322 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc, 



by members of the junior class, in which were discussed 

 with liberal breadth and commendable alirlity such subjects as 

 "The relation of outside nations to the Chinese-Japanese 

 war;" *' Medical quacks;" *'The destruction of American 

 forests ; " " The power of the modern newspaper ; " " Inde- 

 pendence." 



The elective feature for studies of the senior year, of 

 recent introduction, is in line with the most advanced thought 

 in the higher education, and promises well to student and 

 instructor in the kindling of fresh ardor and the production 

 of better work. 



The shorter course of two years, for those whose student 

 life is limited by circumstances beyond their control, is 

 regarded as a wise provision, and the slight falling off in 

 numbers this year is attributed to no defect in the plan, but 

 to exceptional causes. 



But, interesting and important as the work of the class 

 room may be, one obtains but a meagre conception of what 

 is here going on until he steps outside and interrogates the 

 experiment stations as to the inspiration and aim of their 

 intense but well-directed activity ; until he passes from 

 laboratory to plant-house, from plant-house to insectary, 

 from insectary to garden, and so on through nursery and 

 orchard and a maze of experiment plots, and begins to grasp, 

 imperfectly it may be, the multitude and variety of prol)lems 

 which here await solution, that the industrial classes, es- 

 pecially those concerned with agriculture, may have ready 

 to their hand the best results of scientific research. Here 

 the wants of animal and plant are analyzed and defined ; 

 soils are forced to yield up their secrets and confess their 

 deficiencies ; fertilizers are required to make good their 

 professions or stand condemned ; a pound of beef or pork 

 is labelled with its minimum cost, and a recipe appended for 

 its successful production ; continents are ransacked for 

 plants susceptible of cultivation in JNIassachusetts, and when 

 found and acclimated the seed is sown broadcast throughout 

 the State ; while the enemies of beast, bird and plant are 

 placed under examination, their pictures taken, their bodies 

 mounted and their life-history written, including their power 

 to hurt and their limitations. 



