278 BOARD OF AGRICULTUKE. [Jan. 



EEPORT TO THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE BOARD OE AGRICULTURE ACTING 

 AS OVERSEERS Of THE MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 



[P. S., chap. 20, sect. 5, adopted by the Board Feb 4, 1890.] 



The Examining Committee of the Agricultural College, 

 appointed by this Board, have the honor of submitting the 

 following report. 



In accordance with the requirements of this Board, and 

 the rules by which it is governed, your committee have 

 made such investigations into the condition and methods of 

 the college as seemed to be necessary, in order to determine 

 its value and efficiency as an educational institution for carry- 

 ing out the wise purposes for which it was established. 



In making this report, we do not need to give a history 

 of the college, or the work that has been accomplished dur- 

 ing its existence, or even during the past year, in detail 

 (the annual report of the president and trustees will do 

 that) ; but a few general statements as to the purposes of 

 the college, and how we came by it, may be interesting to 

 those who have not paid special attention to the subject. 



Act of Congress. 



It is generallv known that the ao-ricultural colle2:es of the 

 various States are the result of an Act of Congress, passed 

 and approved by the President July 2, 1862, entitled, " An 

 Act donating public lands to the several States and Terri- 

 tories, which may provide colleges for the benefit of agricult- 

 ure and the mechanic arts." The grant was in proportion 

 to the population of the several States, and must be accepted 

 by their several legislatures, in order to become available. 

 The act specially provided that the interest of the fund 

 realized from the sale of the land scrip should' be faithfully 



