94 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



tion, and defending the same, even when questioned by the 

 professors. Having gathered a few facts, they had made 

 them their own, and had the manliness to stand by their 

 theories, and defend their positions. Evidently they had 

 been taught to think, and that is education in its essence. 



" The conservatory is an honor to the institution and the 

 State. From the laboratory, with its appliances for teaching 

 agricultural chemistry, and its liberal, learned, and live pro- 

 fessor, so competent to fill such a position anywhere in the 

 world, results may be looked for of the highest order, and 

 expectation without limit must be realized." 



The Committee of 1874, Joseph N. Sturtevant, Esq., chair- 

 man, visited the College several times, carefully examined 

 into the workings of all its departments, and say in their 

 report that " the occasion of the examination of the grad- 

 uating class, to mark who should be the recipients of the 

 Grinnell Agricultural Prizes, was of much interest. The 

 young men, as they replied to the questions addressed to 

 them, in language lucid, unconventional, and thoughtful, 

 showed that they carried with them from the College some- 

 thing of real value. We think of no occasion when the 

 College appeared to so good advantage. 



" The presence at the College of a United-States army 

 officer as professor of military science and tactics secures 

 able instruction in this essential part of the education of the 

 complete citizen. If we pass by the chance of war, and 

 the value of possessing among the people individuals fitted by 

 previous training to become militia officers upon sudden call, 

 the value of a military training as promotive of a manly bear- 

 ing, orderliness, promptness of action, and fitness of speech, 

 &c, is obvious, and recurs with greater force to such as wit- 

 ness the several classes in their military manoeuvres. We 

 trust there will be no diminution of interest in the military 

 features of the College." 



The Committee of 1875, Hon. Edmund H. Bennett, chair- 

 man, made two official visits to the College. Judge Bennett 

 says in his report, that the committee " were deeply impressed 

 with the value and importance of a scientific agricultural 

 school and an experimental farm such as we there possess, 

 and of the general success with which the same has been 

 managed. They desire also to express their high apprecia- 



