252 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan. 



glass, paint, and much of the material and labor of ordinary 

 repairs, with the exception of from $250 to $800 for its 

 additional support. With this income has been grown an- 

 nually more than 25,000 bedding and ornamental plants for 

 the decoration of the grounds, and the care of the roads, 

 walks, lawns and flower beds. The large, ornamental green- 

 houses now on the grounds must soon be extensively re- 

 paired or rebuilt. They have now been in use twenty-four 

 years, and new houses more suitable for the required pur- 

 pose and with all the modern improvements should replace 

 them. The grounds of the botanical department, containing 

 about one hundred acres, including the building site, forests, 

 walks, lawns, etc., should be put in good condition by un- 

 derdraining where necessary, and an abundance of manure 

 for the most perfect growth of all ornamental trees, shrubs, 

 fruits, vegetables and flowers. The department is well sup- 

 plied with a large collection of ornamental trees and shrubs, 

 both hardy and tender, under glass, most of which are 

 labeled conspicuously, so that " he who runs may read." 

 It has a large and complete collection of dried plants, in- 

 cluding a valuable lot of parasitic fungi. Its laboratory is 

 supplied with a large number of compound microscopes, 

 with the necessary apparatus for the study of all kinds 

 of plant tissues, including the rusts, smuts, blights, 

 etc. It has complete spraying apparatus for the application 

 of fungicides and insecticides, and tools for all horticultural 

 work. While its equipment is large and well adapted to 

 srood work, the best results cannot be obtained while its 

 efforts must be given to the production of an income where- 

 with to pay expenses. With the increase of funds now in 

 the hands of the trustees, the botanic department should be 

 supported in a way that its importance demands ; for upon 

 the knowledge of the structure and functions of the plant 

 depends largely man's ability to produce the enormous 

 quantity of food consumed by both man and beast. 



The Horticultural Department. 



This department, in charge of Prof. S. T. Maynard, is in 

 a prosperous condition. Experiments have been made with 

 the Bordeaux mixture, to prevent mildew on the grape vines. 



