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The Agricultural College.

IT may fairly be doubted whether the gift of Congress, made in 1862, to establish Agricultural Colleges in all the states of the Union has resulted in the national benefit which its projectors anticipated. In many of the states the amount received was too small to accomplish the object, without very large additional appropriations, which the Legislatures, after accepting the grant of Congress, were unwilling to make. In such cases the grant was turned over to existing institutions, and the result, so far as any appreciable benefit to agriculture was concerned, was negative, or so slight as not to be perceptible. The money in these instances has been of some help to the institutions in whose hands it was placed, but it has not accomplished the good which the farming community had a right to expect.

The Massachusetts Agricultural College is generally admitted to be one of the best and most successful of all the institutions established under this national grant. The gift, with all its conditions, was accepted by the Legislature of 1863, and a Board of Trustees, consisting originally of one from each county, was appointed to locate, and build, and run the institution. The Trustees selected by the Legislature were not men experienced in the management of educational institutions. Few, if any, of them, had had any experience whatever in such work, and it is not surprising that they made serious mistakes. But the Legislature itself made the most serious mistake in affixing a condition that the location should be in a town that should appropriate the sum of seventy-five thousand dollars, to be used in the erection of buildings. The Trustees were thus hampered by a condition which ought never to have been imposed upon them. Instead of locating the institution at a point best adapted to secure its future growth and prosperity, easily accessible to markets, easily reached by students and by liberal men, who would be glad to visit it, and become interested to give it strength and vitality, the Trustees were limited to the single town of Amherst, the only town that promptly complied with the conditions of the Act, by raising the required sum. That was the first great and fatal mistake. No amount of skill and experience in organizing the institution could overcome or remedy the evil of that. The financial weakness, the want of adequate support, and the want of confidence on the part of the public, can be traced directly to that.

The Trustees may fairly be held responsible for some serious mistakes that followed, as the selection of men to build up and organize the college was left wholly with them. To this selection is due the fact that it was organized on a scale much too pretentious and expensive, considering the amount of income which might reasonably be expected from two-thirds of the fund established under the Act of Congress, one-third having been diverted by the Legislature to the Institute of Technology. This was the next very serious mistake, and it has proved to be one very difficult to overcome. It entailed expenditures for which the income of the fund could not provide, involving the constant application to the Legislature for help. This led to angry criticism, and this again to many unjust prejudices in the public mind.

An attempt the past two years by some of the professed friends of the college to induce the Legislature to revolutionize the present government, and to reorganize the Board of Trustees, would have been wholly inadequate to meet the difficulty, because it did not reach the real point of weakness, which is the want of money. So far as the ability to raise a liberal fund for the support of the college is concerned, the present Board is as efficient as any other. A fund of a hundred thousand dollars would make it possible to pay more liberal salaries, to add two or three professorships, and so to strengthen the faculty and the corps of instruction. That of itself would bring an increased number of students, and put life and vitality into the institution as nothing else would. A convention of the Governor and Council, the State Board of Agriculture, and the Trustees of the college was held at Amherst in June last, when an able Committee, made up from these three bodies, was appointed to consider the most feasible means of effecting this object, and of giving strength to the institution. It is a laudable effort, and it is to be hoped that the farming community will appreciate and sustain it. Massachusetts is not accustomed to falter in its support of education, and it has a traditional pride in success. We ought to have the ability and the disposition to take hold and make the college a triumphant vindication of the wisdom of the national government.

Soiling Milch Cows.

THE term "soiling" is applied to the practice of feeding stock with food cut green for the purpose and taken to them daily in the barn or yard. This course is adopted instead of pasturing, and it is claimed that it has several important advantages. The same number of cattle can be supported on the product of a smaller area, no grass or other fodder crop being destroyed or injured by trampling. The cows or other animals can be kept quiet, and in the shade if necessary, without being exposed to the hot sun. It gives an opportunity, also, to study variety in the articles of food which is generally thought to be important in any well-considered system of feeding. It will readily be seen that merely keeping cattle in the barn through the summer, to be fed on dry fodder, after the manner of winter feeding, is not soiling. To constitute soiling, properly so-called, they must be fed on green food, cut daily, to be taken to them in their stalls or the enclosures where they are kept. This green food is most commonly grass, but a complete system of soiling implies a continuous supply of green food from the early spring to the late fall, or through the season in which cattle are ordinarily pastured. Winter rye is sown in the fall in sufficient quantity and it furnishes the first green crop in spring. Then follow oats, barley, corn or Hungarian grass, in turn, as they reach a suitable period of growth to use for this purpose. The feeding of fodder corn or the leaves of root crops, while the cows are at pasture and to sup plement a short crop of grass in a time of drought, may be called a partial soiling.

