THE AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 273 



This Essay having been laid over under the rules, Mr, King, 

 from the examining committee of the Massachusetts Agricul- 

 tural College, presented the following 



REPORT. 



Tlic undersigned, appointed by this Board a Committee for 

 the visitation and examination of the Agricultural College for 

 the year 1868, submit the following Report : — 



We have visited the college, and attended the examinations 

 of the students which have taken place at the close of each term 

 during the year. Upon our first visit we were struck with the 

 excellent judgment displayed in locating the agricultural school 

 of the State in the position which it now occupies. It would be 

 difficult to find any locality more admirably adapted to the 

 education of young men in practical and scientific agriculture. 

 The college farm is a large one, and embraces all that variety of 

 soil and aspect which are requisite in raising the various crops 

 and conducting the numerous experiments indispensable to the 

 thorough student of agriculture. The college is sufficiently 

 secluded to remove the student beyond the reach of various 

 influences which, under other circumstances, might divert him 

 from an earnest and successful prosecution of his studies. The 

 students are very fortunate in the present condition of their own 

 institution in being admitted to the use of the library and 

 museums of Amherst College. We take pleasure in reporting 

 that the students of the two colleges have had no troubles or ani- 

 mosities, but the intercourse between them has been mutually 

 respectful and gentlemanly. In so conducting themselves they 

 have all shown their discretion and good sense. 



The students at the Agricultural College are good material 

 out of which to make men. The labor which they have per- 

 formed in the open air, and their gymnastics and military drill, 

 have had an effect in developing their physique very beneficial 

 and very decided. No band of young Spartans ever displayed 

 more activity and vigor than these students in their manly exer- 

 cises. And this physical training, instead of interfering with a 

 due attention to studies and witli good scholarship, perceptibly 

 conduces to them. It is a significant fact that the student who 

 earned the largest amount of money for labor on the farm was 

 one of the very best scliolars in the college. No institution can 

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