40 STATE BOAED OF AGEICULTURE. 



gravel for drives ; two Avorked on a gutter by a drive ; three worked on a vege- 

 table cellar ; one cared for College hall. 



BOTANY. 



After leaving horticulture, the Sophomores resumed botany for ten v/eeks. 

 The course consisted largely in lectures, with some study of Grai/s 6'trucfural 

 and Sydematic Botany, and considerable study of specimens. Five days were 

 given to the principles of classification, including nomenclature. Five days 

 were given to the study of ornamental plants, including those of the green- 

 house ; one day to the movements of plants, as in sleep, climbing, carnivorous 

 habits, etc. ; one day to the eminent botanists ; one day to mosses and liver- 

 worts ; five daj^s to Fungi, as to mode of growth, effect on the air, colors, odors, 

 taste, fertilization, classification, as a cause of disease or a consequence of it, 

 uses, distinguishing poisons from edible, geographical distribution, some special 

 or peculiar kinds, as in mildew, mould, must, smut, rust, bunt, brand, as caus- 

 ing potato rot, mildew of grapes, etc., as found in the interior of living animals. 

 Three days were given to algm or sea-weeds ; two days to geographical botany ; 

 one day to gi/nmospcrnis (pines, spruces, cyca3s) ; three days to our native trees, 

 with reference to their culture and uses ; one day to the distribution of seeds ; 

 one day to the fertilization of plants, as aided by insects, wind, water, etc. ; 

 five days to the grasses ; five days to ferns and their allies ; ten days to other 

 natural orders of most use to the farmer and gardener, as the Leguminosge, 

 Rosacere, Cruciferas, Solanacea?, Umbellifera^, Comj^osita^, Labiateae. 



At the opening of the second term the Freshmen began pliysiological and 

 moqihological botany. Owing to the unusual size of the class this year, it was 

 necessary to meet the students in two dinsions an hour each, daily. The entire 

 number was seventy-one. The first lessons were to study a pea-plant flower, 

 then leaves, fruit, etc. Other plants were taken in the same way. Students 

 were required to collect and study so as to be able to state in their own words the 

 structure and other peculiarities of the plant. Some assistance was given in 

 the class. After a few weeks books were used. In analyzing plants, they 

 proceeded more slowly and thoroughly than is the usual custom. Our motto is, 

 ''not how many plants can you find the name of, but how well do you know 

 those you study ? " For the best results, the classes were too large. A more 

 satisfactory mode would be to have smaller classes, and have them spend a 

 longer time each day, somewhat as they do in analytical chemistry. Many 

 members of the class become excellent observers, but some of them w^ere too 

 young to grasp Avell the ideas of morphology and microscopic structure. There 

 seemed no way to show the slides under the compound microscopes, except to 

 put them in the hands of two members of the class and station them in the 

 hall or another room apart from the recitation room. Three special "written 

 examinations were had besides one at the close of the term. This enabled me 

 to mark each student as though he were called up to recite forty times in 

 eighteen weeks. 



The following are lists of questions for the year, whicli were submitted at the 

 close of each subject or term for a written examination : 



QUESTIONS IN" BOTANY. 



First examination : two hours given for writing answers. 



1. How can we learn the sha2)e of cells? 



2. What is cell multiplication? 



