.^-^^ : Ao^ ■ -^ ^o. •^0^ 'bV" •^0^ >■ ^^-^^^ "J i^i^'^o V.^^' 4V ^ >..^' V'^. «H°, i^-'* 4 o >0^ "l""' c\ Digitized by the Internet Arcinive in 2010 with funding from The Library of Congress http://www.archive.org/details/cirGularexplainiOOmass //ffc, J<£^-n^iC4 /' y MASSACHUSETTS SCHOOL OF AGRICULTURE. MASSACHUSETTS SCHOOL OF AGRICULTURE. LIST OF OFFICERS. PRESIDENT ^ MARSHALL P. WILDER. TREASURER : RICHARD S. FAY. CORRESPONDING SECRETARY : CHARLES C. SEWALL. RECORDING SECRETARY: ASA FRENCH. TRUSTEES : MARSHALL P. WILDER, BENJAMIN V. FRENCH, GEORGE W. LYMAN, RICHARD S. FAY, SAMUEL HOOPER, JOSEPH S. CABOT, CHARLES 0. WHITMORE. BOSTON: 1858. J. H. EASTBURN'S PRESS. ^' Y' Sir: In calling your attention to the Act of the Legislatui'e, incorporating the " Trustees of the Massachusetts School OF Agriculture," for the promotion of Agriculture and Agri- cultural Education, we wish to give some explanations of the design of the association, with the hope that it will meet your approbation, and receive your aid and sympathy. The people of this Commonwealth, who have reflected upon the importance and necessity of improving the condition of Agriculture in the State, have long been convinced that more active measures should be taken to rescue it fi'om its present neglected condition, by treating the cultivation of the soil as a science, and giving to it more careful and systematic attention and study than heretofore. While we have schools and colleges to prepare for other pui-suits in life, that most important of all occupations, the culture of the soil, is left to take care of itself. Indeed, the education which is now so liberally bestowed upon our children, tends to render manual labor irksome to them, and to lead them from this important field of industry, towards occu- pations more congenial to the purely intellectual training of our schools. It is with a view of correcting those evils, by combining the education of the head and of the hands, — the practical with the intellectual, — by elevating agriculture to the rank of a science ; that the design has been formed of establishing an institution to prepare young men to enter upon the occupation of farming, with as much information in regard to that employment, and as much certainty of attaining profitable results, as in other de- partments of industry. It is proposed to sohcit bequests and donations throughout the State, to obtain the means of purchasing suitable lands, and erecting the necessary buildings for a school or schools, where, in addition to the usual branches of a sound but simple Ameri- can education, the pupils shall be taught, in a practical manner, the best methods of husbandry adapted to the soil and climate. 'S The leading object will be, to convey to the pupils a practical knowledge of whatever is necessary in managing the cultivation of land successfully, in reference to the every-day work of the fai'mer, the gardener, or the breeder of cattle, — to the economy of time and labor, — and to that systematised plan of operations, without which, they can never hope to succeed. It is not the intention to create reform schools, by admitting as pupils those who require, from any cause, more rigid disci- pline than is usually exacted in common schools ; on the con- trary, it is the intention to requhe testimonials of previous good character, as a qualification for admission as pupils, and to admit only those who come for instruction, and are willing to labor diligently to obtain it. It is intended that the school shall bear the same relation to the farming interest of Massachusetts, which the West Point Academy sustains to the military interests of the nation, viz. : that of a thoroughly practical, preparatory school, where sound theory and intelligent practice may be so blended and harmonized, as to be inseparably connected in the minds of those, who have faithfully gone through with the pre- scribed course of discipline. Many of the principles of agriculture are but little known to the great mass of our farmers, though the establishment of State and County Agricultural Societies, has done much to awaken a new interest in the subject, and to elevate the standai'd of farm- ing; but this increase of knowledge and interest has shown the necessity, and excited the desire, for more improved and enlarged instruction. Many principles connected with the tillage of land are yet to be discovered, and there are conflicting opinions in regard to many important agricultural subjects, even among the most learned and experienced in such matters ; but how few even of those princix^les, which may now be considered as well settled and established, are really well understood and famihar to our working farmers. The legislative act authorizes the Trustees to estabhsh in a permanent manner, agricultural schools connected with an expe- rimental and model farm, where the pupils may be thoroughly taught and disciplined in the theory and practice of farming, and of all that relates to rural affairs. Such an institution also sug- gests and opens a broad field of usefulness, by investigations to discover new principles of agriculture, to harmonize the diiFerent views in regard to the cultivation