30 STATE BOARD OF A(;RICULTURE. 



vrudJililc <i:ir(l«'Jjinj;, ;is ;i li;iir Iri'iii sliitiv dmiii^ tlic spring. 'I'lic siih- 

 j«M't was prt'scjilcd l»_v Irciurcs in tlic class room, coiiicidfiit willi wliich 

 ii-aininj;- aloiij; llu' saiiic line was ;:;ivcii ilic yomi^ iiicii in IIm' afternoon. 



"Two stndcnis in tlic class of 1!M)() wrote llicscs <»n work <l(»nc in this 

 (Icjiartnicnt. and fonrtccn of the iicxi j;iadnal in;i class have elected lo 

 4I0 their thesis work aion^ varions lines in h<»rt icnit ni-e. These stu- 

 dents should receive closer ]>ersonal supervision than it will he jjossible 

 for the present teaching; foi-ce of the dci)arhnent to ^^ive them. 



"In summing;- up, the writer has conducted four classes in full-term 

 sindies, and two in half tern) studies, besides the reunlar laboratory 

 work each afternoon, and has had cliarjic of the w(»rk for two theses — in 

 all lSi> students in the class work of the dejiartnient. Dnrinn the co'.n- 

 injr year there will be three additional classes. 



"Special attention is called to the importance of the afternoon labor, 

 in its connection with the teaching;. The classes should be divided into 

 sections snuill enough to permit of close personal attention by expert 

 insti-uctors.*' 



The importance of providinj;- a lar<;er tf^achinji; force, as urged by Prof. 

 Hedrick, should not be overlooked. Dnrinj;- the past year it became 

 necessary to have additional assistance and Mr. I). W. Ti'ine, '02. took 

 charge of the grafting and a i»art of the work in pruning for six weeks 

 in the spring term. Next year the classes will be larger and the elective 

 senior work will add fully fifty per cent to what has been done the past 

 year. 



In addition to the laboratory work outlined above, the students have, 

 during the fall and spring terms, performed on two or three afternoons 

 each week such work as was in season. In the autumn, the work was 

 for the most part done at the greenhouse, and consisted of making cut- 

 tings, potting and repotting plants and other routine greenlK»use work, 

 although others were engaged in the orchards and vegetable gardens, 

 or on the grounds. 



In the spring term, five afternoons were spent in i»ractice work in 

 grafting and about the same time in pruning the different kinds of fruit 

 trees, bushes and ornamental shrubs. Each student was also given 

 practical training in planting trees and other fruit i)lants, as well as in 

 the making of borders and flower beds. 



. SPECIAL COURSES. 



During the winter, special six weeks-' courses were given in fruit cul- 

 ture and in commercial floriculture and winter vegetable gardening. 



The work was conducted along similar lines to that given the regu- 

 lar students. In addition to the i)ractical work and the lectures in the 

 above topics, lectures and laboratory w'ork in botany and entomology 

 were given, Prof. Wheeler having charge of the foi-mer, while Mr. Pettit 

 took the class in entomology. I'rof. V. I*. Hedrick also gave a number 

 of lectures upon tlie chemistry of the soil, plants and fertilizers. 



THE GROUNDS. 



As in previous years, a large part of the work of the department, 

 aside from the time spent with the students, has been devoted to caring 

 for and improving the grounds, and, as has been customary, the en- 

 deavor has been to take some portion of the grounds and make such 



