No. 4.] AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION. 339 



nearly 80. Lectures were delivered before the class by 

 Hon. Simon Brown, Concord, Hon. Chas. L. Flint and 

 others." 



Farm School, Thompson's Island, Boston. 

 I am indebted to Superintendent Charles H. Bradley for 

 the following information concerning Thompson's Island 

 Farm School : — 



As regards agriculture, I quote from a report on the Farm 

 School prepared by Hon. Charles H. Jackson, chairman, dated 

 Jan. 27, 1832: "It is proposed to remove these boys from the 

 city . , . and to place them on a farm where some of the more 

 common mechanic trades may be practiced; so that labors in 

 which they will be daily instructed and engaged, either in 

 gardening, agriculture or the useful arts will contribute to 

 their health and support and tend at the same time, to form 

 in them habits of industry and order, and prepare them to earn 

 their livelihood." As a result of this report, the " Proprietors 

 of the Farm School " purchased Thompson's Island and at once 

 began operations here. "On Easter Monday, April 8, 1833, 

 desirous of commencing operations for the future Farm School 

 on so appropriate a day, Mr. E. M. P. Wells with Mr. Cook 

 and three boys made a visit to the Island, had prayers in the 

 farm house and planted a mulberry tree and some potatoes." 

 In the next report I read: "A school is kept both morning 

 and evening for about six hours daily in which are taught the 

 elements of useful knowledge, reading, writing, arithmetic, 

 geography and grammar. During the evening, especially in 

 the winter months, instruction is also given in the first prin- 

 ciples of agriculture, horticulture, and botany: the diiierent 

 kinds of soils, the most important processes of cultivation and 

 the names, uses and distinctive qualities of seeds, plants and 

 trees are explained and illustrated. . . . And they are required 

 to perform as much of the manual labor done on the farm as 

 their various ages and capacities will permit." 



It is apparent that the "Proprietors of the Farm School" 

 had especially in mind the instruction of the boys in agricul- 

 ture and farming operations. As the science has developed, 

 the School has endeavored to keep pace with the times. 



In the last report of the Board of Managers, Boston, 1907, 

 it is stated : — 



