44 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



The first question for discussion was then announced as 

 "Agricultural Education," and on motion of Dr. Loring, Gov- 

 ernor Andrew was invited to give the Board his views on the 

 establishment of an agricultural college, and the course of 

 study to be pursued. 



Gov. Andrew. — I do not think I have any views to give upon 

 the subject of an agricultural college, which would be quite 

 appropriate at this moment. Those which I most sincerely 

 entertain have been given officially, heretofore, and have been 

 pretty well understood by the people of the Commonwealth who 

 take an interest in the subject, and who care to know what they 

 are. I do not think that the views which I entertain upon the 

 subject of an agricultural college are those which, at this 

 moment, are quite popular in the Commonwealth among the 

 farmers. My own views, I think, were substantially overruled 

 by the action of the legislature, and I do not care to say any- 

 thing with a view to interfere with, or to question, or to criticise 

 — not even to criticise in a friendly spirit — the tendency which 

 the management of the subject takes, under the^direction which 

 has been given to it by the legislation of the Commonwealth. 

 I think it better that those things which are undertaken, and 

 which are settled, should have an opportunity to be fairly tried. 

 I believe in the fair trial of any experiment which it has been 

 once agreed shall be attempted ; and I think it is well to have 

 every question closed, at any rate, for the purpose of experi- 

 ment, at some time ; and, therefore I do not believe that any 

 views peculiar to myself would be advantageous to be presented 

 at this moment. I certainly, on this and all other occasions, 

 feel entire freedom to express a sincere and very earnest interest 

 in the subject itself, regarded in any of its relations. ' 



The suliject of agricultural education, — by which I mean, when 

 I speak of it in connection with a college, not merely instruction 

 in farming, regarded as a trade, — not merely what I may call 

 the technical instruction of the practical farmer, but something 

 a great deal more than that ; because instruction in the 

 technicalities of farming, regarded as a trade, may be obtained 

 in every town in the Commonwealth, on the good farms and 

 from the good farmers. But I believe that all farming will 

 depreciate and run to seed, just exactly as ] believe that 

 mechanics and manufactures, and all those pursuits which are 



