DEPARTMENT REPORTS. 49 



Orchards and Gardens. — During the year all of the old college 

 orchard has been removed except two blocks of fifty Northern Spy 

 trees. The trees removed had passed their usefulness, being about 

 forty-five years old, and very badly split and rotted. The sit on which 

 they were planted is very poorly drained and not at all adapted for 

 fruit trees. The fifty trees that remain are in fair condition, and will 

 be left for a number of years. The cleared area will be used for veg- 

 etables. 



Further details on orchards and gardens will be found in the report 

 of the associate horticulturist of the experiment station. 



The Grounds. — An important step was taken this past year to pre- 

 serve and to enhance the beauty of our campus. The board authorized 

 the department to secure the services of Mr. O. C. Simonds, an emi- 

 nent landscape gardener of Chicago, to make suggestions for the im- 

 provement of the grounds. Previous to his visit, a map of the campus 

 was made, showing the location of all walks, drives, plants and other 

 features. The report of Mr. Simonds has been made and that part 

 of it referring to walks, drives, drains and planting has already been 

 accepted by the board. No radical changes are proposed; the report 

 calls only for the elimination of minor objectionable features, and for 

 considerable new planting, especially of shrubbery. These improve- 

 ments the department will now proceed to execute as rapidly as pos- 

 sible. 



A cement culvert has been constructed across the brook running 

 through the botanic garden at the point where the river road crosses 

 it. Permanent improvements are necessary to keep the river in its 

 course at this point, and to protect the approach to the athletic field 

 bridge. 



Mr. Thomas Gunson, who has served the horticultural department 

 for fourteen years, was made superintendent of grounds by the board 

 in October. The efficiency of Mr. Gunson in this capacity is known 

 to all who know the college. He has immediate supervision and respon- 

 sibility for all work on the grounds, which are under the general super- 

 vision of the professor of horticulture and landscape gardening. 



Ice Service. — The ice service has been for many years a hindrance 

 to the efficiency of the department. On April 1st the department trans- 

 ferred to the engineer a horse and wagon, together with the ice gather- 

 ing appliances. Besides using this team for delivering ice, the engi- 

 neer will use it for the many odd jobs of hauling connected with his 

 work. This arrangement is a relief to the horticultural department 

 and to the engineer as well. 



I very much wish that the board would adopt the recommendation 

 in a paragraph of Professor Hedrick's last annual report. He said: 



"I must call your attention also to the fact that the instruction 

 of the students in the greenhouses is most seriously interfered with, 

 and the finances of the department greatly depleted, by the custom of 

 furnishing the legislature, state and college officials with flowers and 

 plants. In my opinion, this custom should be almost wholly stopped; 

 or failing in this, it should be regulated by the State Board of Agri- 

 culture. In the latter case my recommendation is that the college be 

 asked to pay the department t&r all such donations, and that no pres- 

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