30 STATE BOARD OF AUKICULTUIIE 



the benches, but uearlj^ every winter, and (luting the past season in par- 

 ticular, trouble has been experienced from the formation of ice upon the 

 plates of the houses, which has broken the lower row of glass on the 

 Bpof. By changing the pipes so that the flows will be just beneath the 

 plates, it is hoped that this trouble will be obviated. 



Aside from their use in furnishing practical instruction in floriculture 

 and winter vegetable gardening, the greenhouses supply plants for dec- 

 oration of the grounds and for the various functions. No attempt has 

 been made to grow plants or flowers for sale, although where a crop 

 has been grown and has served its purpose any surplus is disposed of to 

 the best advantage possible. In order that we might not compete with 

 the Lansing florists, a large part of the surplus plants and flowers have 

 been sold to them at wholesale prices, and this arrangement has given 

 mutual satisfaction. As in previous years during the sessions of the 

 legislature, a supply of flowers has been sent to the State capitol two or 

 thi-ee times each week, for the executive parlors and legislative cham- 

 bers. The greenhouses have been in charge of Mr. Thomas Gunson, who 

 has handled them in a very satisfactory manner, and the plants generally 

 have been in a healthy condition, and the houses have served their pur- 

 pose to a good advantage. 



SPECIAL SHORT COURSES. 



As in previous years arrangements were made for offering instruction 

 in two special lines for six weeks during the winter of 1898-9. The spe- 

 cial course in fruit culture covered much the same grounds as was given 

 to the Juniors in the fall, and, in connection with it, instruction in ento- 

 mology, botany and chemistry was also provided. The students in the 

 special course in floriculture and winter vegetable gardening formed a 

 part of the regular class in this subject and also received instruction in 

 the sciences mentioned above. Practical work in greenhouse methods, 

 and in such of the operations of fruit culture as could be given during 

 the winter were also provided. 



INSTITUTES AND MEETINGS ATTENDED. 



During the year I have attended one-day institutes at Arcadia, Fre- 

 mont, Borland and Reed City. I also attended the Long Fruit Institute 

 at Fennville and the Round-up at Pontiac. Messrs. Gladden and Dean, 

 of the Horticultural Department of the Experiment Station, have also 

 given two weeks each to institute work. 



During the season I attended a number of meetings of county horticul- 

 tural societies, and in December I was invited to read a paper upon "The 

 Construction and Use of Greenhouses" before the Missouri State Horti- 

 cultural Society. The meeting was held at Columbia, the seat of the 

 State University and Agricultural College, and one afternoon was de- 

 voted to inspecting their equipment. The meeting was well attended 

 and I was much pleased to be able to renew, my ac(]uaintance with the 

 old and meet the new', members of the society and of the university 

 faculty. In June, 1899, I attended the meeting of the American Associa- 

 tion of Nurserymen at Chicago and read a paper upon the "State Control 

 of Dangerous Insects and Diseases." 



In March, H. P. Gladden was appointed assistant professor in the de- 



