DEPARTMENT REPOKTS. 109 



WISTARIA, CHINESE— Trwtoria Sinensis. 



Tills beautiful vine comes from China. It is not quite hardy at this place. 

 A specimen grows by the rustic house near tlie big stone. 



YELLOW-WOOD— CTadmsit* Uncloria. 



This graceful tree thrives in the forests of Kentucky and vicinity. It 

 appears to be perfectly liardy in cxjiosed places during our coldest winters. 



Tlic bark is smooth, much resembling the beech. Tlie leaves and flowers 

 somewhat resemble the common locust, to which the plant is nearly allied. 

 The flowers are showy, white, and hang in long clusters among the pinnate 

 leaves. For small places or for large ones, I know of no more appropriate 

 deciduous tree. It deserves much more attention than it generally receives, 

 although it stands very highly recommended by our best nurserymen. 



YEW, AMERICAN— Taarus bacata, var. Canadensis. 



This is abundant in the forests of northern Michigan, where it is a trailing 

 shrub commonly called ground hemlock. It has beautiful dark green foliage 

 somewhat larger and coarser, though resembling the hemlock spruce. It likes 

 damp, sliady places. It becomes dull color in winter. It bears trimming into 

 any shape. There are none on the College grounds. 



KEPORT OF THE HOETICULTURAL DEPARTMENT. 



August 31, 1878. 

 To the President of the Agricultural College : 



I herewith submit tlie report of work under my charge for the year ending 

 August 31, 1878. 



Commencing my duties the first of last March I could not carry on the work 

 of the department so well as I hope to do hereafter. I am under great obliga- 

 tions to Professor Beal for many suggestions in regard to all matters pertaining 

 to my duties. 



As it had been planned to remove the vegetable garden to the east side of 

 No. 3, and that not being in readiness for garden crops, only enough vegetables 

 to supply the boarding hall and families on the College grounds Avere planted. 

 The strawberries wintered well and gave promise of a large yield, but an ex- 

 ceedingly heavy frost occurring just as they were in full bloom destroyed at 

 least three-fourths of the crop, so that the yield was but six and one-half 

 bushels ofl: from a little over one quarter of an acre. The vegetable garden has 

 furnislied a full supply of vegetables for the boarding hall all through the 

 season. 



I am well pleased with the plan introduced by Professor Beal of giving stu- 

 dents of the senior class charge of special kinds of labor. The students who 

 have the special assignments are interested in their labor and work with a will. 

 They learn to do one thing well, and I find that they take more interest in 

 other kinds of labor, and have a better general idea of the working system of 

 the department than those students who are being constantly changed from 



