64 STATE BOARD OF AGKICULTUKE. 



REPORT OF THE PROFESSOR OF BOTxVNY AND HORTICULTURE. 



To the President of the State Agricultural College: 



During no year since I liave been connected with the College, luis the time 

 in my department been so iuiinterrui)tedly filled witii hard work as during the 

 year which has just closed. My health has been good, my classes large and 

 numerous. The plans for work of the students and for experiments have 

 demanded more time than I could command. Notwithstanding all these, I 

 believe the work of no year has given greater satisfaction to teacher and 

 students, foreman and gardener. 



JJOTANY. 



The names enrolled in the class of Freshmen and special students were one 

 hundred and twelve. During the lirst six weeks, I met the class daily in two 

 divisions ; during the next term of thirteen weeks, in three divisions. The 

 inductive method of teaching has been quite rigidly adhered to, and I believe 

 with very gratifying results. The students appeared mucli interested and 

 made excellent progress. 



I think they spent more hours on their lessons, with more willingness and 

 with much better results than tliey would if they had begun with the book with 

 only occasional references to specimens for illustration. For the encourage- 

 ment of those who have not tried this method, I may say it is the easier method 

 of the two for the teacher. 



Tlie lirst two weeks were S})ent in tiie examination and comparison uf the 

 small limbs of eight species of trees before the leaves had appeared. This 

 examination was made during the usual time for preparing lessons, and not in 

 the class room. The hour with tlie teaclier was given to a report of the 

 observations of the students, the specimens being out of sight. In a few 

 instances each student wrote out a careful description of what he had seen. In 

 a similar manner all other parts of plants were taken up and specimens studied. 

 The reports of their observations were credited according to merit as is usually 

 done for reciting lessons learned from books. The students were not told 

 about things which they could see for themselves. 



An effort was made to keep tliem working after something which they had 

 not discovered. Quite often members of the class disagreed in their views of 

 the same objects. On tlio next day they were required to bring in all the 

 proofs they could for their belief. 



Tiiey often made experiments on growing seeds and plants. There was 

 generally time enough, though not always, to get all the different or new points 

 which each member of the class had to present. 



It is astonishing to notice how much is discovered by so many good eyes, yet 

 it is sometimes equally surprising to see that some simple prominent points are 

 overlooked by all. 



For some weeks but little use was made of microscopes or text-books. In 

 nearly all cases, — in all important cases, — specimens were examined, and a need 

 was felt for definitions and names before these were given. 



After a while a few hints were given, such ;is the following: It is often of 

 importance to count the parts, to examine several similar specimens of the 



