224 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



Report to the Legislature oe the State 

 Board of Agriculture, acting as Over- 

 seers OF THE Massachusetts Agricult- 

 ural College. 



[P. S., Chap. 20, Sect. 5, adopted by the Board, Jan. 9, 1900.] 



To the State Board of Agricicltiire, Overseers of the Massachusetts Agri- 

 cultural College. 



Your committee have completed the duties assigned to 

 them. The members have visited the college frequently, 

 attended the commencement exercises, and awarded the Grin- 

 nell prizes in agriculture. 



The Grinnell Prizes. 

 The Grinnell prizes were awarded as follows : first prize, 

 to Bernard H. Smith of Middlefield ; second prize, to Samuel 

 Smith of Middlefield, — both prizes going to students from 

 one of the hill towns of the western part of the Common- 

 wealth. The awarding of these prizes is one of the most 

 difficult duties of the committee. The contestants, four in 

 number, showed excellent knowledge of the topics assigned 

 to them ; their essays were well written, and the oral exam- 

 ination showed their understanding of principles and also 

 their familiarity with the subjects before them. 



The Farm. 

 The usual farm crops were grown this season, and the 

 yields were in keeping with the care and culture given to 

 them, the hay crop showing the result of careful and sys- 

 tematic manuring, the drought not showing as bad effects as 

 where the soil had not been so carefully cared for. 



