MATHEMATICS AND ENGINEERING. 87 



largely quoted by the agricultural press of this country aud by at least one 

 journal in England. 



Owing to the amount of work required in the museum and on the herbarium, 

 witli the care of the arboretum, botanic garden and classes, I have boon unable to 

 make many experiments, though I have seen mucli that I should like to under- 

 take College work prevented me from taking any part in the recent meetmgof 

 the Ameri:an Association for the Advancement of Science, held at Ann Arbor. 

 I was also, for the same reason, unable to present a very worthy paper at the 

 meeting of the Society for the Promotion of Agricultural Science, held at Ann 

 Arbor. 



In undertaking a large number of experiments during the time I was pro- 

 fessor of botany and horticulture, I often attempted more than coukl be satis- 

 factorily completed. A lack of means also sometimes made it necessary to 

 drop some experiments before completion. To properly complete some that 

 were begun would require years of repetition before reliable results could be 

 obtained. 



As I am now no longer professor of horticulture, but professor of botany 

 and forestry, it has seemed to me that all the time at my disposal could profit- 

 ably be given the study of grasses and the diseases of plants, or the low forms 

 of plants injurious to vegetation. A study of the latter is close, hard work, 

 which has been too much neglected, but is likely soon to assume the promin- 

 ence attained by economic entomology. 



To one who has made many experiments, and seen a little how difficult it is 

 to arrive at correct conclusions, and how slow the people are to give due credit 

 for the same, the encouragement for work in this direction is not very great, 

 especially when the time and means are limited. 



In closing, I cannot help telling you how much I appreciate the great interest 

 and cordial support in word ard actions you have given the Botanical Depart- 

 ment. It does one good to see your enthusiasm spreading through all the work 

 of the college from the faculty and students to the humblest employe. It cer- 

 tainly bespeaks a rapid growth and greater efficiency of the Michigan Agrijul- 

 tural College. Cordially vour friend, 



" AV. J. BEAL, 

 Prof, of Botany and Forestry. 



Ageicultukal College, Sept. 29, 1885. 



REPORT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS AND ENGINEERING. 



To President Edwin Willits : 



Dear Sir: — I have pleasure in submitting to you the following E3port of 

 the Department of Mathematics and Engineering for the year ending Septem- 

 ber 30, 1885. 



CLAS3 WORK. 



My assistant, L. G. Carpenter, whose report is appendeil, taught classes in 

 algebra, geometry and drawing, astronomy for the fall term of 1884, hav- 

 ing on the average three and ouc-half classes each day. I taught classes in 

 agricultural engineering, civil engineering, surveying, trigonometry, algeljra, 

 mechanics, astronomy and drawing, making an average of two and one-half 

 classes each day. 



