Correspondence (incoming) - A

the school for Training Librarian at Columbia College, New York City, and as I am a California I write hoping that I may return to my native state to do the work for which I am trained and upon which I must rely for my self support. If my application is fortunate references. Believe me. Respectfully yours, Lestrade [Adams?]

State Normal School, San Jose, Cal. Dec. 17, 1885.

Hon. Leland Stanford, United States Senate, Dear Sir; I regret very much that I missed the opportunity, bespoken for me by Mr.[Beans?], of an interview with you, that I might have given a more complete statement of the designs and purposes of the Leland Stanford Jr. University, before the State Teachers' Association, to be held here Dec. 28-31. I had two objects in view; one to obtain all the information I could to use as indicated, and another, in compliance with the wish expressed by yourself, while in San Jose, that you would be glad to receive suggestions from educators upon the details of the grand work you are undertaking, to make two or three suggestions that may possibly aid in shaping some

of the work in the industrial department. It is too late now to obtain the information I desired, but I will take the liberty to suggest the points which have long interested me, and which I should much like to see considered and, if possible, carried out; I. Could there be, at an early day, a department opened for industrial training in orchardry, I have no doubt it could be filled, and that it would be of incalculable benefit to the State. Say, that fifty or one hundred young men could be gathered into a school where they could take, each day, from three to four hours of study, and the same amount of time, under skillful guidance, in learning, practically and

theoretically, all that can be taught of propagating, budding, grafting, hybridizing, and raising fruit and other trees; also the art of pruning and taking care of orchards, particularly a careful and scientific study of insect pests, with the means of their extirpation; and also the whole system of curing, packing, and preparing fruit for market. Such a course as this would fit these young men to go out and immediately command remunerative positions as foremen, and would result in radical and necessary changes in the whole fruit system of the State. There seems to be no one now in the State, fitted by both scientific attainments and practical knowledge, for the position of Inspector of Fruit Pests, and the consequence is, the position is made a matter of political appointment. Of course, the plan indicated involves the production and culture of many trees, - for actual nurseries and orchards must be the scene of study and practice, - also the production and curing of much fruit; but the immense domain which

you have so generously set apart, will afford ample opportunity for all this, and, in the end, will not the land become far more valuable and productive than it will from any other use? The same line of thought suggests itself in regard to viticulture and many other farm industries, but I need not go further. One point should be noticed. In this plan, the labor of the student will go far toward defraying his expenses, and this will bring the school within the reach of all.