TWENTY-SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF THE STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN, FROM Octotoer 1st, 1SS3, to ©epteinlt»er :{0, 1SS3. LIBRARY NEW YORK BOTANICAL GARDEN LANSING: W. S. GEOKGE & CO., S lATE PEINTERS AND BINDERS. 1884. oOTANfCAL Si4k l^mtb $f H^tmtiun. Hon. franklin WELLS, of Coustantiue. PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD. Hon. THOMAS D. DEWEY, of Ovvosso, VICE PRESIDENT. Hon. henry G. REYNOLDS, of Old Mission. Hon. WM. B. McOREERY, of Flint, Hon. ELIJAH W. RISING, of Davison Station, Hon. henry CHAMBERLAIN, of Three Oaks. JOSIAH W. BEGOLE, Governor of the State, ) y Ex-Officio. THEOPHILUS C. abbot. President of the College. ) ROBERT G. BAIRD, Secretary. EPHRAIM LONGYEAR, Treasurer. \ LIBRARY NEW YORK EEPORT OF THE SECRETARY botanical GARDEN OF THE 1 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. Agricultukal College, ] Lansing, October 1st, 1883. \ To JosiAH W. Begole, Governor of the State of Michigan: I have the honor to submit herewith to your excellency, as required by statute, the accompanying annual report for the year ending Sept. 30th, 1883, with supplementary papers. Kespectf ally yours, R. G. BAIRD, Secretary State Board of Agriculture. COLLEGE ACCOUNTS (FOR THE YEAR ENDING SEPTEMBER 30,1883.) SECRETARY'S ACCOUNT. Dr. To balance on hand Oct. 1, 1882 $414 91 RECEIVED ON ACCOUNT OF SPECIAL APPROPRIATIONS. State Treasurer: Mechanical department $150 00 Repairs of buildings 3,000 00 Water-works... 4,207 00 $7,417 00 Sale of microscopes: Horticultural and Botanical departments 17 25 Botanical department 15 00 32 25 On account of current expenses, State Treasurer: Interest 22,139 13 Trespass receipt 4,000 00 Appropriations 4,192 50 30,331 63 Receipts of Institution: Farm department 3,838 62 Horticultural department 1,009 85 Mechanical department 328 46 Landsold 391 95 Boarding hall (exclusive of students) 343 93 Zoological department, C. E 24 00 General account 1,832 46 Apiary 25 97 7,795 24 Students on account of : Board, (fall term) 1,939 54 Incidentals and room rent 2,521 10 Chemicals.... 676 02 Matriculation fees 373 00 Graduating fees (diplomas) 135 00 Special examinations 85 50 5,730 16 Or. By cash paid E. Longyear 51,614 89 By balance October 1,1883. 106 30 $51,721 19 $51,721 19 8 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. SUMMAEY OF TREASURER'S REPORT. E. Longyear in account with Agricultural College, Dr. To balance October 1, 1882 |7,211 32 To araounts received from State Treasurer and Secretarj'' of State Board of Agriculture 51,614 89 Cr. By warrants paid from Oct. 1st, 1882, to Sept.30,1883 $56,801 94 By balance to new account Oct. 1st, 1SS3. 2,024 27 $58,826 21 $58,826 21 The above is a correct summary of my report to State Board of Agriculture. E. LONGYEAR, Treasurer. SUMMARY OF WARRANT ACCOUNT. Disbursements on account of special appropriations: Farm department $219 59 Horticultural department 376 14 Buildings and repairs 2,883 16 Library 760 16 Chemical department 1,161 83 Botany and Horticulture 454 82 Institutes 218 75 Experiments with ensilage 202 08 Zoological department 993 63 Mechanical department 8 00 Mathematical and engineering department 240 00 Water-works 2,602 80 Botanical departmeut 234 16 Boilerhouse 346 50 $10,701 62 Disbursements on account of current expenses: Salaries 22,373 1 9 Secretary's office 342 97 President's office 48 39 Repairs '..'." 553 19 Steam 430 87 Fuel 2,910 33 Inci den tals i ,G05 94 Library 6 99 Sunday services 140 00 Carpenter shop 973 SO Advances refunded 18 38 Printing .' 191 55 Student's labor 1,053 19 Botanical class-room _ 94 50 Chemical laboratory 569 82 Apiary 27 70 Ice 38 30 Board of employes 190 32 Advertising ' 25 20 Brickyard 1,898 48 Farm department 4,413 04 Horticultural department ? 3,932 74 Boarding hall 4,26143 46,100 32 §56.801 94 COLLEGE ACCOUNTS. 9 DEPARTMENT ACCOUNTS. FARM DEPARTMENT. In account with Agricultural College. Dr. To casli disbursements on account of: Labor, (men, teams, etc.,) $1,065 55 Farm house - «04 76 Farm office - 33 95 Implements --- 440 52 Students' labor - - 1,329 37 Cattle - --- --- 559 11 Sheep --. 25 64 Swine 81 90 Team 85 76 Drains 29 95 Repairs 136 30 Seeds-. 20 23 $4,413 04 Or. By cash receipts on account of: i m piemen ts ._ 80 35 Swine 487 40 Cattle 1,931 58 Grain 354 07 Men and team labor 3 25 Students' labor 29 16 Grain .