THE AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE FARM. 241 



Thus your committee, while they are not able to fully in- 

 dorse all the operations of the farm, do not feel at liberty 

 to criticise, but rather, in a kindly spirit to suggest. 



The farm ought to be an example of high and successful 

 agriculture. If learning and intelligence can promote agri- 

 culture, here is pre-eminently the place for practical demon- 

 stration. On our several visits we were fully impressed, that 

 most departments of the farm were improving, and that 

 the general management is indicative of ultimate success. 

 The productive capacity of the farm is rapidly increasing, 

 the acres yielding larger annual returns ; unproductive lands 

 are being renovated, and brought into profit ; rough places 

 being made smooth ; the preliminary labors, with view of im- 

 provement and profit, are nearly completed ; and the whole 

 outlook of the lands is more pleasing to the eye in all aspects. 



With the extensive area of the farm, it would seem that 

 the dairy would become one of the leading interests of the 

 farm, and one combining both instruction and profit. The 

 best results can only be obtained by the keeping of stock 

 bred and especially adapted for dairy products. 



It may be commendable to try experiments with different 

 breeds of cattle ; but it would certainly seem that the keep- 

 ing of many bulls would be conducive to a dry dairy, as well 

 as an unnecessary expense, as no one believes that pure 

 bred stock of the hig^hest excellence and merit can be hi'ed 

 where several breeds are kept on one farm. The college 

 farmer may have an opportunity to learn the hidden forces 

 of brain impression in breeding animals where many breeds 

 are herded together, and the trustees remain forever in igno- 

 rance. The old Romans had a proverb, " A word to the wise 

 is sufficient." 



It was exceedingly gratifying to note the fine new dairy 

 room, a valuable adjunct to the dairy department ; being a 

 generous and much needed gift by a liberal and public-spir- 

 ited gentleman of the trustees. Every thing within seemed 

 clean and sweet ; and the butter and cream had the texture 

 and shade and color of gilt-edge, and, we were informed, 

 find an appreciative and ready market. 



The farm-crops appeared to be above those of the average 

 farmer. A wide area is devoted to grass, which looked well 

 in early spring ; and large crops were afterward harvested. 



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