REPORT ON THE SCHOOL OF BOTANY. 85 



inauguration of the School of Botany was followed by the 

 immediate organization of a class for the study of grasses. 

 Similar classes in one or more lines of botanical study have 

 been formed in the fall and spring terms of each succeed- 

 ing year. None of these classes has been large . Sometimes 

 only one or two persons have presented themselves for a 

 given course. But it has been thought best to proceed with 

 even very small classes when there was an earnest desire on 

 the part of applicants to do such work as lay within the scope 

 of the school ; and a standing announcement is made in the 

 catalogue of the University, that classes for either day or 

 night work will be formed in any branch that can be taught 

 with profit, on the application of six persons. Frequently, 

 however, as has been said, classes are organized for a 

 smaller number than this. 



In 1888, largely through the interest of Drs. W. T. 

 Porter and A. N. Ravold, a class of young physicians resid- 

 ing in the city, was formed for the study of bacteria in 

 their connection with medical practice; and a portion of 

 that summer was spent by me at the Berlin center for such 

 work, where the necessary apparatus and cultures were 

 obtained for the equipment of a bacteriological laboratory. 

 This has been successfully operated for two winters, with 

 evening classes ; but the demand for such instruction is so 

 small, and the medical schools of the city are now 

 so well equipped for such work, that it has been decided 

 to discontinue this elementary work for the present, 

 although it is hoped that ultimately the School of 

 Botany may afford opportunity for special research in this 

 direction. 



In addition to the work done with special laboratory 

 classes, nearly all of which have been conducted by 

 myself, two courses of evening lectures have been given 

 in the lecture hall of the University, — one on the pol- 

 lination of flowers, the other on the dissemination of 

 plants. While the attendance was not large on either, a 



