42 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



EEPOKT OF THE PROFESSOR OF HORTICULTURE. 



lo the President of the Michigan State Agricultural College : 



My work began on the first of January, 1883. The remainder of the winter 

 was occupied in studying the wants of the department, its condition, and in 

 laying out a plan of work for the ensuing season. The teamster was kept 

 employed in drawing manure from the city, in cleaning paths about the 

 grounds and in delivering wood for the various furnaces, 



Mr. Cassidy, who had been since 1874 tlie efficient florist of the department, 

 resigned his position and left about the middle of January to take a position 

 in the Colorado Agricultural College. Mr. Louis Knapper, the former Super- 

 intendent of the department, was secured to take Mr. (Jassidy's place. He 

 has worked very hard, and has proved very efficient and skillful in his posi- 

 tion. The grounds about the green house and the flower borders of the entire 

 department have been very beautiful. A large part of the green house has 

 been reglazed and painted, some of the benches lowered and otherwise 

 changed and repaired, and the rosebed entirely reiirranged and made new. 

 The plants have all been repotted and are looking in good condition in all 

 parts of the house, and promise abundant bloom for the coming winter. 

 Quite a large number of new plants have been obtained, some from Germany 

 and some from New York, Mr. Knapper making a trip to the latter city on 

 purpose to make personal selection of varieties. About one-fourth of the 

 entire labor of the department has been expended at the greenhouse and in 

 the flower borders. The large water tank which was formerly poorly supplied 

 by the windmill, has been connected with the new water-works and there will 

 be no further lack of water in the summer season. 



The excessive rains beginning in May and continuing until the last of July, 

 have been a great hindrance to all outside work. For many weeks it was 

 impossible to repair the walks and drives as fast as they were washed out of 

 shape, and they still show the abundant need of repairs. I have found it 

 impossible to obtain efficient help in team labor among the farmers of the 

 vicinity, as I had been led to expect I might. The work has lagged on that 

 account, the few days of pleasant weather not being sufficient to keep every- 

 thing in order with the team labor of the department, and the farmers who 

 have usually been obtained for extra work, finding the few pleasant days nec- 

 essary for their own farm work. 



On account of the breaking of the bridge across the Cedar river, above the 

 college, the old gravel pit became inaccessible, and no gravel has been drawn 

 for new drives. I have planned some changes under the direction of Mr. 

 Oliver, our landscape gardener, and have opened a new gravel pit at the east 

 end of the woods, upon the farm beyond No. 7, and from this we hope to get 

 sufficient gravel to finish the new walks and drives already laid out, and to 

 repair the damage done to those already finished. 



The problem of good gravel for walks and drives is a serious one here, there 

 being none within reach that is exactly suitable for the purpose. That which 

 has been used becomes soft and sandy upon the surface in a short time, mak- 

 ing the temptation to walk upon the grass too strong to be resisted by many. 



The laying of the new sewer from the library and museum building, and 

 the laying of the pipes for the water-works about all tlie buildings, has dis- 

 figured the lawns in some places, and it will take another season before they 



