In the college year of 1885 and 1886, 8 Seniors, 4 Juniors, 12 Sophomores and 10 Freshmen held State scholarships-a total of 34. To the class entering in 1886 there were 11 appointed, in 1887 there were 7, in 1888, 11, a total of 63 young men who entered college in the years 1882 to 1888. Of this number 39, or 62 per cent., were from Providence, Pawtucket 7, Woonsocket 2 and Newport 1. Total from the cities 49, or over 77 per cent. of the whole number. We have no means of knowing the profession or kind of business 1 the State beneficiaries have entered on graduating, but are unable to find one who has applied himself to agriculture. A JOINT SPECIAL COMMITTEE was appointed January 2d, 1887, to "investigate and report what action is necessary and best to be taken by this State that the agricultural interests of the State may derive the greatest benefit in carrying out the provisions of an Act passed by the 49th Congress, entitled an Act to establish agricultural experiment stations," also instructed "to investigate and report what disposition is now made of the income derived from the Land Grant Fund received by this State from the United States." The Committee held a number of public hearings during the winter of 1887-8 which were well attended by representative farmers from different parts of the State, and in accordance with the popular opinion that to connect an experimental station with Brown University was inadvisable, the committee reported a bill establishing a STATE AGRICULTURAL SCHOOL on an independent basis, which was passed March 23, 1888. A resolution had already been passed on March 20th, appointing a Joint Special Committee to select a site. This Committee, after inspecting locations in several different towns, selected the Tefft Farm," better known as the 66 OLIVER WATSON FARM in the town of South Kingstown. The town gave $2,000, by vote, toward the purchase of the farm, citizens and friends contributed $2,000 more, and the State paid $1,000. At the adjourned May Session, June 13th, as provided in the Act establishing a State Agricultural School, His Excellency, Governor Taft, appointed a BOARD OF MANAGERS consisting of five members. Mr. J. A. Budlong, the appointee from Providence county, declining to serve, the present incumbent was appointed July 13, 1888, and on the following day, at the call of His Excellency for a meeting in his office at the State House, members of the Board of Managers and the Joint Special Committee informally discussed the Act creating the school and plans for the Experiment Station. A similar meeting was held a week later. On July 30, 1888, all the members of the Board, excepting one who was out of the State, met at the farm in South Kingstown pursuant to a call issued by the Secretary of State. The Chairman of the Joint Special Committee accompanied the Board on this tour of inspection, and citizens of the town kindly furnished conveyance and entertainment. At this meeting the BOARD ORGANIZED by the choice of Charles O. Flagg, of Cumberland, President, and Melville Bull, of Middletown, Secretary and Treasurer. Section 4 of the Act establishing the school provides that "Any sum which shall be received by the State by virtue of any Act of Congress for the promotion of Agriculture shall be appropriated to the use of said Board for the purpose for which said sum was appropriated.” As the time had already expired in which the first year's appropriation under the Hatch Act could be expended, it reverted to the United States, but steps were immediately taken on the part of His Excellency, Governor Taft, and the Board, to make out and file with the proper authorities at Washington the necessary papers to secure to this State the $15,000 annually paid under the Hatch Act. The $5,000 appropriated in the Act for the establishment of the school by the State, was not available through a technicality, and therefore no decided steps have been taken toward organizing a school. At the meeting on July 30 the Board voted to visit Storr's School, at Mansfield, and the Experiment Station, in Amherst, Mass., hoping to get further information regarding the practical working of those institutions. But two members of the Board were able to go on August 16 and 17. They very much regretted the absence of their co-workers, as the trip was very instructive. At the call of the President, a meeting was held at the State Fair Grounds September 27, where Hon. Charles H. Peckham, Chairman of the Joint Special Committee, formally announced to the Board the signing and receipt of the deed of the farm, so long delayed by the serious illness and death of Mr. Tefft. On October 13, the Treasurer received the FIRST QUARTERLY INSTALLMENT of the Hatch Fund, $3,750. On the 25th, Dr. Goessman of the Massachusetts Agricultural Experiment Station met the Board by invitation at the farm to inspect and advise with relation to building, laying out experimental plats, etc. November 3d, a meeting was held at the State House, where it was voted that the funds of the Board be deposited with the Rhode Island Hospital Trust Company. That the Treasurer give bonds satisfactory to the Board for $3,750. (A bond for $4,000, satisfactory to the Board, was filed later with the President and deposited by him with the State Treasurer.) That the President secure a survey and plot of the farm, also photographs of the farm and buildings for future reference. Charles O. Flagg was appointed Director pro tem. Three meetings were held in November and another in December. Mr. E. A. Ellsworth of Holyoke, a civil engineer with some experience in the construction of laboratories, was employed to furnish designs and specifications for a laboratory for the Experiment Station. Rev. Edgar F. Clark, connected the past summer with the United States Geological Survey, has been employed to make a short geological examination of the rocks and soils of the farm, a report of which will be published on the bulletins of the station. The survey of the farm has been entrusted to Charles F. Chase, C. E., and the work is nearly completed. By vote of the Board the Director pro tem. attended the second annual meeting of the American Association of Agricultural Colleges and Experiment Stations at Knoxville, Tenn., January 1-4, 1889. Delegates were present from 31 States, including all east of the Missis sippi river, excepting Florida. The work of the experiment stations, methods pursued, and advantages to the public, with many other questions of interest were ably discussed, furnishing much valuable information to station workers. THE FARM at South Kingstown is situated on the westerly side of Kingston Hill, about one-half mile from the post office and one and seven-tenths miles from the depot, although the west end of the farm comes quite near to the railroad. It consists of about 140 acres of land, that on the hill being moist, stony land, with impervious subsoil, while the plain is a sandy loam soil, free from stone, with a gravelly subsoil at the depth of three to four feet, and permanent water at sixteen to twenty feet from the surface. THE BUILDINGS are a two-story house with old fashioned chimney and ell, size 36 feet by 28 feet-ell 22 feet by 20 feet. The barn was built about seventeen years ago and is 364 feet by 324 feet on the ground. There are some other small buildings, wagon-sheds, corn-house, poultry house, etc. On the plain is a barn that was in very poor repair, one end being entirely out. It was originally 20x30 feet, with 12-foot posts. This has been raised a little, new-silled and ten feet in length added to the open end. Several cords of good fertilizing material was taken out of the old floorway and stables. With a new roof, new doors, etc., it makes a good barn for storing hay, all the space being utilized for that purpose. FARM WORK. Mr. H. F. Adams has been employed as working foreman, lives in the house and boards the farm help at present engaged in clearing brush from a portion of the pastures. The rail fences which subdivided the plain land have been taken down, making one large field of three smaller ones. Seven and one-half acres of land have been plowed |