140 AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 



THE CHEMICAL DEPARTMENT. 



REPORT BY PROFESSOR CHARLES A. GOESSMANN. 



The entire course of instruction in theoretical and experi- 

 mental chemistry during the past year has been given in ac- 

 cordance with the lately revised plan of studies. The 

 change in transferring the branches of applied chemistry 

 from the sophomore to the junior and senior year has proved 

 very acceptable to both the students and the teacher. The 

 attendance of all classes engaged in the various exercises of 

 the department has been quite satisfactory, and their prog- 

 ress, on the whole, encouraging. The chemical laboratory is 

 kept open five days during the week, four hours in the fore- 

 noon of each day, to accommoda-te all who wish to pursue a 

 special course in practical chemistry. Several post-graduates 

 have availed themselves of this opportunity during the past 

 year ; and quite a number of students of all classes have 

 spent their spare hours in some practical laboratory-work 

 suited to their particular state of information, or related to 

 their future special occupation. Tliis course of action, judg- 

 ing from past experience, serves two purposes, — it creates 

 among the students a desirable interest in the study of 

 chemistry, and aids essentially in procuring the pecuniary 

 means to meet the unavoidable expenses of the department, 

 as far as the regular instructions specified in the college 

 curriculum necessitate. The expenses of the department 

 have been kept, as in past years, within its income from the 

 fees charged to those who take part in laboratory exercises. 



Aside from the regular class duties, much time has been 

 devoted to analytical chemical investigations in various 

 directions. The examination of the commercial fertilizers 

 offered for sale in our markets, as well as the composition of 

 noted refuse materials recommended for fertilizing purposes, 

 have received careful attention. The results of this work 



