166 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



hundred acres of land, some less. I have often thought 

 wouldn't it be economy for those farmers holding so large 

 an amount of real estate to dispose of half of it and send 

 their sons to college, — this college which is so well 

 equipped to prepare them for the business which they will 

 make a success of. I am very much interested to learn that 

 so large a per cent of those that enter the college pursue 

 the work of agriculture. If I understood you, over one- 

 half make that their business ; and I believe, if they com- 

 mence it after a four years' course in your college, that they 

 are prepared to carry it on for life and make a success of 

 it. I have often thought that if I could have had when a 

 boy the privileges of the college as it is equipped now, I 

 could have been a good farmer. Yet the college has had to 

 struggle for existence. I was in the Legislature when the 

 first appropriation was asked for. It was ridiculed. To-day 

 see the contrast. Within a few miles of my place is a 

 young man who undoubtedly if he had remained at home 

 without entering your college would not have been even an 

 ordinary farmer. To-day, after graduating from your col- 

 lege some years ago, he is holding the position of president 

 of a college in an adjoining State, and I understand is a 

 very efficient officer. I do not believe that our farmers 

 appreciate the college. They may in this section of the 

 State, near where it is located, but not farther away, where 

 I am. I do not believe they realize how much you are 

 doing, how well you are prepared to take their sons and 

 make them more successful as farmers. I often hear it said 

 that if a young man were to start now on a farm and under- 

 take to make farming his calling for life it is doubtful 

 whether he could make a success. It may be true, if he 

 intends to follow along in the ruts that his father has fol- 

 lowed. But let him go and prepare himself, and it seems 

 to me that there is no better opening for a young man than 

 to enter your college, take a full course and start out in life 

 on that pleasant occupation, — fanning. 



Professor Brooks (of Amherst) . Mr. Hale has undoubt- 

 edly heard the expression that "some men are born to com- 

 mand." What proportion of those that are born are born 



