46 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



The short courses were given due attention, during the winter term, 

 under the direction of Prof. Smith, and the records of that work were 

 submitted to him. 



During the year the free testing of samples sent in from various parts 

 of the state was continued, 138 samples of milk, and 46 samples of cream 

 being tested for butterfat, and several samples of butter scored and 

 tested for moisture. 



During vacations, the milk from farms that supply the boarding clubs 

 when college is in session, has been handled at the dairy. 



The most important repairs and improvements made in the dairy 

 during the year are as follows : 



New floors, ceiling and wainscoting were put in the cheese room, 

 wash room, creamery room and farm dairy room. 



The large motor Avas replaced by three small ones. 



A hood and sink were put in the testing room, and chemicals added 

 for use in giving instruction in milk inspection. 



New lockers and sinks were placed in the basement, for the use of 

 both short course and regular students. 



A new desk, and a case for books, blanks and laboratory supplies were 

 placed in the office. 



A considerable amount of new equipment was also added from short 

 course funds. 



A complete record of the equipment belonging to the farm department 

 and to the special courses, also of the machinery that has been loaned to 

 the college by various firms, will be found in the record books in the 

 dairy office. 



Mr. L. J. Smith reports the following from the division of farm 

 mechanics: 



This, the first year's work in farm mechanics, was begun with practi- 

 cally no old equipment. Two rooms in the old tool barn were used the 

 year before for the purpose of giving instruction to the short course 

 students in forge and wood shop. 



The north lower room contained 25 hand blowers and forges with 

 anvils and tools for the same. There was no floor in this room, the 

 forges setting right on the sandy ground. Before instruction was given 

 to the regular students, a concrete floor was put in the shop, a suitable 

 blacksmith bench made, and a wash room fitted up. Mr. A. Anderson, of 

 Hubbardston was secured to give instruction in forge work. He came 

 to us with practical experience both on the farm and in blacksmith and 

 general implement and wagon repair work, and has proved himself well 

 adapted to the line of instruction which should be given to argicultural 

 students. He also does the college horse shoeing and the farm depart- 

 ment repair work. 



The room directly above the forge shop was used as a wood shop. The 

 tools were in good condition; but, the benches were rather crude, having 

 been put together by the short course students during their first two 

 weeks in that work and without previous training. These benches are 

 being replaced by better constructed ones and of a type similar to that 

 which would be adapted for farm use. The inferior benches, especially 



