58 STATE BOAKD OF AGEICULTUEE. 



ALGEBRA. 



From the fact that a great number of the students are acquainted Avitli the 

 elements of algebra when they enter, it was found necessary not only to divide the 

 class, but it was thought best to provide different text books for the two sections. 

 The time allowed for the completion of algebra is the same as geometry, viz. : 

 twenty-four weeks. The advanced section, numbering 40 students, used as a 

 text-book Olney's University Algebra, and passed over an extensive course, 

 including differentiation and the higher theoretical algebra. 



The other section, numbering 44 students, used as a text-book Olney's Com- 

 plete School Algebra, and nearly completed the book, thereby acquiring a suf- 

 licent knowledge of the principles of algebra to creditably finish the remainder 

 of the course. 



RnETORICAL. 



The Ehetorical exercises of the Freshman Class were not put mto my hands 

 until late in the first term, and it being necessary to be absent several times I 

 could not meet the class regularly. For these reasons I deemed it best to make 

 no report of the first term's work. The second term I met the class regularly 

 on Thursday afternoon at 5. The exercises consisted of declamations and 

 essays, or, when the student wished, I allowed orations to be substituted, credit- 

 ing one oration equal to one essay and one declamation. On account of the 

 size of the class each student was required to prepare one exercise only in four 

 Aveeks, thus requiring during the term of each student two essays and two 

 declamations. Generally speaking the exercises have been well prepared. The 

 declamations have, without an exception, been well learned, and some of the 

 orations have been really excellent. 



OUTSIDE WORK. 



During the greater portion of the year I have spent from three to five after- 

 noons of each week in doing work not included in my regular College duties. 

 The character of that work is shoAvn by the following imperfect enumeration of 

 the more important pieces of work. 



In accordance witli the desire of the State Board, I acted on the committee 

 for rebuilding the Cedar river bridge, and prepared the design and working 

 dra^wings from which the bridge was built. I have done a considerable amount 

 of surveying of farm lines, boundaries of fields, and under-drains ; in fact, I 

 have done all that profitably can be done with our present instruments. For 

 the purpose of registering the notes of surveys, and also for mapping, I obtained 

 a book, and had copied therein all maps and notes of surveys that were in exist- 

 ence. I have also made two large maps of the farm and grounds, one of which 

 is intended for class use, and is to be kept in the library ; the other is intended 

 to be sent to the Centennial Exhibition. 



It is hardly necessaiy to remark that for want of a proj^er book heretofore, 

 the records of several surveys heretofore made were lost, and it was necessary to 

 make a resun-ey of several old drains at a considerable expense to supply such 

 omissions. A topographical survey of the farm and grounds is very much 

 needed for educational purposes, but such a survey cannot be made with our 

 present instraments, and it is to be hoped that facilities for performing this 

 work will soon be furnished. 



Very respectfully yours, 



K. C. CAKPENTEK. 



