82 AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. [N"o. 17. 



Roberts. These drains, though not yet sufficient, will do much to 

 better the land. 



At the close of the season the crops were removed, (excepting par- 

 snips and salsify,) and the ground manured, and then carefully 

 plowed and subsoiled, and left in the rough for winter. 



EEPOBT FOE 1871. 



To the B)ard of Trustees of the Iowa Agricultural College: 



Gentlemen: I herewith submit my annual report of the Depart- 

 ment of Botany and Horticulture for the year 1871 : 



For both out door and class-room work the year just closed has 

 been pleasant as well as profitable. In the class-room the students 

 under my charge have manifested a gratifying degree of interest in 

 the study of Botany ; and for the out-door operations I can say that as 

 a general thing those working with me have done so with cheerful- 

 ness, taking a good degree of interest in their work, and performing 

 their tasks in a satisfactory manner. In the results obtained the 

 year has also been eminently successful. Most of the crops have done 

 well, though the short periods of drouth in the summer, and the dry 

 weather of the fall, somewhat decreased certain crops. The whole 

 work has moved on with a uniformity not known last year, and 

 all of the improvements begun have been successfully carried out. 



PERMANENT IMPROVEMENTS. 



Finished the drives on the north side of the garden, and made 

 considerable improvement upon those already in use. These drives 

 are now in quite good condition, but on account of their not being 

 graveled, it will take a good deal of work annually to keep them in 

 good repair, and free from weeds. Some labor was put upon a por- 

 tion of the ground in preparing it for better cultivation next year, by 

 not planting it, keeping it free from weeds, and constantly stirring it 

 wit! 1 the plow and cultivator. This portion now promises to fully 



