KEPORTS OF DEPARTMENTS. 2? 



KEPORT OF DEPAETMENT OF CHEMISTRY FOR 1875. 



To the President of the State Agricultural College: 



I he^e^Tith transmit to yon a report of tlie condition of nay department for the 

 current year. 



The year has been a very successful one, distinguislied from many of the pre- 

 ceding years by a more uniform attendance on class exercises by the students. 

 The total number of students who have received instructions in the Laboratory 

 this year is 54, distributed as follows : in general chemistry, 29 ; chemical 

 analysis and manipulation, 23 ; agricultural chemistry, 22 ; chemical i^hysics 

 and meteorology, 21. 



During the first term in general chemistry I gave a full course of lectures 

 with experimental illustrations, to the Sophomore Class and a few specials ; also 

 a full course of lectures, with experimental illustrations, to the Junior Class, in 

 agricultural chemistry. 



In the second term I gave a course of lectures on volumetric analysis to the 

 Sophomore Class, and the class made thirty quantitative analyses by volume ; 

 also, to the same class a course of lectures on blowpipe analysis, and the class 

 made fifteen analyses in determinative mineralogy ; also a course of lectures on 

 organic chemistry to the same class. This class had 100 bottles of separate 

 substances for qiTalitative analysi? in the wet way. 



In the Junior Class, daring the second term, I heard recitations in chemical 

 physics, gi\'ing very full physical demonstrations of the properties of the 

 ** imponderable forces." I also gave a course of lectures on meteorology. 



EXTRA CLASS WORK. 



In addition to the required class exercises, I met the Sophomores one evening 

 each week for a chemical conversation, in which the facts and principles of the 

 science were reviewed, chiefly by questions from the students and answers by the 

 teacher. I also met them every Saturday morning for two hours to give them 

 practice in. chemical manipulation. At this exercise the experiments were 

 announced and apparatus furnished, but the student performed his own experi- 

 ments. The students were greatly interested in this exercise, and although it 

 was not a required exercise, it was very rare to find any one absent. I think 

 this kind of instruction might Avitli great profit to the students be extended. and 

 made more complete hereafter. 



EXPEIsSES AXD RECEIPTS. 



The bill of chemicals jrarchased last June amounted to $307.50 ; the receipts 

 of chemicals furnished to the students in chemical analysis amounted to 1430, 

 showing an excess of receipts above expenses of more than $130. The cost of 

 chemicals is an expense which is a serious burden to most of our students. 

 While I tliink the students should pay the full cost of what they use, I do not 

 think tlie College should make a pecuniary profit therefrom. I think the 

 advanced fee for the student in analysis should be reduced from $15 to $12. It 

 may be that it may, in the future, be still more reduced; but I am sure that it 

 is safe to make this reduction now. 