of land, and to convey a prac- tical and familiar knowledge of them. An experimental farm is the place for such investigations ; and important facts estabhshed there are made available to the whole community. Agricultui-e is too often considered to be a business with which the principles of natural science have little or nothing to do, — requiring only physical force to plough, to sow, and to gather the crops from year to year, regardless of the poverty which this practice is gradually inflicting upon the soil and upon its owner. But science and art should be united with labor, and they should mutually aid each other in agriculture, as they have in the manu- factory, and the shop of the artizan. They are probably capable of rendering more important aid, and opening a wider field of useful and profitable study, to the cultivator of the soil in our State, than to any other class of society. Instead of the uncer- tamty and guess work which has too much prevailed, scientific knowledge will create the confidence and certainty derived fi-om familiar and correct knowledge of the vegetable and animal sys- tems ; the knowledge of the nature and character of soils, and their capacity to produce the various kinds of crops, — of the manures best adapted to those various soils and crops, — of the changes which occur in plants in the different stages of their growth, — of the comparative value of the difierent articles of food for man and for animals, — of what is necessary to produce fat, or bone and muscle. The investigation of these laws of nature, will also demonstrate the wisdom and goodness of that Being who ordained these laws, and endowed man with faculties to discover and use them for the happiness and welfare of his creatures. The advantage of increased attention and scientific skill in the cultivation of the soil, is strikingly illustrated by the fact that the number of bushels of wheat produced to the acre in England, is nearly, if not quite, one half more than the usual average of those parts of the United States, where the soil and climate are by nature peculiarly suited to its cultivation. The numerous institutions of similar character to the one pro- posed, now existing in other countries, and more especially in France and Germany, Avill furnish much valuable information to guide us ; and in availing ourselves of such information to its fullest extent, it will be with tlie determination of adapting all our rules, and teachings, and experiments, to the special wants of Massachusetts, and to the character of her people. It is not the intention to furnish wholly gratuitous instruction from the general resources of the association ; if, however, funds are specially bestowed for that object, they will be faithfully applied to it. The larger the amount of the means at the com- mand of the Trustees may be, the cheaper will be the cost of instruction to the pupils, and the greater the facihties for a thoroughly practical education. The Trustees will not attempt to provide any establishment, or make any expenditures, until sufficient means are obtained to purchase suitable land, and provide everything requisite to carry on a farm, garden, and school, in the way best calculated to fulfil the purposes of the act of incorporation. Whatever con- tributions are received will be invested from time to time, until sufficient funds are obtained. With this brief and general explanation, the Trustees appeal to the community for the funds necessary to commence their work. They have no endowment from the State. In their opinion, the object appeals to the patriotism and philanthropy of the citizens of our Commonwealth ; and it is hoped that the appeal will be liberally met. Any donations can be sent to the Treasui-er, Richard S. Fay, Esq., No. 13 Exchange street, Boston, who will acknowledge the receipt of the same. Bequests should be to " The Trustees of the Massachu- setts School of Agriculture," and may be general, or may be limited to any purpose within the scope of the Institution, as the testator may designate. MARSHALL P. WILDER, ' BENJAMIN V. FRENCH, GEORGE W. LYMAN, RICHARD S. FAY, )■ Trustees. SAMUEL HOOPER, JOSEPH S. CABOT, CHARLES O. WHITMORE, CDomwottiuealtf) of MmMt^mtttn, In tlie Year One Thousand Eight Hundred and Fifty-six. AN ACT To incorporate the Massachusetts School of Agriculture. £e it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives, in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows : — Sect. 1. Marshall P. Wilder, of Dorchester, Benjamin V. French, of Braintree, George W. Lyman, of Waltham, Seth Sprague, of Duxbury, Moses Newell, of Newbury, Richard S. Fay, of Lynn, Samuel Hooper, of Boston, and their successors and associates, are hereby constituted a corporation by the name of the Trustees of the Massachusetts School of Agriculture, for the purpose of holding, maintaining and conducting, an experimental farm and school there- upon, with all needful buildings, library, apparatus and appurtenan- ces, for the promotion of agricultural and horticultural art within this Commonwealth, with all the powers and privileges, and subject to all the duties, liabilities and restrictions, set forth in the