DEPARTMENT KEPORTS. -ty 



year tit tlic 1st of September instead of December, I have had a smaller number 

 of classes this year than usual. This comparative res))ite from teaching lias 

 given my assistant and myself an excellent op])ortunity for work for the ])ublic 

 outside of the class-room. In the spring term I gave a full course of lectures 

 to the junior class in agricultural chemistry, the topics being illustrated and 

 enforced by appropriate experiments. In the summer term I had the class in 

 chemical physics, the topics being illustrated by a very complete system of ex- 

 periments and physical demonstrations. I have also given ten lectures on ele- 

 mentary chemistry to the freshman class, preparatory to their entering upon 

 this study in the sophomore year. The total number attending these lectures 

 is 88. The entire number of students I have under my instruction during the 

 year is 120. 



Two students have worked in the laboratory at quantitative chemical analysis 

 during the spring and summer terms. 



INDIAN" CORN. 



In the Farmers' Institute held at Paw Paw last winter the question was raised 

 concerning the fat-producing properties of different varieties of Indian corn, 

 and the wish was earnestly expressed by a number of farmers that I would make 

 analyses of a number of different varieties of Indian corn to aid them to come 

 to an intelligent conclusion concerning the value of different varieties of corn 

 for fattening purposes. In entering upon this work I asked the farmers to 

 furnish the varieties of corn they v>'anted analyzed. David Woodman 2d, of Paw 

 Paw, furnished eight kinds, Geo. 11. Kedzie one kind, the farm department of 

 this College three kinds, and Charles Joslyn, of Indianapolis, one kind. These 

 13 specimens have been carefully analyzed to determine the amount of water, 

 ash, albuminoids, starch, fat, sugar, gum, and cellulose or indigestible fibre. 



These specimens are put up in three quart show bottles; the printed labels 

 posted on the side of each show-bottle will exhibit the name of the variety, of 

 the person who presented it, of the locality where it was raised, and the com- 

 plete chemical analysis. The bottles and contents will be exliibited at the Fair 

 of the State Agricultural Sociery. I desire to have 2,000 slips jn-inted which 

 ^hall contain all information in regard to all these specimens of corn, to be 

 ^distributed at the Fair to such persons as are interested in this subject. 



The number of published analyses of American grains is comparatively small. 

 Most of tlie published analyses of grains have been made by European chem- 

 ists, and the grains for the most part were raised in Europe. The conditions 

 of climate, sod, and culture are so different from those found in this country 

 that the analyses of European grains are of small value to the American 

 farmer. It would seem eminently proper that the Agricultural Colleges of 

 this country would furnish this information by making and publishing a com- 

 plete analysis of all the varieties of grain raised in tlic United States. The 

 analytics of different varieties of wdieat made here last year, and of different 

 varieties of Indian corn this year, are the contribution of the Michigan State 

 Agricultural College towards securing this desirable result. 



SOIL ANALYSES. 



A vast region lying north of us, usually grouped together as 'Hhc northern 

 counties," has only slowly and tardily acquired population because of the 

 unfortunate and mistaken impression that this country was "good for lumber 

 and good for nothing else" — tluit when the lumberman has swept off t!ie val- 



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