-.. 521 03 Sheep - 210 04 Team 80 51 Repairs 1 25 Lumber 3 10 Drains 4 92 Wood 117 09 Hay 14 87 3,838 62 HORTICULTURAL DEPARTMENT. In account with Agricultural College. Dr. To cash disbursements on account of: Team $1,118 32 Greenhouse 316 00 Students' labor 1,596 16 Labor, (men, teams, etc.) 224 51 Office 28 87 Grounds 206 07 Vegetable garden 69 30 Miscellaneous 26 39 Tools 157 32 Experiments 1 70 Board of employees 188 10 Cr. By cash receipts on account of: Greenhouse $203 89 Vegetable garden 382 22 Grounds _ 47 87 Team 291 9G Ice 75 44 Labor (men and teams) 2 60 Students' labor 3 92 Sundries 1 95 2 $3,932 74 1,009 85 10 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. SUMMARY OF INVENTORY, SEPTEMBER 30th, 1S83. College Hall - -- $15,000 GO' Williams Hall - --- ---. 45.000 GO Wells Hall - - 25.000 00 Library and Museum Building -. 25.000 GO Chemical Laboratory - -- 18,000 00 Botanical Laboratory 6,000 GG Farm House. --- 3,500 00 Three brick houses @ $3.000 - 9,000 00 Two brick houses @ $3,500 7,000 GO President's and two frame houses 20,728 00 Herdsman's house - - GOO GO Seven barns at professors' houses @ $300. 2,100 00 Horticultural barn and shed 1,100 GO Cattle barn and shed 3,400 GO Sheep barn 2,500 00 Horse barn 3,000 00 Piggerv 2,000 00 Brickwork-shop 600 GO' <'orn-house 500 GO* Blacksmith shop and tool shed 300 GO' Greenhouse 9,500 GO- Grain barn. 1,600 GO Tool house... 1,300 00 Observatory 150 GO Boiler house and fixtures.. 3,870 GO Underground piping for steam 2,000 00 Icehouse 250 GO Bee house 280 00 Twelve fire extinguishers '. 500 OO' College farm and park— 676 acres @ $70 47,320 00 Water-works 4,150 GO Brickyard, slock, tools, etc 2,2S8 00 • Fuelonhand 683 GO $264,219 00 Farm department: Cattle $14,790 00 Sheep - 1,686 GO Swine 698 GO Horses 650 GO Implements, produce, etc 7,257 35 25,081 35- Horticultural department : Teams, harness, etc 615 00 Nursery stock 318 20 Tanks and pumps 50 00 Tools and miscellaneous 912 18 Plants, fuel, etc., at greenhouse. 4,322 GO 6,217 38. Library: Books, pamphlets, and furniture 16,575 45 General museum: Cases, collections, etc 9,980 95 Chemical department: Apparatus, chemicals, etc 9,553 75. Department of engineering and mathematics: Telescope and class-room apparatus $2,804 20 Steam fitting, tools and stock 816 54 3,620 74 College hall: Furniture 750 00 Mechanical department: Tools and lumber 350 00 President's office: Furniture, stationery, etc 305 53 Secretary's office: Furniture, stationery, etc 419 70' COLLEGE ACCOUNTS, 11 SUMMAKY OF INVENTORY.— Continued. Apiary: Bees, stock, and apparatus $366 80 Botanical museum and class-room: Specimens, furniture, microscopes, etc 6,519 25 Total - $343,959 90 SUPPLEMENTARY STATEMENT OF THE SECRETAEY. SALAEIES. The salaries of the oflBcers and employes of the College are as follows : President, 13,000 ; eight professors, |1,S00 each ; secretary, $1,500 ; assistant secretary, $600; one professor, 81,000; assistant in chemistry, $800; one instructor, $600; librarian, $600; farm foreman, $600 and board; florist, $743 ; foreman of the horticultural department, $750 ; engineer $600, BUILDINGS. The two buildings for which appropriations were made by the Legislature of 1883 have not been erected. The contract has been let for the boiler house and chimney, and work commenced. As soon as a plan for the professors' residence has been accepted by the Board, arrangements will be made for letting the contract. It is expected that both of these buildings will be com- pleted during the summer of 1884. • COLLEGE LANDS. Through the courtesy of the Commissioner of the State Land Office we are enabled to publish the following tables, showing by counties the sales of Agri- cultural College lands for the year ending September 30th, 1883. Also showing by counties the number of acres of Agricultural College lands subject to entry November 1st, 1883 : AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE LAND. TABLE NO. 1. — Showing by Counties the Amount of Agricultural College Land Sold at Original Sale during the Year ending September 30, 18S3. eOTJNTIES. Alcona Alpena Antrim Benzie Cheboygan Kalkaska ■ Manistee Missaukee Montmorency Oscoda , Otsego Presque Isle.. Wexford Total Acres. Price. 