ORNAMENTAL GROUNDS.

The grounds in the vicinity of the college building have been laid out with care, and ornamented with lawns, shrubbery, and trees. A broad terrace immediately in front is bordered with flowering plants and shrubs. Over a mile of graveled road has already been constructed, and more than a thousand evergreens planted in groups on the borders. It is believed that in a few years the college grounds will become the finest specimen of landscape gardening in the state.”

The laws which govern and regulate the State Agricultural College prescribe the following course of study. We subjoin the text of the act referred to, relating to this subject.

“The course of instruction in said college shall include the following branches, to-wit: Natural Philosophy, Chemistry, Botany, Horticulture, Fruit growing, Forestry, Geology, Mineralogy, Animal and Vegetable Anatomy, Meterology, Entomology, Zoology, Veterinary Art, Plane Mensuration, Leveling, Surveying, Book Keeping, and such Mechanic Arts as are directly connected with Agriculture; and also such other studies as the Trustees may from time to time prescribe not inconsistent with the purpose of this act.”

Reference to the above act discloses the additional fact that an average of two and a half hours per day of manual labor is required from each student, to be as regularly performed as the daily recitations. Experience is daily confirming the opinion that this regulation is of a very salutary nature. “Protracted study without adequate exercise is injurious alike to muscle and brain.” With rare exceptions, the students have engaged in daily out-door work with a heartiness which has been very gratifying to the officers of the College.

“The purposes which manual labor subserves in the Agricultureal College may be briefly stated:

1. It is one of the educating forces. Our system, and method of instruction, make manual labor by the students indispensable. It is impossible to illustrate the application of the principles of science to processes in the industrial arts, without daily practice of the eye and hand. It is our earnest intention, to make scientific knowlege practical and familiar, by applying it to its various uses.

2 It is intended, that the manual labor shall give the student expertness in one or more of the different handicrafts. The farm, garden, nursery, orchard, and workshop, are our auxiliaries in the accomplishmect of this important purpose.”

We close this chapter with the following extract from the College Annual, relating to the appointment and examination of candidates seeking admission to the institution, together with the ordinary expenses per College term:

APPOINTMENT.

The present College building accommodates one hundred and sixty students. By law, each representative district is entitled to send one person for each member in the Assembly. Candidates for admission should, when possible, make application tbrough the superintendent of common schools for their county, and his certificate of good character and scholarship, will give preference over other applicants equally deserving. Should any district fail to send its quota at the beginning of the term, or should rooms be vacant after the several districts are fully. represented, then any persons, residents of the State, of good character and scholarship, and of proper age, will be received upon application to the President; care being taken to distribute the students equally, as near as may be, over the State.

The preparatory department, heretofore belonging to the College has heen discontinued.

No person may enter the Freshman class at an earlier age than fourteen years, nor any higher class except with a corresponding increase af age. Parents are earnestly advised, not to send their children here at an earlier age than sixteen years, unless they have attained to unusual maturity of character.

EXAMINATION.

Candidates for admission will be examined in English Grammar, Reading, Writing, Spelling, Geography, Arithmetic, and the Rudiments of Algebra so far as Simple Equations. These several branches, lie at the foundation of a good scholarship, and proficiency in each and all of these will be a condition of admission.

Accepted candidates will deposit $10 with the Cashier as security for the payment of their bills, and have their names entered upon his books, after which they are considered as being members of the college, in full standing and entitled to all its privileges.

A. S. WELCH, Pres., and Prof. of Moral & Mental Philosophy.