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the present time more united in advancing the cause of agricultural 

 knowledge, than at any other period since agriculture was dignified with 

 the title of science. 



In this connection I ought not to neglect calling your attention to 

 the progress which the State has already made in founding an agricul- 

 tural college worthy of her position. Under the care of the Executive 

 Committee of the State Agricultural Society, the ground necessary for 

 its location has been purchased, and preliminary surveys have been 

 made with the view of allotting it off into divisions requisite to subserve 

 the designs of the institution. It is prob;ible that the coming twelve- 

 month will see even greater advancement than has been made in the 

 past, in the erection of buildings, securing of teachers, and possibly 

 even the organization of initiatory classes. 



An institution of this kind is greatly needed to promote a more gen- 

 eral difl'usion of that knowled2:e which has too lonof been confined to 

 the few. It is a State institution, and as such it becomes the duty of 

 all who are desirous of seeing it prosper, to keep a watchful eye upon 

 it, and to encourage it by manifestations of interest in its growth- 

 Each County Agricultural Society should have its committee of visitors) 

 ■who shouM, at least once in the year, consider it their duty to visit the 

 college, to note its progress, and, by their advice, suggestions and re- 

 marks, give that countenance and encouragement such an institutioti 

 should have from the whole community. It must be recollected that 

 this is as yet an untried experiment in the United States. It is the first 

 of the kind that has ever been attempted on so large a scale, and every" 

 thing ab'"'ut it has to be commenced ab initio. There is no other to 

 copy from, to improve upon; and this very fact gives it a broader and 

 deeper claim upon us than if it were merely a sectional institution — one 

 of a hundred whose failure or success would affect only the narrow lim- 

 its of its own chartered organization. This, standing alone, without 

 precedent or rival, will possess a national interest, and we should feel a 

 national pride in contributing to its success No lack of solicitude or 

 encouragement on our part should be allowed to weaken the hands of 

 those men to whose charge this groat undertaking has been committed. 

 And our watchfulness of thera will not ordy enable the public the bet- 

 ter to appreciate their labors, but will also afford a guarantee that the 

 means appropriated are applied in the most judicious and economical 

 manner to meet the necessities of the institution. 



