THE AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 89 



of plants, and temperature of soils and air, on the changes in 

 form of water in soils, and plants and vapor in air. 



21. Investigations in relation to the evaporation and per- 

 colation of water from the soil. 



22. The tilling of soils of different characteristics as affect- 

 ing the loss of water by evaporation. 



23. The determination of the elements of plant-nutrition 

 lost from the soil by leaching and of those it retains. 



24. Investigations in relation to the comparative tempera- 

 ture of the soil and air by day and by night. 



25. The establishment of true meridian lines to regulate 

 the practice of surveying. 



26. The comparative study of the milk of different breeds 

 of cows. 



27. Accurate investigations of the comparative nutritive 

 and feeding value of Northern, Southern, and Western varie- 

 ties of Indian corn. 



This list, which might be greatly extended, will serve to 

 show the wide range of scientific study and investigation to 

 which the attention of the College has been devoted. " From 

 this day forward," said Professor Agassiz, when a single one 

 of the above papers was presented to the State Board of 

 Agriculture in 1873, — " from this day forward, the Agricul- 

 tural College at Amherst has its place among scientific insti- 

 tutions, if it had not before ; for only those institutions have 

 a place in the scientific world which do something, and this 

 is something extraordinary : it is a revelation to physiologists. 

 Let me say to those who have not thought that the Agricul- 

 tural College was doing any thing worth its expense, that the 

 production of this one paper has amply paid for every dollar 

 which the State has thus far bestowed upon the institution." 



Equally unqualified testimony might be presented with ref- 

 erence to the high character and value of nearly every one of 

 the investigations named in the above list. Every land-sur- 

 veyor, for instance, knows that previous to the establishment 

 of permanent monuments in every county of the State, giving 

 the accurate meridian lines, the means of correcting his in- 

 struments were comparatively difficult of access ; and when it 

 is considered that very many of our farms are bounded and 

 described by the points of the compass, often for long dis- 

 tances, it is easy to see that the College has had its influence 



