140 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



has twice been enlarged. At the south eiirl of each row, or part of a row, 

 will soon be placed a locust label whicli contuiiis tlie scientific name and the 

 common name, together with the date and manner of planting. I have been 

 Professor of Botany in this College for 12 years, and Professor of Horticult- 

 ure for 10 years; I have taken a deep interest in many things pertaining to 

 both of these departments, I have made some experiments, but on looking 

 back over the whole period at my work, I can see nothing which gives me 

 greater satisfaction, or which is likely to prove of more interest to our 

 farmers, considering tlic means expended, than this little arboretum. The 

 trees are growing, some of them with great rapidity, and a detailed report 

 will be of more interest two years hence than at tliis time. 



Aside from fruit trees the arboretum and lawns must contain not far from 

 250 species and named varieties of trees and shrubs. These, or samples of all 

 these, are accurately labeled. 



THE BOTANIC GARDEN. 



So far as use to the botanist is concerned, the plats of grasses and clovers, 

 the arboretum, the trees and other plants on the lawns, the cultivated plants 

 in the gardens, orchards, and vineyards, the plants in the greenhouses might 

 all well be considered as forming a botanic garden; but the {)resent part of 

 this report refers to an irregular plat of ground containing about one-third of 

 an acre, situated between the greenhouse and the botanical laboratory. 



As will be seen by consulting the map accompanying this report, the garden 

 is situated just east of the brook wliich runs south into the Cedar river. 



The brook has been deepened so the plats are generally well drained. A 

 cut-off from this brook, some 20 rods above, supplies water to three ponds. 

 Connected with these ponds and the brook are several bogs, some exposed to 

 sun, others are deeply shaded. A little to the southeast of the brook is a 

 bank well supplied with small trees in great variety. These are mostly 

 natives, and stand where nature planted them. As they grew larger they 

 have been gradually thinned to prevent crowding and running up tall, and to 

 leave room for some light to sustain the herbaceous plants. 



To the north of the garden a rustic foot-bridge spans tlie ravine. Boulders 

 of various sizes have been used along the banks to form steps and seats, and 

 pockets for plants. Among the trees and plants, the little rivulets and ponds, 

 the banks, bogs, and plats, paths wind irregularly about. In several places 

 rustic seats have been constructed. 



This small garden contains not far from 700 species of flowering plants, 

 a large portion of which are our native perennial herbs. Within the past 

 two years the garden has been considerably enlarged. In fact, it has been 

 growing every year since it was first started, in 187?. It is now divided into 

 what are termed "wards." These are of various sizes and shapes, and are 

 41 in number. They are mostly bounded by the brook, the ponds, paths, or 

 a low border of small stones. Each ward contains plants belonging to one, 

 two, or more natural orders or families. The herbaceous plants of each 

 family are placed together. A label of locust wood stands near each plant. 

 The wards are numbered as they are on the map, and a large label in each 

 ward gives the names of the families contained within its borders. An alpha- 

 betical catalogue containing scientific and common names accompanies this 

 report. Opposite the name of every plant is a number which refers to the 



