THE COLLEGE FARM. 325 



persons acquainted with farm-life and the vicissitudes of the 

 seasons, would report the farm as under intelligent direction. 

 Fields have been smoothed and enlarged and adapted to the 

 use of machinery. Few clumps of trees or rough or wet 

 spots, comparatively, require removal. The form presents a 

 fair face to look upon. The buildings invite favorable com- 

 ment. The live-stock are in good condition, well fleshed, 

 kindly cared for, and the quality no reproach to the institu- 

 tion. Students do the chores in the barn, and it is creditable 

 to them ; the cattle show no aversion upon their approach, 

 but regard them with trustful eyes. No committee-man need 

 fear these are dressed for the official visit, for they tell the 

 truthful story of their daily lives. 



If we had gone over the farm with the notion that it was 

 the estate of a gentleman of means and taste, devoting the 

 after-years of a successful life to its improvement, it must 

 certainly have produced in us a very satisfactory state of 

 feeling. A gentleman of agricultural tastes, improved by 

 reading and thought, would have pleasure in showing such a 

 place to his friends. We think it is a cause for congratula- 

 tion that the college farm has been brought to this degree of 

 excellence. 



Were it not for our aspirations, — our association of prac- 

 tical affairs in this instance, with high intellectual conceptions, 

 — the subject would be passed without further remark. But 

 the very connection of a farm with a college makes us desire 

 that the form serve other uses to the public than an illustra- 

 tion of Massachusetts forming, though it were so much as 

 Massachusetts forming in its best achievement. It seems to 

 us highly desirable that this form be made to answer 

 questions that the farmer cannot afford to ask of his own 

 farm. 



We would know the consumption of food of each animal 

 of the several breeds of cattle kept, and the produce. We 

 would know at any given period the amount of plant-food 

 that has been carted on each acre of the estate, and the kind 

 and weight of crop taken off. We would desire that the 

 visitor be encouraged to question, as to practical affairs, and 

 that he find here answers more full and accurate than can 

 be had elsewhere. The " guess " or " reckon " of the outer 



