520 BOAED OF AGRICULTURE. 



finished and covered with oil and shellac, has a very neat 

 and cheerful appearance. In the fourth story, the rooms 

 were most thoroughly repaired and painted, with the excep- 

 tion of three rooms previously fitted up. New floors have 

 been put down throughout the building wherever needed. 

 Twelve new windows have been added, thus securing ample 

 liofht to all the rooms in the first three stories. The ori<nnal 

 treatment of the roof rendered it impracticable to add win- 

 dows to the inner rooms of the upper story ; but the posi- 

 tion of these rooms makes additional light less needful than 

 for those in the lower stories. Two rooms on the first floor 

 of this building h.ive been arranged for the present as library 

 rooms. The roof of the boarding-hall has been shingled 

 and the rear annex covered with tin. The dining-room has 

 been reconstructed, and other improvements have been 

 made in the buildins; and in the drainaije. We have also 

 provided a much needed barn for the botanic department. 

 The appropriation made to complete the house to be occu- 

 pied by the president has been expended for that purpose, 

 and the house is now occupied by him. 



The library and chapel building, for the erection of which 

 twenty-five thousand dollars Avas appropriated, is in a fair 

 way to be completed on or before the first of July next. 

 The walls are for the most part finished, and the roof is being 

 put on. To make provision for w'hat is required in this 

 building, and to build of stone or brick according to the act 

 making the appropriation, and still to keep within the limits 

 of the appropriation, we have found a ditficult task. After 

 several meetings of the building committee, the architect 

 and contractors, a contract for the erection of the build- 

 ing was made with John Beston of Amherst, a builder of 

 large experience and excellent reputation. Stephen C. 

 Earle, of Worcester, is the architect. While we expect to 

 be able to put up the main part of the building and complete 

 it, within the a[)propriation, we find ourselves obliged to 

 omit most of the tower. With our present means we shall 

 be compelled to finish the tower with a roof after it reaches 

 a sufficient height to form an entrance. The group of col- 

 lege buildings, as well as this building, rcquii'cs ihis tower. 

 No one visiting the grounds will be satisfied with this library 