The economy of the soiling system will depend very much upon the location. In the immediate neighborhood of large towns, where land is expensive, it has great advantages, as by it the production of milk is more uniform and in larger quantity; while farther back in the country, where pasturage is cheap, especially in sections where pasture lands are rough and cannot be brought into profitable cultivation, the little extra expense of cutting green food, will prevent its general adoption.

It must be evident on a moment's reflection that the production of a farm will be largely increased under this system, where the land is level and capable of being ploughed and cultivated. Even light land, which is not very desirable for pasturage, can be made to produce heavy crops of clover, orchard grass, Hungarian or green fodder corn, to say nothing of large crops of mangolds, sugar beets, turnips, etc., while the keeping of stock in small enclosures enables us to save all the manure and to treat it so as greatly to improve its quality and value. This economy of manures makes a wonderful difference in the condition of the farm and improvement is sure to follow up to a high state of fertility. It must be evident, also, that there are other advantages. The farmer has complete control of the food of his cows and he can modify it so as to produce the results he seeks to obtain. At pasture, cows will often eat plants that affect the flavor of milk and butter injuriously, and this will often make it impossible to make gilt-edged butter. Then again there is a great saving in fences, which often require constant watchfulness to keep them up, and not unfrequently great anxiety lest some of the more breachy cows will be encroaching upon the crops of the neighbors. Cows kept on the soiling system are always at home when you want them at milking time, and there are more of them, for a farm will carry a very much larger number under this system than under that of ordinary pasturing. One acre of good land will carry two cows the whole year, while it would take at least two acres to carry one cow well for six months at pasture. It is a little more work to cut and carry the food for a herd of cows, but this is partially offset by the saving of time in driving to and from pasture, and more than offset by the greatly increased value of the manure.

But no farmer should undertake this method of feeding without careful study and preparation. There should be a continuous and abundant supply of nutritious food and that does not come without some calculation.

The crops we have indicated, ryc, clover, Hungarian grass, green foddercorn, etc., will offer sufficient variety and a continuous supply, if wisely managed, but, as in feeding ensilage, we believe in the addition of a small quantity of concentrated foods, and I know of nothing better than bran, cotton seed, or linseed meal. By the use of some one or all of these, we can provide an almost perfect cattle food. In using a purchased concentrated food, the greatly increased value of the manure is to be taken into consideration, as the ques

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BONDED INDEBTEDNESS OF CITIES AND TOWNS IN N. E. Containing a Population of 7500 or upward.

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POST-OFFICE REGULATIONS.

(Prepared Sept., 1881, at the Post Office, Boston.)

DOMESTIC.

NOTE.- Prepayment of all kinds of mail matter (except newspapers, magazines, and periodicals, sent to subscribers from a known office of publication,) can be effected only by means of postage stamps.

FIRST CLASS MATTER.

LETTERS AND POSTAL CARDS in the U. S. Letters, &c. - Forwarded letters and other written matter, and any matter containing a written inscription in the nature of personal correspondence, CTS. and articles sealed against inspection, For each half ounce, or fraction thereof, no limit to the weight.

If not prepaid at least one rate, it is held; if prepaid one rate and more is due, the deficient amount is collected on delivery.

Drop or Local Letters.-(To be sent within the delivery of the office where deposited.) At offices where free delivery by carrier is established, for each half ounce or fraction.

At other offices, for each half ounce or fraction,

If unpaid, or short paid, these will be forwarded, and the amount due col· lected on delivery.

Registered Letters. The fee for registered letters, (in addition to the reg ular postage,) is, per letter,.

