28 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jail., 



would like to hear the Professor's ideas more particularly in 

 regard to the advisability of reducing the number of hours 

 devoted to labor. Those who know me know that I am a 

 working farmer, and I have found that when I have done my 

 day's work, I am incapacitated for study or reading; I am 

 exhausted. Now, I would like to ask if the hours of labor 

 are not so excessive that a student who may be naturally dull 

 in hi^ studies is overworked? 



Dr. Armsby. Undoubtedly, that is a very important point 

 which Mr. Day has raised. I would say in reply, however, 

 that we have never found in our experience that the work 

 produced that effect. The hours of work are varied some- 

 what, of course in different seasons. During the spring 

 term, say from April to the first of July, the hours of study 

 are diminished somewhat, and the hours of work increased. 

 The young men whom we have had so far are all healthy and 

 vigorous, and do not appear to suffer any injury from the 

 amount of work that we require of them. This term we 

 have required a little less time in recitations than during the 

 corresponding term last year, with perhaps some benefit. 

 They usually find a reasonable amount of time for the 

 effervescence of " Young America." At least, we judge 

 so occasionally by the sounds that we hear. 



Question. Are practical experiments in fertilizers carried 

 on at the Storrs Agricultural School by the students, and, if 

 so, are the results given to the public ? 



Dr. Armsby. During the past season, we have been trying 

 a series of experiments in fertilizers as applied to corn. The 

 experiments were planned by myself, and carried on with the 

 aid of the students. It would not be strictly correct to say 

 that they were carried on by the students, but the work was 

 done partially by the students, and they are familiar with the 

 plan and purpose of the experiments. The results have not 

 yet been obtained. The corn has been harvested, and some 

 samples are now being dried for the purpose of getting, as 

 nearly as possible, at the dry weight of the product. The 

 results will be published in due time in the report of the 

 School. 



