were made to arouse the attention of the public to the importance of the subject. This was one of the avowed motives of the founders of the Norfolk Agricultural Society, at whose first exhibition, on the 26th of September, 1849, the subject of agricultural education stood forth prominently. The suggestions of the address* were received with so much favor, that they became the topics of the day. It was voted by the Society that three thousand copies of the address be printed for public circulation. The occasion was made memorable by the presence of a galaxy of talent seldom congregated on a similar occasion, among whom may be named GEORGE N. BRIGGS, the Governor of the State, DANIEL WEBSTER, EDWARD EVERETT, HORACE MANN, LEVI LINCOLN, Josiah QUINCY, President of Harvard University, General HENRY A. S. DEARBORN, Gov. ISAAC HILL, of New Hampshire, Lieut. Gov. JOHN REED, and Rev. JOHN PIERPONT, D. D. Alas! all of these bright luminaries have sunk below the horizon; all have ceased from their labors, and gone to their rest. Nor would we forget the living: CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS, ROBERT C. WINTHROP, JOSIAH QUINCY, Jr., whose sentiment on that occasion was too prophetic to be forgotten: "The future meetings of the Norfolk Agricultural Society. They may have better cattle - they

*By the President, MARSHALL P. WILDER.

may have a more extended show; but when will the breed of men, the native stock or the imported breed, equal that of their first meeting?" The primary object in the address alluded to, was to awaken a more general interest and immediate action, both by National and State legislation, in behalf of Agricultural Colleges and Schools. Space will only permit of incorporating in this address a few of the sentiments expressed on that occasion. Said Mr. EVERETT:

"I need not enlarge on its importance, for here sits by my side the very apostle* of this inspired gospel, who has told us, over and over again, the advantages of education; but I will say, sir, that if the yeomanry of New England wish their principles to prevail, or their influence to be perpetuated over the country, the only way in which they can, for any length of time, effect this object, is to educate their children to understand these principles, and firmly and effectually to maintain them."

Said Mr. MANN:

"I rejoiced, sir, when I heard you, to-day, magnify and extol the subject of scientific education for the farmer. It cannot be too much exalted; it cannot be too highly lauded. Those are the true views for all farmers, for all men who are to be engaged in this business, thus to become acquainted with mineralogy and botany, with the physiology, the pathology of plants, and thereby get possession of this machine, this wonderful apparatus, which has been produced for their use; and then, sir, we should have a yeomanry in this country, of which the nation might well be proud."

*Hon. HORACE MANN.

Encouraged by this favorable aspect, the counsel of these gentlemen, and leading agriculturists, it was deemed expedient to bring the subject of establishing an Agricultural College, or School, under the patronage of the government, immediately before the legislators of the State of Massachusetts. A bill for this purpose was therefore prepared, and introduced into the Senate at the next session of the legislature, in the winter of 1850.

After a free and full discussion of its merits, this bill passed the Senate, without a dissenting voice, providing for the establishment of an Agricultural College and an experimental farm.

But the bill was rejected in the House of Representatives, owing to the prejudice that existed against scientific farming, or what was then sarcastically termed "Book Farming," and thus Massachusetts was deprived of the honor of establishing the first Agricultural College in America, as she had already done the first free school on this continent. But thanks to the Giver of all good, the seed then sowed, watered by the tears and nourished by the prayers of its friends, finally germinated, and brought forth the College under whose auspices we meet to-day.

Few are aware of the difficulties and discouragements which attended the early efforts in behalf of this enterprise, or of the ridicule which was cast on

those who advocated mental culture as superior to physical power. Since that time a complete revolution has taken place in public sentiment, and now those who opposed the education of our young farmers in an Agricultural College, are among its warmest advocates; in fact, those who used to sneer at and taunt the movers as men of zeal, now join with us in praying for its prosperity.

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS.

Much chagrin and disappointment were experienced at the loss of the bill alluded to; but the friends of the measure, nothing disheartened at its rejection, banded themselves together more firmly, believing that Massachusetts, so renowned for public and private munificence, for the endowment of institutions of learning and benevolence, and for the wisdom of her policy in the encouragement of domestic industry, would not much longer withhold her fostering hand from that cause upon which, more than any other, depended the advancement of all human pursuits. A resolve was therefore immediately prepared and submitted to the legislature for the creation of a Board of Commissioners, whose duty should be to report, at the next session, upon the expediency of establishing Agricultural Schools or Colleges.

This commission consisted of MARSHALL P.

WILDER, EDWARD HITCHCOCK, SAMUEL A. ELIOT, THOMAS E. PAYSON and ELI WARREN, and their report was made to the legislature at its session in 1851. This report embraced the investigations of Rev. Dr. HITCHCOCK, in regard to the Agricultural Schools and Colleges of Europe, and contained an account of more than three hundred and fifty of these institutions, large and small, embodying an amount of information and research, on the subjects referred to, never before communicated to the American people, and constituting a document of great value, which will ever redound to the honor of that lamented man. In concluding their report, the commissioners warmly commend the establishment of Agricultural Schools, stating, as reasons, "that agricultural education was of vital importance, not only to the farmers, but to the prosperity of the Commonwealth;" "that it has been the custom of the State to dispense her funds for educational purposes; and that in view of these facts, the commissioners recommend an appropriation of twenty thousand dollars for the purpose of establishing a central Agricultural College, with a model and experimental farm, said institution to be open to all classes of the Commonwealth, and in the government of which the State shall be interested as far as may be deemed expedient;" and further, "that a State Department of Agriculture be established, to consist of one member from, and to be