96 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



The Examining Committee of 1878, Dr. James R. Nichols, 

 editor of " The Journal of Chemistry," chairman, say, — 



" We say unhesitatingly that the young men acquitted 

 themselves exceedingly well ; and no one of them appeared 

 incompetent for taking charge of a farm, and conducting its 

 affairs in accordance with good sense, and advanced knowl- 

 edge of husbandry. They had evidently been well drilled in 

 the ' science of agriculture ; ' and the drill embraced the vari- 

 ous departments which closely and remotely relate to the 

 interests of the farm. Each of the young men was required 

 to write upon a practical topic, without text-books, or any 

 aid except what his own knowledge supplied ; and thus above 

 twenty essays were placed in the hands of the Committee 

 for examination. This was an important test of scholarship, 

 and supplied a clew to the general training or culture of the 

 students of the College. Some of their papers were quite 

 extended and able essays, worthy even of publication. We 

 are pleased to be able to bear testimony to the good appear- 

 ance of the graduating class at Amherst." 



These extracts from the reports of impartial judges thor- 

 oughly competent to form an opinion of the work of the 

 College, and having every opportunity to do so, will be a 

 sufficient answer to the persistent, unjust, and undeserved 

 misrepresentations of a portion of the public press. 



One would suppose that the unanimous indorsement of 

 every committee charged with the duty of examining into 

 the condition of the College, and reporting upon its efficiency, 

 would be conclusive to every intelligent mind that it ought 

 to be sustained, and sustained nobly and liberally, to be a 

 source of pride and honor to the state and to the country 

 through whose instrumentality it was originally founded. If 

 there were no other reason for this, to be found in its intrinsic 

 merits, and the good it has done and is capable of doing, the 

 simple fact that it is and must be regarded as the index, 

 the outward and visible sign, to all men, of the way in which 

 we keep our contracts, ought to be sufficient. 



CHARLES L. FLINT, President. 



Boston, Feb. 6, 1880. 



