278 BOAED OF AGRICULTUEE. 



The laboratory, the mathematical and philosophical appara- 

 tus, are excellent, and under the excellent instruction of the 

 learned professors of chemistry and mathematics render attract- 

 ive as well as comprehensible the various departments which 

 they serve to illustrate. 



This being founded as an agricultural college, where young 

 men may acquire the best knowledge of farming and its kin- 

 dred pursuits, in fact of all which modern science and experi- 

 ment is capable of affording them, your Committee endeavored, 

 by the most careful attention, to learn whether the college is 

 pursuing such a course as was intended by the federal gov- 

 ernment as well as by the Commonwealth, and they can cheer- 

 fully and conscientiously bear witness to the truth of the 

 affirmative. 



The education which is here received is no more extended 

 than ought to be borne away from such acollege, and it ought 

 to fit a young man to carry on, profitably and pleasurably to 

 himself, as well as with advantage to his neighbors, a farm 

 for any purpose ; to become an engineer, mechanic, superin- 

 tendent, agricultural editor, and to pursue the various paths 

 where a man may become useful to the agricultural commu- 

 nity. He learns more or less of that manliness which is in- 

 spired by daily exercise as a soldier, as well as to defend his 

 country in time of need, — an admirable feature of the institu- 

 tion and wisely required by the government. 



The statistics of the occupations chosen by the graduates 

 show that a large number have adopted agricultural pursuits 

 as their permanent occupation. It cannot, of course, be ex- 

 pected that the whole or any certain proportion of the young 

 men should adhere to a purpose which may have been seriously 

 entertained by them on entering this college of becoming 

 farmers. As character is developed by education, the tastes 

 and feelings are greatly changed, and the paths pursued by 

 them must necessarily diverge. If, however, each class turns 

 out a reasonable number of well-educated scientific agi'icult- 

 urists, then may the college well be considered as fulfilling 

 the intention of its foundation. 



To the energy, zeal and fidelity of the president, with his 

 able corps of professors, this pioneer work (as it is in Amer- 

 ica) owes its wonderful advancement. For though agricult- 



