No. 4.] AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 325 



Massachusetts, and are destined eventually to revolutionize 

 the methods which have there prevailed? 



Again, the Massachusetts Agricultural College should come 

 into closer touch with the people of the Commonwealth. It is 

 well to publish reports and issue bulletins, and they are 

 doing much to disseminate information and stimulate a spirit 

 of inquiry ; but hundreds and thousands who would most 

 profit thereby never see them, and in some quarters there 

 may exist unreasonable prejudices against receiving instruc- 

 tion in agriculture through this medium. It must be brought 

 home by the living voice and presence ; experts must meet 

 the people face to face, and talk familiarly about those things 

 which deeply interest both. What better fountain for such 

 streams of influence than the State institution at Amherst? 

 Let them be designated as they may, — " popular," " con- 

 versational," " familiar" lectures^ "institute work," or, more 

 properly, as conforming to advanced methods and as boldly 

 proclaiming the faith and policy of their source, " university 

 extension ; " professors and teachers from this centre during 

 the farmer's winter leisure should go abroad in the Common- 

 wealth, oro-anizino- in the cities or larger towns and in rural 

 centres special courses of instruction suited to the needs of 

 practical farmers, and thus create in a sense an itinerant 

 college. 



But, it is objected, this would involve the necessity of a 

 larger teaching force and increased expenditure. Be it so. 

 Multiplying needs and a widening field are evidences of 

 growing intelligence and higher standards ; and Massachu- 

 setts, ever in the van of educational progress, will be the 

 last to shrink from responsibilities imposed by success, or to 

 regard with disfavor such drafts upon her bounty. 



There is another line of inquiry, no less important, and 

 which, had time permitted, it would have been a pleasure 

 to the committee to pursue, — that which touches more 

 nearly the conditions immediately surrounding the students 

 themselves. We have not been able even to visit the dor- 

 mitories and inspect their appointments. There was pointed 

 out in a retired part of the grounds a building where the 

 students were fed. Some irreverent spirit within us has 

 been prompting the inquiry whether the rations there fur- 