forty- fourth chapter of the Revised Statutes. Sect. 2. The said corporation may hold, by bequest, gift, pur- chase or otherwise, real and personal estate not exceeding the sum of five hundred thousand dollars. Sect. 3. Any person may become a corporator for life in said institution, upon the payment of one hundred dollars to the treasurer thereof, who shall, upon such payment, issue to him a certificate to that efi"ect. Sect. 4. Upon the death or resignation of any trustee in said corporation, or upon his incapacity to perform the duties thereof, by reason of mental or other infirmity, or by reason of prolonged ab- sence from the Commonwealth, the surviving or remaining mem- bers thereof, together with the corporators for the time being, shall have power to choose a successor at any meeting duly notified for that purpose, and five members shall constitute a quorum, unless the number shall be reduced by death or otherwise, below that number, in which event three shall constitute a quorum for that purpose. Sect. 5. In the event of a dissolution of said corporation, by the voluntary act of said trustees and corporators, at any time, the real and personal property belonging to the corporation shall devolve up- on, and belong to, the Commonwealth, to be held by the same, and to be disposed of as it may see fit, in the advancement of agricultural education. BY-LAWS %xnim of % '' Sassatlusttts <§c^0ol d %ptul\mt! Art. 1st. The officers of this Board shall consist of a President, a Treasurer, a Corresponding Secretary, and a Recording Secretary, to be chosen annually by ballot, their respective terms of office to continue until others are installed in their stead. The two first- named officers shall be selected from the Board of Trustees. Art. 2nd. The President, (or, in his absence, the Senior Trustee present,) shall preside at all meetings of the Board ; and a majority of the Trustees shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of busi- ness at any meeting. Art. 3rd. It shall be the duty of the Treasurer to receive and carefully preserve all moneys, or securities of any kind, and evidences of the same, which may become the propei'ty of this Board ; he shall also manage the same, under the direction of the Board : and no bills shall be paid by him unless first approved by the Trustees ; and no money shall be drawn from the funds of the Board on deposit, except upon an order signed by the Treasurer, and countersigned by the President. The Treasurer shall prepare and present to the Board, once at least in every quarter, a full statement of the financial affiiirs of the Massachusetts School of Agriculture, and he shall give such bonds as the Trustees may from time to time require. Art. 4th. The Corresponding Secretary shall prepare all letters to be written in the name of the Board, and conduct its correspond- ence ; he shall keep copies of the same in a book to be provided for the purpose, which shall be open to the inspection of the Board at all times ; he shall also receive and read all letters and papers addressed to the Board, and shall dispose of them in such a manner as shall be directed by the Board. In the absence of the Recording Secretary, the Corresponding Secretary shall pei-form his duties ; and in the absence of both Secretaries, the President shall appoint either a Cor- responding or Recording Secretary, or both, pro tempore. Art. 5th. The Recording Secretary shall keep a faithful record of all the doings of the Board, at any meeting of the same, in a book to be kept for that purpose ; and he shall call special meetings of the Board when so requested by the President, or upon application of any two of the Trustees, in writing : he shall also perform such other duties connected with his office as the Trustees may require ; and, in the absence of the Corresponding Secretary, he shall perform his duties. Art. 6th. The stated meetings of the Board shall be held on the first Mondays of January, April, July, and October ; and the annual meeting for the election of officers, on the first Monday of April. And special meetings may be called at other times in the manner designated in the preceding Article. ~ At a meeting of the Trustees of the Massachusetts School of Agriculture, held in Boston, the Board was organized by the choice of the following officers : — PRESIDENT, Hon. MARSHALL P. WILDER. TREASURER, RICHARD S. FAY. CORRESPONDING SECRETARY, CHARLES C. SEWALL. RECORDING SECRETARY, ASA FRENCH. Boston, April 5th, 1858. The meeting of the Trustees, held this day, was called to order by the President, Mr. Wilder, who announced the death of the Hon. Seth Sprague, and of Hon. Moses Newell, members of the Board of Trustees. The vacancies in the Board, occasioned thereby, were then filled by the unanimous choice of Charles O. Whitmore, of Boston, and Joseph S. Cabot, of Salem, and the Secretary was directed to notify those gentlemen of their election. ASA FRENCH, Recording Secretary. H 11-3 81 /. ^"-^^' : -^^0^ -0.' ♦<* ^oK ^^, < V »^ „ « c - < 0^ :^^'^ -ov^' r^'^M" -^-0^ V^-^'\^°' ,.„ V^'^^'*\/^.. '°^^'* •a? x^ ^^0* ^o1 ,0n 'o, ,* A '- ■'-^^0^ A, X o 0' ^^^--TT,--*,/ r^^ *'Tr»* ,0 <}k.^ . « o . ^^ r.*^ ..^••* ■^^