62 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



sary to open a new drive for carriages, and this was constructed along 

 the east side of the railway, and made considerable grading necessary. 



Last spring an artificial stone walk was constructed from the railway 

 station to a point near College Hall, for the use of visitors and others 

 wishing to go to and from the Library and buildings in the vicinity. 



In accordance with instructions from you, the grounds about the Har- 

 rison house were graded, walks and drives were laid out, and a large 

 number of shade trees, evergreens and shrubs were planted, and the 

 lawn has been cared for by this department. 



GREENHOUSES. 



As in previous years, the greenhouses have been one of the principal 

 places of attraction for visitors, and the plants have been in their usual 

 flourishing condition; besides serving the purpose of instruction in hor- 

 ticulture and botany, they have furnished plants for the grounds and 

 plants and flowers for decorations at public functions, both at the college 

 and the State Capitol. During the session of the legislature a supply 

 of flowers was sent down twice a week for the decoration of the desks of 

 the Speaker of the House and the President of the Senate. From time 

 to time various species have been added to the collection of plants and 

 will soon develop into handsome specimens. 



ASSISTANTS. 



Mr. Thomas Gunson has now entered upon his eighth year here, seven 

 of which he has been in charge of the college greenhouses. The details 

 of the work, as well as the direction of the work of the students in prac- 

 tical floriculture, have been left with him, and he has performed his duties 

 in an able and conscientious manner. He has been assisted in the care 

 of the houses by George L. Perry, a former student in the college. 



In April, the foreman of the orchard and gardens, Thomas Durkin, 

 having resigned, the position was filled by the appointment of Charles 

 A. Wood of Napoleon, who has since that time had charge of the work of 

 the men and teams. 



The assistants in the horticultural department, Messrs. Gladden and 

 Dean, have, in connection with their regular work, had charge of much 

 of the labor of the students in the vegetable and fruit gardens, and in my 

 absence have taken charge of the classes. 



SOCIETIES AND FAIRS. 



In previous years this department has always made exhibits of its 

 products at the State fair, but in accordance with the vote of the Board 

 of Agriculture, no exhibit was made in 1897. The department, however, 

 was represented, and Mr. Dean and myself acted as judges of the fruits 

 upon exhibition. 



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

 tural Society at Ithaca, Hudson and Muskegon, and at each have pre- 

 sented papers. At Ithaca the subject was "Cold Storage." while "Lawn 

 Planting" was considered at Hudson and "Spraying" at Muskegon. As 



