354 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE. 



water can be taken in case of fire and thrown upon five adjacent build- 

 ings. Hundreds of shade-trees have been set out, taken from the farm- 

 nursery, which was planted five years ago. More than 2,000 small orna- 

 mental trees have been added to the nursery-stock, for sale and for use 

 in increasing the beauty and value of the premises. A substontial 

 brick engine-house has been built and a corridor finished oft" in the upper 

 story of Virginia Hall, making ten dormitories for girls. A cooper- shop 

 has also been put into operation for the manufacture of market barrels. 

 The work has been done by two students, and proved profitable. Two 

 hundred and twenty-four thousand bricks have been manufactured and 

 sold at a profit of $1,246. Three-fourths of the students pay their own 

 board-bills, $10 per month, half in cash and half in labor. About $7,000 

 are paid annually for students' labor in all the industries pursued. Mr. 

 ¥. Marquand, of New York City, gave, in Juno last, $5,000 for the erec- 

 tion of a building for a home for male students. It is now completed, 

 and called Marquand Cottage. It afibrds comfortable and excellent 

 rooms for thirty-eight young men. The furniture will be made by the 

 students in the normal-school workshop. 



Sixty-nine girls have worked in the industrial room duriug the year, 

 and about 1,200 pieces of work have been finished, and 200 mended by 

 thera each week, besides making dresses and other ganneuts for them- 

 selves in time not devoted to required labor. Sewing-machines are used 

 by the more advanced pupils. Those in the middle and senior classes 

 receive weekly instruction in housekeeping, bread-making, and plain 

 cooking, eight being detailed every Saturday to the different house- 

 keepers on the premises, who teach them in these useful arts. Last 

 winter about 4,000 colored children were under the instruction of teach- 

 ers who have graduated at this institution. A teachers' institute has 

 been held for the benefit of the graduating class and such post-graduates 

 as might desire to attend. Twenty post-graduates and more than forty 

 of the graduating class availed themselves of the advantages of its 

 exercises. 



The farm contains 190 acres, and is valued at $33,000. During the 

 year 40 acres of corn have been cultivated, 25 of oats, 1 of rye, 12 of 

 clover, 7 of early i)otatoe8, 8 of sweet-potatoes, 9 ©f corn-fodder, 3 of sor- 

 ghum, 3 of pease, 2^ of cabbages, 2 of onions, 4 of asparagus, 2 of roots, 

 1 of snap-beans, 4J of vegetables and strawberries, and 4 of broom-corn. 

 The stock on the farm consists of 9 horses and mules, 5 colts, 18 cows, 

 4 oxen, 10 yearlings and calves, 1 thoroughbred Ayrshire bull, 50 hogs, 

 and 20 sheep. Seventy head of cattle and horses were wintered on the 

 farm the past season. The care of this stock furnished labor for stu- 

 dents, and a largo amount of manure is made for the farm. Cash re- 

 ceived from sales of beef amounted to $3,840. The income of the farm 

 exceeded the expenditures by $833.43, while the knowledge acquired by 

 the students in its cultivation is incalculable. 



The annual interest on the oue-tliird ($95,000) of the proceeds of the 

 congressional laud-grant received by this institution is $10,319.30, be- 

 ing nearly 11 per cent, on the sum invested. About $200 more are 

 received Irom a small private endowment-fund. In addition to the in- 

 come from these sources, $17,000 are required annually to pay the ex- 

 penses of conducting the institute. The money thus far has been derived 

 from private contributions, principally in the Northern States. 



Teachers, 17; assistants, 3 ; students, 250; pursuing agricultural or 

 mechanical studies, 99, 



