26 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan., 



one and the questions many. Of late years, however, my duties 

 have been more in the nature of questioning others than of being 

 questioned myself, and it may be that I have become somewhat 

 rusty in the art of replying, but I shall cheerfully do my best to 

 respond to any queries you may be disposed to make. It is the de- 

 sire of the Trustees, and of all connected with the School, to have 

 all citizens, and particularly all farmers, of the State know just what 

 sort of a school it is. I am not here to give a puff for the School — 

 to exaggerate its merits or hide its demerits — but simply to afford 

 you information concerning it. ^^ 



Gentlemen, this is your school. It was born in a Farmers' 

 Convention two years ago. It will be what you make it. If you 

 approve of it and support it, it will prosper. If you disapprove 

 of it or neglect i^, it will fail, and no money or patronage can pre- 

 vent it. You cannot rid yourselves of responsibility in the matter, 

 and if you believe at all in agricultural education, as I know you 

 do, you must admit that you owe it to yourselves to be informed 

 concerning this school and to exercise your power over it intelli- 

 gently and justly. 



The President. An opportunity will now be given to any 

 persons who wish to ask Dr. Armsby any questions in regard 

 to the School. 



Hon. E. H. Hyde. It has been said that this is a School 

 especially for the sons of rich men ; that the scholars who 

 are in attendance are those from families of affluence. I 

 would like to inquire what the fact is in that regard ? 



Dr. Armsby. Out of the eighteen students we now have, I 

 can recall at present but one who would answer to that 

 description. All the others are either from families in mod- 

 erate circumstances, or young men who are entirely depend- 

 ent upon their own exertions for support. 



Question. At what age are they admitted ? 



Dr. Armsby. At fourteen. 



Mr. Adams, of Rockville. What niust be the proficiency of 

 students in order to enter ? 



Dr. Armsby. The requirement for admission, as I slated 

 in the lecture, is a good English education. I^hat is, the 