975.19 $5 00 80.00 5 00 920.00 5 00 320.00 5 00 200,00 5 00 160.00 5 00 1,000.00 5 00 640.00 5 00 79.90 5 00 820.48 5 00 40.00 5 00 160.00 5 00 1,040.00 5 00 7,035.57 Amount. $4,875 95 400 00 4,600 00 1,600 00 1,000 00 800 00 5,000 00 3,200 00 399 50 4,102 40 200 00 800 00 8,200 00 135,177 85 Amount Paid. Amount Due. $4,875 95 100 00 $300 00 2,650 00 1,950 00 400 00 1,200 00 850 00 150 00 200 00 600 00 2,050 00 2,950 00 2,450 00 750 00 100 00 299 50 3,452 00 650 00 200 00 200 00 600 00 4,925 00 3,275 00 $22,453 35 $12,724 50 12 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE LAND. TABLE No. 2. — Showing by Counties the Amount of Forfeited Agricultural College Land Sold during the Year ending September 30, 18S3. COUNTIES. Acres. Price, Amount. Amount Paid. Amount Due. Alrona 80.00 40.00 120.00 480.00 40.00 40.00 120.00 80.00 40.00 40.00 600.00 $5 00 5 00 5 00 5 00 5 20 6 00 5 00 5 00 5 00 5 00 5 00 $400 00 200 00 600 00 2,400 00 208 00 240 00 600 00 400 00 200 00 200 00 3,000 00 $400 00 50 00 300 00 1,650 00 208 00 240 00 259 00 100 00 200 00 50 00 1,099 52 Chebovo'au $150 00 300 00 750 00 Grand Traverse- - Manistee do -.- do Missaukee Montniorencv .. ..- . 350 00 300 00 Oscoda Presque Isle 150 00 Wexford 1,900 48 Total 1,680.00 $8,448 00 $4,547 52 $3,900 48 Table showing by counties the number of acres of Agricultural College lands subject to entry November 1st, 1883. Name of County. No. of Acres. Alcona 22,240.67 Alpena - 840.00 Antrim 3,320.93 Benzie 4,400.00 Charlevoix 3,524. 98 Cheboygan.. 5,408.76 Grand Traverse 520.00 Iosco 20,874.97 Kal kaska 1, 080. 68 Manistee 6,280.00 Missaukee 799.64 Montmorency..- 7,985.90 Oscoda \ - 15,284.07 Otsego 3,833.59 Presque Isle 400.00 Wexford 23,480.00 Total 126,274.19 BOUNTY ON SORGHUM SUGAR. Mr. Daniel Root, of Hudson, Mich., sent me the following statement regarding the manufacture of sugar from sorghum cane : In the year 1882, about the middle of May, I planted twenty acres of land to early amber cane, in check rows three and a half feet apart. I cultivated it the same as for corn, without any extra fertilizer. On the twentieth of September I commenced to harvest and work up the crop. I used a good COLLEGE ACCOUNTS. 13 three-roll, steam-power mill, and ran the juice into defecating tanks, putting in milk of lime to neutralize the acid in the juice. The juice was then heated to 210° F., causing a thick scum to form on the surface and considerable sediment to settle at the bottom. I removed the scum and ran the clear juice into the evaporator by means of a swing pipe, then put in water charged with a sufficient quantity of sulphur fumes or sulphurous acid to turn blue litmus paper red. The contents were then boiled until it reached 228° F. and run into the cooler. The syrup weighed JH pounds to the gallon. The twenty acres planted to cane yielded 4,000 gallons, or 200 gallons per acre. I boiled part of the syrup until it tested 234° F. That went to sugar in a short time, varying from a few hours to three or four days. Not having any convenience to separate the sugar, it was not done till the summer of 1883, when it yielded 4f pounds of sugar to the gallon of melada. I made 2,] 00 pounds of sugar like the sample I sent vou. It was made by the ordinary centrifugal process. DANIEL ROOT. The affidavit accompanying this statement, as also that of Dr. R. C. Kedzie as to the amount of crystallizable sucrose sugar contained in the specimen furnished for examination, is on file in my office. I laid Mr. Root's report before the State Board of Agriculture, also the affidavit above referred to. The Board regarded Mr. Root as having com- plied with the requirements of Act No. 268, statutes of 1881, entitled " An Act to encourage the culture of sugar cane and the sugar beet, and the man- ufacture of sugar from the same," passed a resolution declaring him entitled to the bounty provided for in said Act. The amount was received by him soon afterwards. This is the only case in which bounty has as yet been applied for under the statute above referred to. DEPARTMENT REPORTS. PEESIDENT'S KEPORT. To the State Board of Agriculture: I respectfully submit the following report of the State Agricultural College, for the college year, 1883 ; together with the reports of the heads of the various departmeuts. So far as students and classes are concerned, the report closes with the close of the college year, August 31, 