28 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



I)urin2: three ^veeks of the sumnier term (the president having leave of ab- 

 sence), 1 had the general duties of the executive officer, and throughout the 

 year in temporary absences of the president the students were referred to me 

 as substitute. 



In the \vinter Farmers' Institutes my part was general oversight of the or- 

 sranization of the one at Flint, and an address at Flint and Ciiarlotte. All 

 other work away from the College I have felt obligedto decline. At the Col- 

 lege I have kept my place as teacher in the Sunday school with but one ab- 

 sence, and have read two short papers before the Natural History .Society. 



Incidentally, under the advice of the committee of the Board of Agricult- 

 ure upon buildings, etc., I have given some considerable attention to the plan 

 of the dwelling now in process of erection. Extra attention was made neces- 

 sary bv the dilKculty of providing sufficient accommodation with the funds at 

 disposal of the Board, and my personal interest as the probable occupant of 

 the dwelling designated me for the task. 



THE COLLEGE LIBRARY. 



The usual routine of work in the College Library has occupied four differ- 

 ent Seniors for a trifle over 800 hours. The books have been kept in excel- 

 lent order and the library has been much frequented during the daily opening 

 from 4 to 6 P. M. On Saturday the hours of opening have been changed to 

 the morning from 10 to 12, and afternoon from 5 to 6. This seems to accom- 

 modate the students better than the old plan of opening from 3 to 6 P. M. 



The whole number of books taken from the library during the year is 1,835, 

 classed as follows: Agricultural 132, Horticultural 34, Scientific 274, Bio- 

 graphical 110, Historical 14G, Fiction 292, Miscellaneous 847. Consultation 

 of books in the Library is more frequent as the works of reference are multi- 

 plied. 



The Library has been increased by the purchase of 119 bound volumes and 

 the binding up of 167 volumes of periodicals. Donations have included 81 

 bound volumes and 77 pamphlets besides some seventy periodicals, all of which 

 are acknowledged in the Secretary's list of donations. The periodicals taken 

 upon subscription have been as follows : 



Atlantic Monthly. 



Harper's Magazine. 



North American Review. 



International Review. 



Blackwood's Magazine, (Reprint.) 



British Quarterly Review, " 



Loudon " " " 



AVestminster Review, " 



Edinburgh Review, ** 



Contemporary Review. 



The London Times. 



The Nation. 



Detroit Post and Tribune, Daily. 



Van Nostrand's Engineering Magazine. 



Engineering (London.) 



The Country Gentleman. 



American Agriculturist. 



American Stockman. 



American Journal of Science. 