Postal Cards, issued exclusively by the P. O. Department, with no writing on the face but the address, each,

SECOND CLASS MATTER.

NEWSPAPERS, MAGAZINES, &c., in the U. S. All newspapers to subscribers only, one copy to each actual subscriber within the county where they are printed and published, wholly or in part, except those deliverable at letter carrier offices,

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Newspapers and periodical publications mailed from a known office of publication or news agency, addressed to regular subscribers or news agents, issued as frequently as four times a year, for each pound, or fraction thereof .02 Periodicals, whether regular or transient, not exceeding 2 oz. in weight, and newspapers (except weeklies) without regard to weight, deposited in carrier offices, for delivery there, each one,.

If over 2 ounces in weight,.

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THIRD CLASS MATTER. MISCELLANEOUS PRINTED MATTER in the U. S. Pamphlets, circulars, occasional publications, transient newspapers, magazines, handbills, posters, prices current, proof-sheets or corrected proofs, engravings, lithographs, photographs, printed cards or envelopes, way bills, and maps, and all matter wholly in print not issued regularly to subscribers, and not exceeding four pounds in weight, for each two ounces, or fraction,. Books (printed or blank).-For each two ounces, or fraction, not to exceed four pounds in weight, (except in cases of single volumes, which may be in excess of such weight),.

Fee for registration, in addition to the postage, for each package,

FOURTH CLASS MATTER.

MERCHANDISE in the U. S.

Merchandise. - Samples of metals, ores, minerals, or merchandise, drawings or plans, paintings in oil or water, photographic, plain and ornamental paper, cards, also seeds, cuttings. bulbs, roots, and scions, and also any articles not belonging to the other classes of mail matter, and in nature or form not liable to damage the mails, or injure any person, not exceeding four pounds in weight, for each ounce, or fraction thereof,

Fee for registration, in addition to the postage, for each package,

UNITED STATES MONEY ORDERS. Money Orders, for any amount not over $150, and not exceeding $50 on one order, are issued in the principal offices, on payment of the following fees:

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For orders not exceeding $15,. ..10 Over $30, and not exceeding $40, .20
Over $15, and not exceeding $30, .15 | Over $40, and not exceeding $50, .25

FOREIGN.

Universal Postal Union.

The rates of Postage for correspondence addressed to the undermentioned countries and places belonging to the Postal Union, are as follows:

Prepayment optional, but on printed matter and samples, postage must be at least partially prepaid.

LETTERS.-5 cents per 15 grammes, which weight is very slightly over one half ounce.

POST CARDS.-2 cents each.

PRINTED MATTER.-1 cent for each two ounces or fraction. COMMERCIAL PAPERS. The same as for printed matter, but the lowest charge is 5 cents.

SAMPLES OF MERCHANDISE. — The same as for printed matter, but the lowest charge is 2 cents.

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To Canada, comprising British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island, the postage for all kinds of correspondence is the same as in the United States, with the exception of samples, for which the rate is 10 cents for a weight limited to 8 ounces.

All kinds of mail matter may be registered to any of the above places upon a prepayment of a fee of 10 cents for each address, in addition to the postage.

Places not comprised in the Postal Union,
(Prepayment required where a star (*) is not prefixed.)

Africa (South), Cape of Good Hope,
Natal,

New Zealand,.

*15c

Patagonia,.

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St. Helena,.

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Australia, Colonies of New South
Wales, Victoria, and Queensland,
Australia, West and South,
Bolivia,

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5c. Tasmania, or Van Dieman's Land, 5c. 17c. West Indies (except places in the

Postal Union),

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China. (Places not in the Postal . 13c. Union), 5c. West Indies, if sent via direct stmr. 5c. Fiji Islands, via San Francisco,. 5c.) Zanzibar.

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FOREIGN MONEY ORDERS.

Money Orders not exceeding $50, and for not more than $150 in one day, are issued as follows:

To Great Britain and Ireland, for orders not exceeding $10,

For orders from $10 to $20,
For orders from $20 to $30,

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.50 For orders from $30 to $40 .70 For orders from $40 to $50. To Switzerland, for each $10 or fraction of $10, To France, Germany, Italy, Canada and Newfoundland, for every $10 or fraction of $10,

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