DEPAKTMENT EEPORTS. 71 



As before mentioned, I have tried as hard as I could to make these experi- 

 ments. Some have been neglected or incomplete for want of time. I have 

 undertaken too much. In })lanning for the next two years this question of 

 experi men ting should soon be decided. My classes are growing larger and more 

 numerous. There are more students to look after in the afternoon work. 

 The teaching of three hours a day is in most good colleges a day's work for 

 one man. It is not half of my work. With so many duties I shall not be able 

 in the future to spend as much time in experimenting. Experiments require 

 too much care to be entrusted to students who are inexperienced. 



If the members of the Board think best, after understanding this matter, 

 they can increase the value of experiments in the Horticultural Department 

 in one of the following ways : 



1st. They can give me an assistant to do some of the teaching. 



2d. They can employ some one to teach history, which is not in my depart- 

 ment. 



3d. They can ask for a small amount of money to be used in conducting 

 experiments. This would enable me to employ one or more of our best grad- 

 uates to assist in experiments. He or they could assist in looking after some 

 of the details of work in orchard, vineyards, etc. I hope this subject Avill 

 soon receive the attention of the Board. 



Owing to the rapid and unprecedented increase in the number of our stu- 

 dents, it costs more to pay them for their labor. Mr. Cassidy, Mr. Gully and 

 myself have often considered how we might make more of the labor of the 

 Horticultural Department return money to the College. The improvements 

 going on and the ordinary care of the grounds, have required all the labor we 

 could command after deducting the labor required for the orchards and gar- 

 dens. The extensive grounds still need, and v.'ill always need a good deal of 

 labor which brings no return in money. Considering the extent of the grounds 

 and the work accomplished, it has never, since I have been here, been so 

 economically done as during the present summer. The mowing has nearly all 

 been done with horse power, the drives have been kept clean and smooth with 

 a scraper and plane run by a horse power. 



With the propagating pits completed, we can raise and sell more plants and 

 cut flowers. AVe are preparing to sell a large assortment of the best sorts 

 of strawberries, corn, onions and potatoes, and perhaps some kinds of vegeta- 

 ble seeds. 



We propose and have the consent of the Professor of Agriculture to u^'e field 

 number one (this side of the apple orchard) for garden purposes. This is 

 better for vegetables than the piece this side of the lane- On the west side of 

 the piece last named I purpose setting about 300 trees of late or sour cherries, 

 also an acre of currants, and some gooseberries, and more raspberries. With 

 the ground proposed we could seed down a portion each year and have some 

 fresh sod ground for potatoes and such crops as need this treatment. 



We also advise running a horse daily to town to carry the plants, flowers, 

 and vegetables and berries. The same horse and driver can bring the mail. 

 We can increase our stock of small ornamental trees, evergreens, shrubbery, 

 and perennial herbs, and all will make work for students and the rest of us too. 



To help in this undertaking, and to perfect the grading of grounds and keep 

 them in better condition, we need at least another two-horse team for the whole 

 year, or for eight months in the year. 