1883. BEPORT 10 BE ANNUAL. In my last report I represented that the State, by its agreement with congress, was under obligation to print an annual report of the college ; and Governor Jerome in his retiring message called attention to the duty. The following law, providing for annual reports, was accordingly passed : AN ACT to provide for tlie publication and distribution of tlie reports of the secretary of the State Board of Aj^riculture, and the reports of the State Horti- cultural Society, and to repeal all existing laws providing for the publication and distribution of said reports. Section 1. The People of the State of Michigan enact, That the secretary of the State board of agriculture shall report to the Legislature at every regular session thereof, and to the Governor on the first Wednesday of January of each year when the Legislature is not in session; which report shall embrace all statements, accounts, prize-essays, statistics, and other information i*elative to agriculture in general, proceedings of the State board of agriculture, of the State agricultural college and farm, of the State agricultural society, and of the county and district agricultnral societies, to be approved by the board; that eight thousand copies of this report shall be printed and bound annually, prior to the first daj^ of June, and shall be immediately placed at the disposal of the State board of agriculture; four thousand copies to be distributed by tlie secretary of said State board of agriculture as the board shall direct; and the remaining four thousand copies to be distributed prior to the first day of September after publication by the secretary of the board, to the secretary of the State agricultural society, to the secretarj' of the State grange, and to the secretaries of the various district and county socities, as equally as may be, according to the population of said counties, to be, by said secretaries, dis- tributed among the various reviewing committees of county and district fairs, giv- ing one volume of said report to each of said committees as shall be present and discharge the duties of the oflice on tlie daj^ of the county and district fairs; and in addition to the foregoing, there shall be published a number of copies of said report equal to the number of reports bound as joint documents, which shall be disposed of in the same manner as the joint documents, also a suflicient number of copies to supply crop correspondents with one cop}' each, which shall be distributed by the secretarj' of >tate. Sec. 2. Has reference to the State horticultural society. Sec. 3. Repeals all other acts or parts of acts inconsistent with the provisions of this act. Approved June 6,1883. DEPARTMENT REPORTS. 15 goveknok's message. His Excellency, Governor Begole, in his message to the Legislature, June 3, 1883, gave but few sentences to the Agricultural College, but they were pointed and commendatory. He said: "The Agricultural College is so near the capitol that you will, no doubt, visit it, and learn its needs. I can most heartily endorse the present management." Governor Jerome, in his retiring message, spoke more fully of the college as follows: " This college was established in 1855. The means for its con- struction and maintenance have been derived from the following sources : *' Appropriation by the Legislature of 22 sections of salt spring lands, for which the money was advanced by the State amounting to $56,320.00 ^* In 1861 a further appropriation by the Legislature of swamp lands, which have been sold for 42,396.87 "Total realized for State lands sold $98,717.87 **Li 1862 the United States government donated to this, with other State, lands to be used in establishing Agricultural Colleges. 240,000 acres were nominally set apart to this State, but owing to the loss from fractional sections the amout received was really but 235,973.37 acres. 