S'6 STATE BOAED OF ACJEICULTUKE. 



book, paying especial attention to those portions devoted to the proi^ertics of 

 building materials, mortars, limes, and cements, strength of materials, processes 

 of framing, principles of masonry, and the cliapters on roads, canals, rivers, 

 and bridges. 



The course in the text ))ook was supplemented by lectures on the strength of 

 materials, principles of framing, strength of frame, strength of bridge, and the 

 jirinciples of road-making. The study of bridges was greatly advanced by 

 numerous detailed drawings presented by the leading bridge companies of this 

 country, enabling the students to observe how the theoretical principles are actu- 

 ally put into practice. The valuable collection of mechanical models was of 

 material ^alue, giving an opportunity to shoAV (especially in the case of rail- 

 road cars, locomotives, and switches) a reduced form of the oljject under con- 

 sideration. 



Practical problems were given in framing and bridge designing, and the stu- 

 dents vv'ere required to bring in original designs of the rerpiisite strength to suit 

 the conditions given. 



ASTROXOMY. 



Astronomy followed ci\ il engineering, l)ut tlie allotted time of thirty recita- 

 tions was shortened to twenty-four, at the request of the class, who desired to 

 pursue to a greater extent the study of practical agriculture. As the time was 

 so limited, I deemed it advisable to pay attention only to the mathematical 

 principles which underly the science. 



Using AVhite's Astronomy as a text book, we passed over thoroughly the 

 cliapters devoted to the general phenomena of the heavcnsyi definitions of terms 

 used in astronomy, astronomical instruments, refraction, parallax, methods of 

 measuring, size, density, velocity of rotation, and centrifugal force of the eartli, 

 Foucault's pendulum experiment, methods of finding the latitude and longitude 

 of a i)lace, orbit of the earth, distance from the sun and hoAv found, the consti- 

 tution of the sun, sidereal and solar time, equation of time, the calendar, the 

 moon and its })henomena, lunar and solar eclipses, and a general description of 

 the planets. 



I also afforded tlic class an opportunity, which most of them improved, of 

 obtaining a consideral)le knowledge of descriptive astronomy. I met them 

 usually three nights in a week on the roof of the boarding hall, and gave all of 

 them an opportunity for observing the planets through the telescope now at the 

 College, and pointed out to them the principal stars of the dift'erent constella- 

 iions. 



Instructian was given in Drawing to the Junior Class the first t^ix weeks of 

 the term. Warren's Projection Drawing was used as a text book. Especial 

 attention was paid to principles of projection, to intersection and development 

 of solids, and to shades and shadows. I required each student to draw at least 

 two hours per day, he being under my supervision a portion of the time, and to 

 finish ten plates, including a title page. The plates Ave re of a uniform size, 

 and were dra-wn on Whatman's paper -w-ith India ink, and were required to be 

 above a certain standard, both as regards execution and accuracy, the object 

 being to promote habits of neatness and exactness. I also gave one week's lec- 

 tures on the principles of perspective drawing, but time did not permit the stu- 

 dents to finish any plate in perspective when under my supervision. 



SURYEYIXG AND LEVELING. 



Surveying and Leveling Avere taught to the Sophomore Class at the beginning: 



