tion respecting them, and would have rendered impossible some 

 conspicuous attempts to befog the public mind. 



NOTE ON PROFESSOR ATHERTON'S PAl'Kli. 



The name " Agricultural," when applied to the College estab- 

 lished by the National grant and the State donations added thereto, 

 is by itself misleading. As is abundantly shown by Professor 

 Atherton, while agriculture was first named, mechanical and other 

 scientific instruction was to be coupled with instruction in agri- 

 culture. The title " Agricultural Colleges " expresses but a part, 

 however important a part, of the original object of the National 

 Grant. The name " National Colleges," has been suggested as a 

 much more comprehensive and accurate title ; and this is the des- 

 ignation employed by the Hon. Mr. Morrill, (author of the bill 

 making the original grant) in his speech on the latest phase of the 

 question. 



Whatever name be thought best, the full scope of these institu- 

 tions should always be born, in mind. 



Advantage has been taken of the restricted title " Agricultural," 

 by those who are unfriendly to the modem scientific methods. 

 These national schools of science are held up to reproach, because 

 they have so few distinctively agricultural students. It is a false 

 reproach. The whole number of students in all the scientific 

 courses, which are so closely affiliated, is to be taken into the ac- 

 count. With these, the National Schools, fostered by the so-called 

 " Agricultural Grant," everywhere make an excellent showing. 

 None of them could make a good showing, if it were put on the 

 narrow footing of a strictly agricultural curriculum. 



ON AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 



[BY PROFESSOR 8. W. JOHNSON OF TI1K SHFHKI.It SCIKXTIKIC SCHOOL.] 



Professor Johnson, when called upon to inform the committee as 

 to the matter in hand, said that the same sort of investigation 

 which has been of such assistance in all other branches of human 

 industry, must be of service when applied to agriculture. The 

 farmers in Leipsic, Germany, long ago, found out that many ques- 