100,203.50 acres of these lands have been sold, and $224,868.15 received thereon. This has been used by the State, and on which interest has been, and will continue to be paid at 7%. The total interest paid, beginning in 1870, up to Sept. 30, '82, on the above, amounts to 179,626.82 $278,343.69 ^' Appropriations in cash have been made from 1857 to 1882, both years included, amounting to 558,744.84 ** Making a total expenditure of $837,088.53 " This amount divided by 26, the number of years since the Col- lege was established, makes an average annual expenditure of---. $32,195.71 "The property of the College on Dec. Ist, 1882, exclusive of granted lands for sale, is estimated at 338,471.55 "Deduct from the total expenditures it leaves 498,616.98 " Which if divided by 26, shows the average annual cost of maintaining the College, after allowing for the value of the land and the permanent improvements _ $19,177.57 " There remains unsold of the lands granted by the government, 135,469.87 acres, which, when sold, will increase the endow- ment doubtless to $900,000. -"Appropriations are asked for the year 1883 $37,411.00 1884 22.411.00 $59,822.00 ■"In excess of the estimated receipts for interest, farm, horti- cultural department, and from students, amounting to $29,000 annually 58,000.00 a 'V Total estimated^expenditures for the two years 117,822.00 16 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. "The appropriation for ISSl was $50,969.50 " '' " 1882 was-. 16,194,50 $67,164.00 "The purposes for which the funds are asked for the coming two years are fully set forth in the report of the managers herewith submitted, to which your attention is called, especially to that feature which relates to the estab- lishment of a mechanical department. This department is urged by the State Board of Agriculture, and some of the agricultural socities. "The report of the President calls attention to the requirements of the Act of Congress making the grant of land for this College, as to annual reports, whereas the Legislature provides for publishing biennial reports only. The conditions of the grant should be complied Avith, and Act No. 206 of 1881 should be modified in this respect. "The buildings for which appropriations were made in 1881 have all been completed, and are now occupied. A new system of steam heating has also- been provided with success as to heating, and it reduces the fire risk of the old plan materially. The secretary reports the liabilities of the College fully discharged, and sufficient funds on hand to defray ;the expenses of th& remainder of the calendar year. " Success has attended the undertaking to educate young men to become farmers. The total number of graduates up to the close of the last year was 272. I quote from a statement of President Abbot the following : ' Of this number more than one-half are engaged in farming, horticulture, or in agricultural schools as their business. A careful examination shows that les& than two per cent, of the graduates of other kinds of colleges take up agri- culture as a pursuit.' I respectfully refer you to the above report for more- particular statements." LEGISLATION". The legislation in 1883 regarding the college, had reference to the makiug^ and printing of reports as already given ; to the deposit of military arms and accoutrements at the college ; and to the support of the college for the years 1883 and 1884. Estimates for the support of the college were presented to the Legislature by the State Board of Agriculture in the printed report for 1881-2. See pages 13 to 18. The standing committees on the college in Senate and House, acting as a joint committee, cut out the estimates $18,600.00 for the establishment of a Mechanical Department, and the item for insurance, and added an item of S5, 000.00 for the erection of a boiler house and chimney, 14,267.00 for steam pump, pipes, hose, etc., for a system of water- works, and $1,000.00 for the purchase of mechanical tools. The bill as made out by this joint committee was approved by the commit- tee on finance, and of ways and means, and became a law, receiving one adverse vote in the Senate, and four in the House. AN ACT making an appropriation for the support of the State Agricultural College, for the erection and repair of buildings, and other improvements at the said College. Section 1. The People of the State oj Michigan enact. That there shall be and is- herebj' appropriated out of tiie IState Treasury the sum of eiglit thousand three hundred and eighty-five dollars, for the year one thousand eight hundred and eighty- DEPARTMENT REPORTS, 17 three, and the sum of eight thousand three hundred and eighty-five dollars for the year one thousand eight hundred and eighty four, for the use and support of the State Agricultural