DEPARTMENT REPORTS. 33 



the bark on the trunks and larger branches a smooth and glossy appear- 

 ance. 



The orchards are plowed in the spring and cultivated with spring- 

 tooth harrow or weeder, every week until August, when some cover 

 crop is sown, oats or crimson clover being generally employed. 



Careful attention was also given to the spraying of the trees, and in 

 addition to an application of copper sulphate before the buds opened, 

 Bordeaux mixture and a white arsenic have been used every three weeks 

 since the blossoms dropped, and another application will be made to 

 the winter apples about the middle of July. 



The vegetable garden has given good returns, as, besides affording 

 practice work to the students in growing and marketing the various 

 crops, it furnished a supply of vegetables for most of the boarding 

 clubs and members of the faculty. Practically all were sold upon the 

 grounds, except some of the early cabbages, tomatoes and lettuce from 

 the greenhouse. 



THE GREENHOUSES. 



The greenhouses have remained under the charge of Mr. Thos. Gun- 

 son. Few changes have been made, except that the flow pipes to the 

 heating coils, which were originally located beneath the benches to get 

 them out of sight, have been placed overhead. This has resulted in a 

 better circulation, and in the palm house, where the pipes are now 

 located just below the plates, it has entirely prevented the breaking of 

 the glass in the lower row, by the forming of ice at the eaves, which 

 has been quite troublesome in former years. 



The plants in the main house have become so large that it has been 

 found necessary to cut them back. In order that the College may grow 

 l)alms and other tall plants in a satisfactory manner, a large palm house 

 is needed. Otherwise the houses serA'e their purpose well, and besides 

 furnishing opportunities for practice work to the students, they supply 

 bedding plants for the grounds, plants and flowers for decorative pur- 

 poses for society and other functions, and means of illustration for the 

 classes in horticulture and botany. 



SOCIETIES AND FAIRS. 



During the year I have attended two meetings of the State Horticul- 

 tural Society and two of the American Park and Out Door Art Asso- 

 ciation at Detroit and Chicago. I also was present at the 1899 session 

 of the Society of American Florists, and of the American Pomologicali 

 Society at Philadelphia. For the latter society I have had charge, as- 

 general cbairman, of the preparation of the Report of the General Fruit 

 Committee. I have also visited the leading fruit growing centers of the 

 State, and addressed a number of local horticultural societies. At the 

 State Fair and at the Eaton County Fair at Charlotte, I acted as judge 

 in the departments of fruits and vegetables. At the "Round-up" Institute 

 at Ann Arbor I spoke on "The Spraying of Orchards," and reported 

 the proceedings for the M. A. C. Record, of whose editorial board I have 

 acted as a member since January'. 



ROUTINE WORK. 



Until today, Mr. C. A. AVood has been in charge of the work in the 

 gardens and grounds. He has been very faithful in the performance 

 5 



