344 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE. 



bays for hay. There is a cellar under the whole barn on a level Trith 

 the cattle-yard, which is on the south side. It has in it stanchions for 

 17 cows, a room for roots, and places for storage of cut-straw, hay, or 

 stalks. Water is sup])lied for the stables and yards from the city water- 

 works. Lapping on the large baru about G feet is another 48 i'eet long 

 and 2G wide, with posts 18 feet. In the lower part are rooms ior a horse, 

 milk-wagon, and for loading cans of milk ; pens for bull and calves, and 

 open space unappropriated. The upper part is designed for hay and 

 straw. 



The experimental farm contains 100 acres, and is valued at $45,000. 

 When purchased it was almost worthless for farming purposes, but by 

 removing stones, thorough drainage, and skillful cultivation, it has been 

 brougiit into a high state of fertility. Experiments have been made on 

 it with fertilizers on wheat, oats, corn, potatoes, turnips, and in feeding 

 milch-cows. The long drought in 1876 caused a failure in these experi- 

 ments, and also in the crops. It was the most severe ever known in New 

 Jersey. The crops began to suffer fn the latter part of June, and there 

 was no rain to afford them any material benetit till the 17th of fSeptember. 

 Potatoes were entirely destroyed ; corn did not grow to half its common 

 height, and the crop was only about onetifth of its usual amount; pas- 

 tures dried up : cabbage-plants could not be set out ; turnip-seed would 

 not sprout when planted, and carrots and mangolds could make no 

 growth. For want of pasture and green fodder it was found necessary 

 to feed farm-stock on other substances through July and xlugnst. The 

 average rain-fall in the months of June, July, and August was only 

 3.17 inches ; for twenty-two years previous to this it averaged for the 

 same months 14.03, antl the lowest amount recorded for these months in 

 any previous year is G.09 inches. The only good crops raised on the 

 farm were wheat and rye, which had made most of their growth before 

 the drought became severe. The yield of wheat on 14 acres of not very 

 good ground was 25 bushels per acre, but on some experimental plots it 

 was 40 to 48 bushels. The variety cultivated was the Fultz. The loss 

 of crops on this farm, occasioned by the drought, is estimated to be at 

 least $1,000. The annual interest derived from the proceeds of the con- 

 gressional laud-grant is now 8G,9G(I. 



Professors in the scientific school, 9 : assistants, 1 ; students, 42; pro- 

 fessors in the college, 11; assistant, >; students in all the depart- 

 ments, 1G2. 



NEW YOUK. 



Cornell Universiiy — Collefjfs of Agriculture and the Mechamc Arts, at 

 Ithaca; Andreic U. Vt^hite, LL. D., prefiuleut. — Xo changes liave been 

 made during the year in the literary operations of the colleges. The 

 teaching-force of the univer.sity has been increased by the addition of 

 six instructors. The college-farm contains 150 acres, and is valued at 

 $22,000. Experiments have l)een made on twenty-two plots with oats 

 as a soiling crop, cut early and late ; to ascertain the effects of sowing in 

 drill and broadcast; of rolling the ground ; of gypsuin, lime, and salt; 

 of thick and thin sowing ; the comparative values of dilierent varieties ; 

 to test the effects of Professor Stockbridge's fertilizers: on twelve i)lots 

 of wheat, to try the Lois Weedon system modilisd ; to show the effect 

 of gypsum and superj>hosphate; the results of continuous crops with 

 perfect cultivation, but without fertilizers; to ascertain the amount 

 of seed required: on fifty plots of corn, to ascertain theeliectsoi various 

 commercial fertilizers, gypsum, and ashes; to C(>nii)are results of ])lant- 

 ing soaked and uusoaked seed; to determine the proper number of 



