32 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



IMPROVEMENTS TO BUILDINGS. 



The work of renovation begun last year has been carried forward as 

 rapidly as funds for the purpose could be obtained. In the basement a 

 well-equipped room for the study of spraying mixtures has been com- 

 pleted and a start made in furnishing a larger room for the exhibition 

 of spraying implements. Before further improvements are made in 

 the basement, steps must be taken to lower the drains leading from 

 the building. Back-water from the drains in the early spring did much 

 damage 1o the newly finished rooms and the equipment in them. New 

 cement floors were laid throughout the basement, and the drains in and 

 about the building were put in good shape. The most notable improve- 

 ment to the Horticultural laboratory is the addition of a model, iron- 

 frame greenhouse on the south side of the building. The greenhouse is 

 but a small one, 20x20 feet, but admirably serves its purpose, that of 

 furnishing a greenhouse room for laboratory work. The greenhouse is 

 a gift from Lord & Burnham Co., Irvingtou-on-the-Hudson, N. Y. It is 

 worth recording that it was erected almost entirely by students of the 

 Junior class who had just completed a course in greenhouse construc- 

 tion. 



ORCHARD_, GARDEN AND GROUNDS. 



No changes worthy of note have been made in the orchards during 

 the past year. A currant and gooseberry plantation east of the irriga- 

 tion stand-pipe, set out IS or more years ago, was removed; the location 

 of the strawberry plantation was shifted and the number of varieties 

 was cut down. In the early spring, students who had taken the class- 

 room and laboratory work in pruning were hired to prune the College 

 orchards under the direction of C. A. Hosier. 



The grounds have received little more attention than that necessary 

 to keep them up. A few minor improvements may be noted, as: The 

 completion of a road back of the Faculty Row dwelling houses; the 

 levelling and draining of the athletic field; and the planting of a large 

 bed of rhododendrons and laurels. Attention is again called to the 

 increased number of buildings to look after; more and more picnics 

 from year to year; and additional work on the grounds from several 

 other causes. With this increase of labor ard the higher price of 

 workmen, it is impossible to make permanent improvements, though 

 many opportunities for such are at hand. During the past season the 

 beauty of the grounds has been much marred through the digging of 

 tunnels for the new heating system. 



The garden, as in years past, was largely planted and cared for by 

 students as a part of their laboratory work. One of the features of 

 the garden this year is a plantation of curious and little-known veg- 

 etables and herbs; another, is a collection of French vegetables, giving 

 us many species and varieties not commonly grown in the United States. 

 The vegetable garden is intended to illustrate gardening to students 

 and to supply the Experiment Station with such tests as it may call for. 



INSTRUCTORS. 



Mr, Thomas Gunson, Mr. C. A. McCue, Mr. A. G. Craig, and Mr, 

 H, Sherman have assisted in the teaching of the Department and in 



