AGRICULTURAL WANT OF EDUCATION. 77 



tution, so far as money and members are concerned, from that 

 time to the present, has been constant and rapid to a degree 

 which has satisfied its most hopeful friends. Its estate, build- 

 ings and equipment have cost more than $225,000, and it has a 

 cash fund of $150,000. Its organization is now complete, and 

 with a competent faculty of instruction, and four classes of stu- 

 dents, numbering in all one hundred and twelve, it may, with- 

 out any boasting, be affirmed that no institution iu the country, 

 among all those endowed by the national government, offers 

 better facilities for agricultural education than the Farmers' 

 College of Massachusetts. 



Having thus considered some of the more important facts con- 

 cerning the efforts made during the present century, by enter- 

 prising men of science and political wisdom, for the advancement 

 of agriculture, we come to consider the obstacles to complete 

 success in this last and noblest attempt to increase the intelli- 

 gence, wealth, power and popularity of the profession so largely 

 and so well represented here to-day. 



In the report of the committee, which accompanied the Act of 

 incorporation, passed by the legislature of 1863, occurs this 

 somewhat remarkable sentence, which has proved to be almost 

 prophetic : " There can be but one serious impediment in the 

 way of making a true professional agricultural school in this 

 State prosper, and that is a want of interest in it among the 

 agricultural population." 



To one who understands fully the greatness of the preparatory 

 work which has been done at Amherst, and the advantages there 

 oflfered'for practical training, scientific instruction and original 

 investigation, the utter indifference in regard to their college 

 manifested by most of the 75,000 farmers of Massachusetts is 

 truly astounding. It calls to mind the almost incredible fact in 

 the history of the South Sea Islands, that, in 1797, thirty-nine 

 English missionaries, with every needed appliance for teaching 

 Christianity and the arts of civilized life, began their earnest 

 and devoted labors for the elevation of the native population, but 

 did not succeed in making a single convert during the first 

 sixteen years. 



It was the belief among the pioneers in the missionary work 

 that if men could but see the advantages to be derived from 

 Christian civilization, they would readily accept it ; but experi- 



