DEPARTMENT REPORTS. 47 



MECHANICAL ANALYSIS OF SOILS. 



The last four weeks of the fall term were devoted, as far as this depart- 

 ment was concerned, to a study of the mechanical analysis of soils. This 

 work was to occupy the attention of the student for two hours per day 

 five days in the week, but the class was too large to be handled together, 

 and was therefore divided into two sections, each of which had the wont 

 for two weeks only. To the students the whole idea of mechanical analy- 

 sis of soils was new. It was not to be expected, therefore, that nrich 

 progress would be made in the short time allowed, but the work was a 

 good preliminary step to the studies of the spring term to follow. 



In the spring term of 1898 the work with soils was continued with the 

 Freshman class by a course of daily lectures covering the first four weeks 

 of the term. As that series was completed, an examination on the topics 

 covered was given. 



The remainder of the term was devoted to a careful study of fences, 

 poultry, bees and a preliminary study of farm crops. In the examina- 

 tion at the end of the term these questions were used: — 



FENCES. 



1. Describe in detail the anchoring and setting of end posts for a 

 wire fence. 



2. What qualities should a fence stay have? Mention some fences 

 with satisfactory stays. 



3. Describe the M A. C. fence, giving distance apart of posts and 

 stays, height of fence, and number, size and spacing of wire for horse 

 and cattle fences. 



POULTRY. 



1. Name three principal breeds of the American class, and give some 

 of the qualifications of each. 



2. Name one breed in the Asiatic class and the same in the Mediter- 

 ranean. 



3. What breed have you studied in the English class? 



4 Name and describe the comb of a Wyandotte and of a Dark 

 Brahma, and the penciling of the Partridge Cochin hen. 



5. Describe the feeding and care of laying hens. Of young chickens. 



BEES. 



1. Describe method of wintering bees in cellar. On the summer stand. 



2. What care should they receive in the spring? 



3. What condition should all colonies be in at the beginning of the 

 honey flow? When should surplus cases be put on? 



4. Give briefly method of hiving swarms. 



5. What objects are gained by clipping queens? 



FARM CROPS. 



1. Name a weed that you have analyzed belonging to the cruciferae. 

 Others belonging to the polygonaceae. 



