280 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan. 



College Farm. 



Upon the establishment of the college at Amherst, a farm 

 of 383| acres was purchased, from six separate estates. It 

 is described in former reports under three heads : — 



1. That part leased to the Massachusetts Experiment 

 Station, consisting of about 48 acres. This is under the 

 direction of Dr. Goessmann, director of the station. 



2. That part used by the botanic and horticultural depart- 

 ment of the college, under the direction of Prof. S. T. 

 Maynard. 



3. The land lying on the westerly side of the county 

 road, which is designated as the ftirm proper, of which about 

 ]25 acres are under cultivation in mowins^ and tillao;e. 

 This year there are 20 acres in corn, 2 acres in potatoes, 

 2 acres in root crops, and about 100 in grass. 



No practical farmer of Massachusetts can visit the farm and 

 experiment station connected with the Agricultural College, 

 without being impressed with the fact that the farmers' 

 interests in Massachusetts are well looked after. Your 

 committee are happy to be able to say that we visited all 

 the <>;rounds and buildino's of the institution, and have 

 examined, so far as we were able, the experiments that were 

 being made. We visited the gardens, and found that the 

 culture of strawberries, of tomatoes, and some other plants 

 which interest the gardener and small fruit grower, were 

 being experimented with ; and, while the professor in charge 

 was not at home, his assistant was ready and able to show 

 and explain the work. We visited the several greenhouses, 

 and found all in good condition for the season of the year. 

 Visiting the orchards, we were invited to taste the fruit ; 

 and it needed but one invitation for us to accept of the 

 tempting, red-cheeked peaches. They are experimenting 

 with the peach crop, which of late years has become an 

 almost unknown crop in New England. They have suc- 

 ceeded in raising line fruit of the different varieties. The 

 great variety of pears shows the care that is taken there. 

 They find a good market in the town close by, at good 

 prices ; and we have no doubt they can show to the farmer 

 that he can raise fruit of all kinds as a money-making crop. 



