8o Department of Farm Mechanics 



There were also designed and purchased by the department two testing 

 or cahbrating stands, one for grain-drills, the other for garden seed-drills ; 

 three stands for mounting the binder attachments mentioned above ; five 

 benches ; models illustrating methods of igniting explosion engines, and a 

 stand for supporting these and similar models. 



Over one thousand trade catalogues, price lists, leaflets of instructions 

 for operating special machines, and the like, have been collected, classified, 

 carefully catalogued and filed so as to be readily available for reference. 

 The work of cross-indexing will be perfected as funds and opportunity 

 permit. 



Recommendations. 



During the past year this department relinquished its claim to the 

 larger of its two rooms wdiich has since been converted into a labora- 

 tory for the Department of Soils, whose old quarters are now oc- 

 cupied by the Department of Plant Physiology. In addition, the 

 latter department has received a conditional promise that it shall 

 have next year the small room directly beneath it now occupied by 

 the Department of Farm Mechanics, thus leaving that department 

 without accommodation. 



It is possibly in order at this time to note that in his inaugural ad- 

 dress in 1892, President Schurman recommended " a museum for 

 the exhibition of all kinds of agricultural implements " as one of the 

 important departments to be housed in the new agricultural build- 

 ings when they should be secured. The Stewart-Monroe bill provid- 

 ing for the erection of these buildings directs that provision shall be 

 made for the exhibition of machinery. It would thus appear that 

 if the changes now proposed are carried out, it will be absolutely 

 necessary next year to make some other adequate provision for the 

 housing of the Department of Farm Mechanics. 



Two courses present themselves : Either to go to the Legislature 

 at once for money for a new building or to make use for the time 

 being of quarters which would next year be available. Considering 

 the needs of other departments of the College, money for which must 

 be secured in the near future, it would probably be impossible to 

 secure at this time funds sufficient for a suitable building, and the 

 writer would respectfully urge that no new building be attempted 

 until such time as there can be had one of capacity and appointment 

 amply sufficient for the needs of all of the engineering departments 

 of the College for some years to come. Furthermore, owing to the 

 youth of the Department of Farm Mechanics its requirements cannot 

 now be accurately foretold, and as this department would occupy 



