DEPARTMENT REPORTS. 101 



two growing and fruiting seasons to make a survey of the State with 

 reference to its capacity to produce good fruit in variety from first-class 

 orchards and vineyards. 



In 1875 the writer spent several weeks at different times in various 

 parts of the State, collecting good samples of all the kinds of native 

 trees, and in most cases numerous duplicates were collected. These were 

 exhibited at the Centennial Exposition in 1876. The number of these 

 specimens was 1,115. The report of the State Board of Agriculture for 

 1876 contains full notes concerning this collection. The following in- 

 cludes some of the sub-headings of the report: 



Rare Trees; Most Common Trees; High Trees; Large Trees, with many 

 measurements, noting the exact location of each; Valuable Trees; The 

 Beauty of our Forests. 



Most of this collection was returned to the State and placed on exhibi- 

 tion for ten years in the Botanical Museum at. the College, but it was 

 nearlv all destroyed bv fire in 1890. The book of records and entries, 

 however, was saved. The museum was especially rich in Michigan prod 

 nets. 



The collection of forest products exhibited at the Columbian Exposi- 

 tion, in 1893, was made by Hon. 0. W. Garfield and F. E. Skeels, both 

 graduates of this College. The former is now a member of the State 

 Board of Agriculture; the latter is Assistant Secretary. The most valu- 

 able part of the exhibit was sent to the Agricultural College, where it is 

 now in store. The correspondence and full notes regarding these speci- 

 mens are now the property of the college. 



For over tw T o years, Mr. Skeels has spent much time in examining the 

 lands and the forests in Northern Michigan. He selected about twenty 

 characteristic views of certain trees and groups, and had them photo- 

 graphed on large plates, and made full notes to accompany them. At 

 this exposition were shown 721 sheets of Michigan plants. 



At various times I have selected and purchased or there have been 

 made for the College, fifty large photographs representing lumber camps, 

 forests and logging scenes. We have 200 negatives of other forest views, 

 and other features of the newer portions of the State. 



At large numbers of farmers' institutes held in nearly every county 

 during the past 22 years, the writer has noted the capabilities of the 

 different regions for producing various crops, and the subject has often 

 been freely discussed, eliciting considerable valuable information. 



The same is especially true concerning the State Horticultural Society, 

 the meetings of which the writer often attended for eleven years, while 

 professor of botany and horticulture, and since that time as professor of 

 botany and forestry. 



The effects of forest fires, with statements of the causes and the con- 

 sequences on all kinds of life, have repeatedly been the subject of numer- 

 ous, papers and discussions at institutes and meetings of the State Horti- 

 cultural Society — notably at the State Forestry Convention in 1888. 



Considerable information was acquired and recorded concerning the 

 flora of the State in making collections of plants shown at the Columbian 

 Exposition in 1893. This collection represented many phases of the flora 

 as suggested in a report made by Beal and Wheeler, in 1892. 



For many years past, a very large number of specimen plants, or parts 

 of plants, have been sent to the College for identification. Some of these 



