54 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



have to be provided largely by exteuding our i)]at experiincnls and by 

 collections and exhibits prepared by members of Ihe department. 



Respectfully submitted, 



V. M. SHOESMITH, 



Professor of Farm Crops. 

 East Lansing, Mich., June 30, 1916. 



REPORT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF SOILS. 



Pres, F. S. Kedzie, Michigan Agricultural College: 



Dear Sir — I take pleasure in furnishing you with the report of the 

 Soils department for the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1916. 



It is indeed gratifying to be able to report that the various lines of 

 work undertaken by the members of the department are progressing sat- 

 isfactorily. 



With respect to the various courses it is doubtless true that the work 

 offered this past year was more logically presented, and of a higher 

 grade, and that the discipline was better than formerly, due to addi- 

 tional and efficient assistants, more equipment, and to a greater knowl- 

 edge of the attitude and training of the students that we have dealt 

 with. The introductory courses, especially, were much better dis- 

 ciplined, owing to the important fact that the previous custom of deal- 

 ing with students in large sections was abandoned, a number of smaller 

 ones being substituted. We are forced to conclude that the plan adopted 

 is essential for maximum efficiency in educational work. The senior 

 electives should be made somewhat stronger during the next and folloAv- 

 ing years as our knowledge of the soils of the State increases, and the 

 students who come to us are somewhat more thoroughly grounded in the 

 sciences. It is unquestionably true that we could present, in some in- 

 stances, more advanced work if the men as a whole were better trained 

 in chemistry and physics. In this connection it is exceedingly gratify- 

 ing to us to learn that the enrollment in the courses that we have sug- 

 gested as electives has increased greatly. We are highly in favor of a 

 thorough training of the students in the sciences spoken of above. 



During the year four graduate students were enrolled for major work 

 in this department, two of whom received their degree of Master of 

 Science. We are greatly in favor of graduate work — of a very high 

 grade — being offered by the College. The presence of graduate students 

 adds much dignity to any department, and certainly has a splendid effect 

 upon the undergraduate students and members of the staff as Avell. 



We were able to reach a number of short course men during the win- 

 ter and certainly consider this one of our best and most important edu- 

 cational features. The work is always well received by these men. It is 

 well to note that this phase is to be reorganized and made more efficient, 

 although the quality in the past has been high. 



The enrollment in the various courses during the year is as follows : 



