194 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



AGRICULTURAL COLLEGES. 



In view of the fact that onr next Legislature will he called upon to 

 legislate for the establishment of an Agricultural College in this State, 

 in compliance with the conditions of an Act of Congress donating to 

 the State one hundred and fifty thousand acres of land for that purpose, 

 and in order to bring the subject more fully up for consideration and 

 discussion, we copy the following able paper from the Commissioners of 

 Agriculture, as published in' the bi-monthly report of the Agricultural 

 Department at Washington, and bespeak for it the careful consideration 

 the importance of the subject and the merits of the article deserve : 



This Department has received various letters asking its views relative 

 to the best system of instruction for the Agricultural Colleges to be 

 established under the Act of Congress of July second, eighteen hundred 

 and sixty-two, donating Public Lands to the several States and Terri- 

 tories, to provide Colleges for the benefit of agricultural and mechanic 

 arts. As Congress had in view the establishment of at least one College 

 in each of the States and Territories, and as the experience of the United 

 States in such institutions has not been either extensive or successful, it 

 is highly necessary that public sentiment should be awakened, that, by 

 enlightened action, success may be obtained. This public sentiment 

 cannot be acted on, in this matter, more speedily than through this De- 

 partment, and hence it now complies with the request in these letters, 

 not expecting to control this public sentiment, but simply to aid in its 

 development, and to be the means of uniting its action. 



But there are other reasons why the Department must ever be deeply 

 interested in the successful establishment of these Colleges. Some of 

 them are the following: 



First — The Department needs much the aid it would derive from these 

 Colleges. They will have experimental gardens and farms, skilful Pro- 

 fessors to properly conduct experiments, to carefully note them, and to 

 properly report them. Hence, when the Department imports new seeds 

 and plants, it can, through their aid, at once determine their adaptability 

 to this country, and the climate, soil, and cultivation, proper to each. 

 The distribution of seeds, cuttings, etc., could then be made on a most 

 economical basis, because they would be distributed only where they 

 could bo advantageously grown. Seeds, when thus tested, could be 



