REPORT OF AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 413 



report from each on the present condition and wants of their 

 respective departments. The other members — Professors 

 Goodell, Goessmann, and Maynard — have as usual put forth 

 every effort to maintain the efficiency of their departments, 

 the general morale of the college, and a high standard as an 

 educational institution. Though the duties of the permanent 

 members have been increased to a dangerous point since 

 1879, they have found it impossible to give instruction in all 

 the branches required by the curriculum ; and it has been 

 necessary to employ specialists to take the courses in geology, 

 zoology, and veterinary. There has been no material diminu- 

 tion in the number of students. At the opening of the col- 

 lege year, nineteen were received to the freshman class in the 

 regular course, one as a special, and five for the post-graduate 

 course. The students as a whole have availed themselves of 

 their •privileges, and performed their required duties with 

 cheerfulness and alacrity, have respected the regulations of 

 the college, been earnest in contributing to maintain its high 

 character, and enthusiastic in supporting its distinctive fea- 

 tures. The present winter they have originated and carried 

 into successful operation a course of weekly evening lectures 

 from specialists in the science and practice of agriculture, 

 which the public are invited to attend, and which cannot fail 

 of being highly beneficial. The anniversary exercises were 

 of a superior order. They were attended by his Excellency 

 the Governor, and staff, by the members of the Board of 

 Agriculture, the friends of the college and graduates, many 

 of the alumni, and more generally than usual by the j)ublic. 

 It is evident that these exercises are yearly attracting more 

 and more attention, that the circle of their influence is enlar- 

 ging, and that the agricultural portion of the community are 

 coming to consider the Commencement exercises of the col- 

 lege an occasion of great import. The Farnsworth prizes for 

 excellence in declamation were awarded, — the gold medals, 

 to Charles T. Conger of New York of the sophomore class, 

 and George Cutler, jun., of Amherst of the freshman class; 

 the silver medals, to Homer J. Wheeler of Boston of the 

 sophomore class, and Elisha A. Jones of Rockville, Mass., of 

 the freshman class. The Grinnell prizes to the graduating 

 class, for the best written and oral examinations in agricul- 

 ture, were awarded, — the first, of fifty dollars, to Henry W. 



