wishes to Mrs. Bessey.
Very Truly Yours.
R. P. Spear.
