18 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan., 



this week, and I know I speak the sentiment of all the people 

 of this place when I say to you that we are ready, not only 

 to welcome you with words, but in every suitable way, to ex- 

 press our high appreciation of the occasion that has called 

 you together. 



The President. — Gentlemen, I now have the pleasure of 

 introducing to you Dr. H. P. Armsby, of the Storrs Agri- 

 cultural School, who will address you upon the course of 

 study there, and what we are trying to do. 



THE STORRS AGRICULTURAL SCHOOL.- COURSE OF 



STUDY. 



By H. p. Armsby. 



I have been asked to say a few words to you concerning the 

 .Storrs Agricultural School. 



It is a general custom, I believe, to preface any remarks on such 

 a subject with a panegyric on education in general and agricultural 

 education in particular, more or less eloquent and convincing, 

 according to the ability of the orator. I have noticed, however, 

 while in the case of an eloquent and able speaker such an introduc- 

 tion may be both pleasing and useful, in the hands of a tyro it is 

 very apt to degenerate into most " stale, flat, and unprofitable " 

 commonplace. Moreover, it would hardly be a passport to the 

 favor of the farmers of Connecticut to assume that such a repre- 

 sentative body as this needed to be instructed or aroused as to the 

 value of agricultural education. 



On all these accounts, the time-honored custom will, I think, be 

 more honored in the breach than in the observance to-day. 



There is no need, either, that I should rehearse to you the his- 

 tory of the foundation of the School; that is doubtless familiar to 

 you all, while the praises of the generous donors to whom it owes 

 its existence are sounded more loudly by their deeds than they 

 could be by words of mine. 



What I shall attempt to do in the few minutes allotted me is to 

 present to you a plain, unvarnished account of what the Storrs 

 Agricultural School has done, is doing, and aims to do, to the 

 end that you may have the means of judging intelligently what it 

 is worth to you individually or to the State. 



