114 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



of enthusiasm both in their chiss recitations and in Iheir evening work of 

 observing jihmets and constelhitions. The chiss ])assed coni})letcly tlirough 

 their text book, White's Astronomy, and did mucii to fix tlie names of the 

 constelhitions. Our means of ilkistration in this study are very meager and 

 consist entirely of borrowed apparatus, viz. : a small telescope and a celestial 

 globe. A good telescope, properly mounted, is needed very much. 



IXDUSTKIAL DRAWING. 



Drawing was taught the last half of the first term of the school year of 1878 

 to the junior class, consisting of 25 members. Minifie's Mechanical Drawing 

 was used as a text-book, and each student was required to draw on Whatman's 

 paper ten plates of uniform size, finished in India ink. The course embraced 

 the principles of projection, isometric and perspective drawing, and tiie plates 

 consisted of title page and examples under the heads enumerated above. Con- 

 siderable disadvantage is experienced in the study of drawing from the fact that 

 there is no room in the College fitted with desks so that tlie students can draw 

 under supervision of the teacher. The drawing was done almost entirely in the 

 private rooms of the students, although the class was divided into three sections, 

 one of which drew one liour each day under my supervision. Tlie manner in 

 which the work in drawing was performed was higlily creditable to the class. 



MECHANICAL PHYSICS. 



This course is a continuation of the course in mechanics and embraces the 

 principles of hydrostatics, liydraulics, acoustics and optics. It was taught to 

 the junior class the first half of the first term of 1878. 



Snell's Olmstead's Philosophy was used as a text book. The class passed 

 over the whole course in a satisfactory manner. Instruments for illustration 

 in this study are urgently needed. 



GEOMETRY AXD ALGEBRA. 



The course in Geometry extends over two terms, the last term in the Fresh- 

 man year, and the first term in the Sophomore year. That portion belonging 

 to the Freshman year has been pursued by the class, and consisted of all that 

 portion of Olney's Geometry preceding the section on equivalency. The class 

 studying geometry consisted of 93 students ; in order to afford each student 

 a better opportunity, this class was divided into three sections, each of wliich 

 had one recitation per day. 



Algebra was taught the first and second terms of the Freshman year, that is, 

 the last term in tlie school year of 1877, and the first term in the school year 

 of 1878. Tiic total number of students who pursued Algebra, as shown by my 

 class book during the past year, is 122. The class passed entirely through the 

 first and second parts of Olney's University Algebra, and also the parts relating 

 to differentiation and the solution of higher equations. The course is not suf- 

 ficiently long to embrace the subject of probabilities and several other subjects 

 important to the scientific student. Because a large proportion of our students, 

 when they enter, arc acquainted with the elements of Algebra, it is thought 

 that a short course in algebra soon can ])e required as a qualification for 

 admission. 



RIIETORICALS. 



During the first two terms of 1878, I met 'the Freshman class for rhetorical 

 exercises in two divisions each Saturday forenoon. These exercises consisted 



