DEPARTMENT REPORTS. 27 



KEPOKT OF THE DErARTMEXT OF PRACTICAL AGRICULTURE. 



To the President: 



Sir — I have the honor to submit the following' report of the Depart- 

 ment of Practical Agriculture for the year ending June 30, 1900: 



The undersigned assumed the duties of Professor of Agriculture and 

 Superintendent of the College Farm at the opening of the year. 



As head of the Department of Practical Agriculture our duties have 

 been varied. So far as instruction to the students is concerned we have 

 devoted our attention to giving instruction in animal husbandry as here- 

 tofore. 



In our stock judging classes at the barns, owing to the large number 

 of students reporting to us for this work, it was necessary to call u])oni 

 one of our instructors, Mr. Ferguson, to aid in this work. \fe are- 

 pleased to report that Mr. Ferguson's work in this capacity' was satisfac- 

 tory, his previous training and natural bent making him well cjuaiitied 

 for the work. 



Through the generosity and, we believe, wisdom of the Board of 

 Agriculture, the position of assistant professor of agriculture was; 

 created. 



Professor J. A. Jeffery, assistant professor of soil physics in the Uni- 

 versity of Wisconsin, was secured for this place, and we do not hesitate 

 to say that his work has been faithful and eCficient. Professor Jeffery 

 has devoted his time to class-room and laboratory work with soils, 

 crops, and farm nmchinery. 



Mr. Cordon H. True, who had been connected with the department as 

 instructor in dairying for five years, resigned to take charge of the work 

 in animal husbandry in the University of Arizona. The place left 

 vacant by his resignation was filled by the appointment of Mr. J. J. 

 Ferguson of Smith's Falls, Ont. In all his work Mr. Ferguson has 

 shown a thorough familiarity with the vai'ious phases of dairy work, and 

 his suggestions concerning the plans of the new dairy building have been 

 especially timely. 



Mr. Charles Alvord, foreman of the College Farm, resigned in Sep- 

 tember to ac('e]>t Ihe position of assistant professor of agriculture in the 

 State of Texas. 



Mr. E. R, P.hiir was elected to fill the vacancy made bv the resignation 

 of M-r. Alvord. 



It will not be difticult for you to understand that an entire change of 

 em})loyes in this department has made it impossible to execute every 

 l)hase of our work in the best possible manner. The coming yeai', with 

 our staff familiar with the details of the work, more efficient work will 

 be rendered. 



It is our constant purpose to teach in class room, laboratory and field 

 those things which will be most helpful to our young men when they 

 retui-ii to the farm. 



W\' need to increase the amount of dairy work which is given to our 

 regular students. There are other j)hases of agricultural instruction 



