DEPARTMENT REPORTS. 35 



ure, — is growing in favor with the farmers, and though young in years is 

 pusliing its way to the front rank of the industrial schools of the counti'y. 



EXHIBIT AT STATE FAIR. 



By the order of the Board a draft of Short Horns and Ayrshires from the 

 College herds was exhibited at the state fair. The animals were shown in 

 their respective classes and treated exactly as other exhibits by the judges. 

 Premiums were awarded to the college stock to the amount of ninety dollars. 

 Upon my recommendation the board authorized me to return the order for 

 this amount to the secretary of the State society. 



IMPLEMENTS. 



A Buckeye mower was purchased of Mr. Rolla Bryan, general agent for the 

 State, in Jime last. Another five-inch tire wagon from Messrs. Harvey & 

 Oregg, of Constantine, has been purchased. I am convinced that a narrower 

 tire would not be as desirable for farm work the season through; hay racks 

 of Mr. A. G. Barton, Constantine. All implements have been repainted, and 

 in our commodious tool-house are always sheltered when not in use. The new 

 grain barn, so planned as to save the straw when threshed in the barn, is 

 proving very servicable. More or less straw was always wasted in stacks — now 

 everything is saved — no small item when we utilize all this straw, in combina- 

 tion with other foods, in keeping our large and rapidly increasing herds. 



AGEICULTURAL CLASS EOOM. 



In my last report reference was made to the needs of the department in this 

 regard. The old library room in College hall was assigned for this purpose, 

 and the Board authorized me to expend $500 in putting in new floors, black- 

 boards, tables, seats, and furnishings. The work was completed in July, and 

 I am using the room for this term's work. I have an office in the northwest 

 corner 12x24. The main class-room is 35x40. It is well furnished and 

 arranged for my classes, and as I have had up to this time since my connec- 

 tion with the college no fixed habitation, having met my classes in the chapel, 

 the mathematical room. Prof. Beal's laboratory, and the model-room, I think 

 I am able to very fully appreciate the pleasant quarters I now enjoy. 



To Hon. Franklin Wells who suggested and secured the assignment of this 

 room for my department, and to the members of the board, who have author- 

 ized its equipment, I desire to record my hearty appreciation and gratitude. 

 A good, commodious class-room and office, furnished with desirable appliances, 

 for use and illustration in class-room work in practical agriculture, cannot 

 fail to give the department a higher vantage ground, and ought, and I believe 

 will, greatly increase the efficiency of my work. 



EXPERIMENTS. 



The peculiarly unfavorable season has made our experiments almost a total 

 failure. The nitrogen experiment reported last year, was continued, but on 

 account of the drowning out of the crop early in the season, and the frost in 

 September, it was a failure. Oar grass plats were productive, but the unfavor- 

 able weather prevented proper curing. The products of some plats were 

 worthless. Oar experimental wheats suffered in the same way, so as to greatly 

 impair anything like a fair showing. Experiments to determine the depth at 

 which certain seeds germinate, and the effect of deep and shallow covering are 

 herewith appended. Sophomores Sheldon, Watkins, Snyder, and Waldo ren- 

 dered excellent service. Several new varieties of potatoes were purchased and 



