No. 149.] 339 



We applied to the Legislature recently for au Agricultural 

 College, but in vain. Fleischman has taught us much on the 

 subject of wool. As to our college, we had contracted with Mr. 

 Morris for about 200 acres of land — opposition was felt to the 

 project, in the Institute as well as out of it. It fell. If we had 

 obtained it it would now be worth to us as land, a large fortune. 

 Dixon H. Lewis told us that if we should establish a college, he 

 would send three sons to it. 



Manson JVash. — The premiums we give are too low ; we ought 

 to give $100 on best farm, and there should be ten farms in com- 

 petition, at least. We should address circulars to able men in 

 reference to our various branches, especially the agricultural. 

 The study of our soils must be gone into. One of our Professors 

 states, truly, that there is always more or less difference in the 

 soils of lots of ground and in farms. All cultivators are deeply 

 interested to know what their soils are best adapted to produce. 

 And such vegetables as we introduce from other countries de- 

 mand particular locations and care. Man himself requires ac- 

 climation when he removes from one condition to another. Animals 

 generally lose caste when imported. I think that we should 

 import males to breed from our native stock. So change of con- 

 dition affects plants — our imported grape vines all fail. 



One good observer of cattle, says that he never elsewhere saw 

 a pair of cattle as good as he saw on the granite hills of New- 

 England. We must make up our minds that home is best after 

 all. ' As to our Agricultural College, we have lost that, but we 

 have found a goodly house for our Institute to transaet its busi- 

 ness in. 



Charles Henry Hall. — ^The imported horses I think, rather alter 

 than degenerate. The Englishman becomes taller here in some 

 generations, but little things are often best. The Merino sheep 

 does not degenerate here, he is as healthy here as I have seen 

 him in his native Spain. Those from France and Saxony are so 

 too, and more healthy than at home. Ih England they have a 

 new horse from mixture of foreign blood — but they are com- 

 pelled to bring in the horse from the South full of that Southern 

 etherial fire. The blood horse puts fat upon his muscles. I im- 



