REPORT OF E. A. WHITE, B.S., Assistant Professor of Botany, Forestry, and Landscape To Rufus Whittaker Stimson, President: I take pleasure in submitting to you a report of the work of the departments under my direction since I assumed charge last July. During the month of July lectures on Botany were delivered before the teachers attending the Summer School. Special attention was given to structural and systematic botany, as it was thought that these topics would best prepare the teachers for their work in nature study in the public schools. Thirty-two teachers attended these lectures, and the interest manifested was very satisfactory. It is the intention to offer a similar course during the coming summer; also an advanced course will be scheduled to benefit those who attended the lectures of the past summer. During the regular students' summer term of six weeks, this department gave instruction to the incoming fourth year class in agricultural grasses and forage crops, because of the absence of instructors in the agricultural department. The work of the second year class during the fall term has included the study of the fundamental principles of botany, both structural and physiological, and this will prepare them for the study of systematic botany, which they will take up during the winter and spring terms. One member of the third year class has taken botany in the elective course, and instruction has been given in advanced analytical and microscopical work. The work in forestry has demanded much time. One candidate for the degree of Bachelor of Science has elected forestry as his major subject, and a course has been scheduled, covering two years, similar to those given by the several forestry schools in the United States. It is the intention to offer such instruction in this subject that men completing the fifth and sixth year work here may be ably fitted to fill positions on the State or the United States government preserves, in the woodlands of private individuals or corporations, or to enter any of the special forestry schools, complete the scheduled curriculum, and receive in one year the degree of Master of Forestry, which most of these schools offer. Aside from the theoretical work of the class-room, as much practical work as possible is given in silvicultural operations in the forest and forest nursery. Work in the propagation of forest trees has already been taken up, and this work will be followed later in the course by work in transplanting and thinning. The forest lands belonging to the College offer admirable facilities for this work. Special lectures in forestry are scheduled for the fourth. year and short course students during the coming winter term. The subject of landscape architecture, in its relation to the beautifying of the farm dwelling and its surroundings, is a topic of interest to the rural population of the State, and it is the intention to give every student a thorough knowledge of the principles involved in beautifying the home grounds, the village green, or town parks and cemeteries. With this point in view, it is hoped that sufficient funds may be available for making our campus an object lesson to our students in landscape art. Considerable work has been accomplished about the grounds during the past year. A much needed athletic field has been drained and graded. This is now used for the athletic sports of the students and also by the military company for drill. Several unsightly areas, which have been prominent features detrimental to the beauty of the campus, have been cleared of rocks, graded, and brought into suitable condition for lawn mowing. Drives have been graded and graveled, or covered with broken stone; and arrangements have been made by which the water from heavy rains may be disposed of without washing out the drives already constructed. Planting of trees and shrubs about the lawns and buildings is now in progress. The need of a laboratory specially designed for botanical teaching is greatly in evidence. At present the room assigned for this work is used also by the professors of entomology, geology, and zoölogy, and of mechanical drawing, to the great inconvenience of all. Appropriations are also needed for the purchase of nursery stock, for both landscape and forestry work. Respectfully submitted, E. A. WHITE. REPORT OF W. A. STOCKING, JR., B.S.A., Instructor of Agriculture and Physics. To Rufus Whittaker Stimson, President: Agricultural Bacteriology.— Last year the work in Agricultural Bacteriology was introduced into our curriculum for the first time, and consisted of a lecture course of one hour per week given to the fourth year students in Agriculture by Dr. H. W. Conn of Wesleyan University. The College is very fortunate in that this course is being given again this year by a man so prominent in Agricultural Bacteriology. The work this year has been extended by the introduction of the two courses mentioned in this report. One of these new courses consists of four hours per week during the spring term for third year students in Agriculture and Horticulture. It considers some of the more important bacteriological problems relating to soils, manures, and crops, a knowledge of which is of value to all concerned in the management of the soil or its vegetable products. The second new course covers four hours per week, and is given in the spring term to the fourth year students of Agriculture. The work here is confined to dairy problems in which bacteria play an important part. One of the rooms in Agricultural Hall is used for the work in Agricultural Bacteriology, in connection with the bacteriological work of the Veterinary department. This room is rather small, but is fairly well supplied with apparatus, and it is hoped that it will soon be made more efficient by the addition of gas for the laboratory work. Meteorology. This course is given during the fall term to the third year students in Agriculture and Horticulture. This year it covered the more practical problems in connection with Meteorology and Climatology with which the farmer should be familiar. Physics. This department occupies a room on the second floor of the chemical laboratory. The room is not well suited for the work, since it is small and is lighted only by small windows near the ceiling and by skylights. It is fitted with side cupboards in which to store apparatus. The room has been improved this year by the addition of a permanent desk, fitted with running water and gas, for the use of the instructor in demonstration. Three hours per week for two terms with the third year students are given to instruction in general physics. The work is based on Gage's Introduction to Physical Science (Revised Edition), aided by class demonstrations and laboratory work. The department has a considerable amount of apparatus, but some of it was found broken and unfit for use, and some is not suited to the needs of this course, so that the amount really available for use is not large. Next year a course in advanced physics will be offered, and more of the apparatus will then be used. In the catalogue, under "Courses of Study Fully Described," will be found outlines and descriptive matter giving something of the subject matter and methods of instruction found in the work here dealt with. Respectfully submitted, W. A. STOCKING, JR. REPORT OF F. H. STONEBURN, Instructor in Poultry Industry and Poultry Manager. To Rufus Whittaker Stimson, President: No radical change has been made in the work of the Poultry department since the appointment of the writer last January. The recitation schedule as prepared by your committee on courses of study was carefully followed, while the practical operations at the poultry plant have been carried on in much the same manner as formerly. In fact it is evident that my predecessor made the best possible use of the facilities afforded by our plant. Class-room instruction in poultry culture was given the second year class during the winter term. The theory of the subject was covered by lecture work as far as the time assigned would permit, and this was supplemented by practical work at the poultry plant. Most of the students manifested a decided interest, and it is evident that this feature may be made a valuable part of the agricultural course. A special course in poultry culture was given for the first time during the winter term. The instruction was divided between theory and practice, and all of the phases of the industry were touched upon. All of the special students were enthusiastic in their work, and from the results obtained it is safe to say that this course may also be made of great value to the citizens of the State. The success of this special course |