S04 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



by Mr. Grirmell) upon the Bristol, and Mr. Baker upon the 

 Barnstable. 



Dr. Nichols, Chairman of the Examining Committee of 

 the Massachusetts Agricultural College, then submitted the 

 following 



KEPOET. 



The duty assigned to me the present year, of visiting the 

 Agricultural College at Amherst, and conducting the exami- 

 nation of the senior class, was pleasant, and also encour- 

 aging as regards the usefulness of the institution. 



The College has labored under some peculiar difficulties 

 and discouragements in the present and past years, owing to 

 the want of means to carry forward the work of the institu- 

 tion as planned by its officers. The graduating class was 

 found to be small, numbering only seven ; but their appear- 

 ance and acquirements were certainly very creditable. The 

 examination was conducted with the view of obtaining as clear 

 an insight into the results of the practical workings of the 

 College as possible ; and every facility was afforded by Pro- 

 fessor Stockbridge and others that could be desired. For a 

 period of nearly or quite three hours the young men of the 

 class were under examination ; and the questions put to them 

 were such as must of necessity call out answers to be made 

 promptly, without the aid of books or instructors ; and the 

 results were highly gratifying. 



A prominent aim was to ascertain if the young men were 

 really qualified to go upon a farm, and conduct its opera- 

 tions in an intelligent and practical manner. It was deemed 

 desirable to learn if they had been instructed in a way to 

 enable them to carry forward the principles of advanced 

 husbandry so as to promote its best interests wherever they 

 might be located. This requires a knowledge of the princi- 

 ples and practice of chemistry, also an acquaintance with 

 the physical character of soils, their origin, and methods of 

 reclamation and fertilization ; the nature and nutritive value 

 of the cereal grains, roots, and grasses; the value of the 

 different breeds of animals, and the best methods of feeding 

 and utilizing their products ; the care of seeds ; and all the 

 implements of husbandry. Upon these points and many 

 others the young men were examined sufficiently in detail to 



