Los Angeles daily herald., 1874-02-19
Massachusetts Agricultural College.

We call the attention of the farmers
of the State to the following review of
the last annual report of the Massachu-
settle Agricultural College, from the
Homestead, of Springfield, Massachu-
sets. The members of the, Legisla-
ture may also be interested in study
ing the same in comparison with the
report of our own Institution, and the
address of President Gilman before the
members. 1t will be seen that the
Massachusetts institution is at least
counted success, and that the ex-
hibit proves that is such. If an old
State like Massachusetts,, where agri-
culture is three hundred and more
years old, can find sufficient in agri-
culture to establish and successfully
maintain an Agricultural College,
with an experimental farm and bo-
tanical garden attached, it Seems
strange that California, with a terri
tory larger than all of the New Eng
land States, and an agriculture COM
parativelv new to the whole world,
and in its new and undeveloped state
producing $100,OO0, 900 per annum,
cannot do as much. Tt Is still more
strange that the first mineral State in
the Union, or one that produced 3d.
22S,58O in gold and 100000 i'm silver in
1873, and will probably produce $685.
get Interest enoughin her mineral re-
sources to warrant the establishment
and maintenance of Mechanic Art
College, in which may be taught ex-
perimehtallyl and practicallyiau neAes-
sary& metallurgical skhowedge@ we
are glad the farmers and mechanics
have joined hands in denlandhIg3a
change in the -managen1ent Of our
State University, so far, at least, as
these two departments are concerned,
and we hope that their sdeliaiid will
be acceded to. Following is the re-
view referred to:
The annual report of this institution
for the year 1878 shows another year
of prosperity. The report contains a
catalogue of all the past students With
their occupations at the present time.
From this it appears that out of 234
nearly all are engaged in some indust-
rial pursuit, and that seventy are de-
voted ito agriculture. The expenses
are about $50, 000 per -annum, and the
income from the endowment fund in
the State Treasury is $4,000 F.; from
other sources, $l0,OOOO. No appropri-
alton having been made since 1871,
there is now deficit of $4,000. The
hope isexpressed that the bill of SEN
ator Mbrrill, now before Congress-, for
granting additional endowments tothe
national colleges, may soon becomea
law, This would place the college
upon an entirely Independent basis.
The Massachusetts, society for prOmot-
ing agriculture maintains four free
scholarships lat an annual expense Of
$500 each. The largest gift during the
year was $1,000, from Ex-Governor
Clatlin. for the endowment of the
Grinntll Agricultural 4 prize, 3. No
changes have taken place in the facul-
ty.T Ample reports Of farm operations
are given, with the results of experi-
nients. D IAll3 the laborl6fi the CAIRNS,
fields, barns, etc., is done by students
except that with teams. The report
upon the sugar beet, upon fertilizers,
etc. is exceedingly useful and in
structiye.. The students are greatly
interestedlin the Study of botany, and
especially in the preparation OF the
Massachusetts garden, which is to con-
tain all our useful indigenous and
naturalizcd plants. The officers OF the
college are earnestly striving to i'm
prove the farmers and farming of the
State, to increase the productivenes of
the soil and the attractiveness of rural
life. - Sacramento Record.