82 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



.trustees and faculty. Much effort has been made to secure the 

 services of professors and lecturers distinguishtd not only for 

 scientific attainments and general culture, but for practical skill in 

 their several departments ; and particular pains have been taken 

 to reduce the necessary expenses of the students to the lowest 

 practicable point. In short, every exertion has been made to 

 establish a true professional school, fitted to educate in the best 

 manner the leaders of our agricultural population. All this 

 has been accomplished, but the principal work yet remains to be 

 done. There can be no complete and satisfactory success 

 until cordial cooperation of the farmers themselves has been 

 assured. 



The danger concerning the college is not that it will lack 

 students, for it is full ; or appreciative friends, for their num- 

 ber is large and constantly increasing ; or necessary funds for 

 its maintenance, for it is well endowed. But the difficulty is to 

 preserve its peculiar agricultural character, upon its present 

 economical basis. Unless the farmers will feel more responsi- 

 bility in the matter, and make more effort to educate for their 

 profession young men of enterprise and ability, and send to the 

 legislature representatives and senators who shall be willing to 

 carry out with wise liberality the plans which have been adopted, 

 it will be impossible to retain the tuition at its present low rate 

 (which is not one-quarter of the usual charges at institutions 

 affording similar advantages), or to give to agriculture that 

 special prominence in the course which it now has. It should 

 be remembered that there will always be many influential 

 members of the legislature, from various professions and locali- 

 ties, who will know little and care less about the college ; and 

 unless the class for whom the State has established it rally 

 around it and give it their hearty support, they will inevitably 

 lose those valuable privileges which are now so freely offered 

 them. Already the Secretaries of the Boards of Education and 

 Agriculture are instructed to inquire and report at the next 

 legislature whether the college can be made selfsupj)orting. 

 The educated men interested in other schools and colleges are 

 jealous of this new rival, and will not permit appropriations 

 from the State treasury for its benefit, unless they are earnestly 

 demanded and wisely improved by the people. 



The farmers, then, ought to rejoice in the fact that they have 