College. Sec. 2. There shall be and is hereby appropriated out of the Treasury the sum of three thousand dollars, for a house for the professor of horticulture, five thousand dollars for the erection of a boiler house and chimney, four thousand two hundred and sixty-seven dollars for steam pump, pipes, hose, etc., for a system of water- works, and one thousand dollars for the purchase of mechanical tools. Sec. 3. There shall be and is hereby appropriated out of the State Treasury the sum of six hundred dollars for farmers' institutes, three thousand one hundred and twenty-five dollars for the library, seven hundred dollars for the department of mathematics and engineering, one thousand dollars for the chemical department, one thousand nine hundred and forty-five dollars for the zoological department, one thousand three hundred and forty-two dollars for the horticultural department, three thousand three hundred and eighty-nine dollars for the farm department, two thousand two hundred and thirty-one dollars for the botanical department, six thousand seven hundred and twenty dollars for repairs of buildings, said amounts embraced in this section aggregating twenty-one thousand and fifty-two dollars to to be paid, one-half of the same in the year one thousand eight hundred and eightj'- three, and one-half in the year one thousand eight hundred and eighty-four, which said moneys, provided for in this act, or so much thereof as may be necessary, shall be expended under the direction of the State Board of Agriculture for the purposes aforesaid, and shall be drawn from the treasury on the presentation of the proper certificates of said Board to the Auditor General, and on his warrant to the State Treasurer. Sec. 4. There shall be .assessed upon the taxable property of the State in the year one thousand eight hundred and "eighty-three the sum of thirty-two thousand one hundred and seventy-eight dollars, and in the year one thousand eight hundred and eighty-four the sum of eighteen thousand and nine hundred and eleven dollars to be assessed and levied in like manner as other taxes are by law assessed, levied, and paid, which tax, when collected, shall be credited up to the general fund to reimburse to the same the sum to be drawn therefrom as provided in this act, and any sums drawn under the provisions of this act before the taxes herein authorized are collected shall be returned when sucli taxes are collected, which said moneys pro- vided for in this act, or so much thereof as may be necessary, shall be expended under the direction of the State Board of Agriculture for the purposes aforesaid, and shall be drawn from the treasury on the presentation of the proper certificates of said Board to the Auditor General, and on his warrant to the State Treasurer. This act is ordered to take immediate effect. Approved May 18, 1883. THE 130ARD OF AGRICULTURE. With the appointments upon the Board of Governor Begole, the terms of office of the Hon. H. G. Wells of Kalamazoo, and of the Hon. Geo. W. Phil- lips of llomeo, expired. Up to the time of the new appointments the Hon. H. G. Wells had been identified with the college from the time of its reor- ganization in 1861. He was named in the law, as one of the first members of the Board. On the drawing of lots for terms of office Mr. Wells drew for four years, and he has been three times reappointed by as many different Governors for additional terms of six years each. From the spring of 18G9 up to within a few months, Judge Wells has been the president of the Board ; and previous to that time he acted as vice president, it being customary to elect the Governor of the State to be president, until it was seen that his many official duties did not leave the Governor time to attend to the details of col- lege business. When Judge Wells was appointed by Gen. Grant, President of the United States, to be presiding Judge of the Alabama claims court, he sent to the president of the college a resignation of his place upon the Board, but at the earnest request of every one of his colleagues he retained his membership, and bis resignation was never formally presented. Similar representations were 3 18 STATE BOAED OF AGRICULTURE. made to him of the luianimous desire that he should not resign when lie was again appointed by President Arthur to be the presiding judge of the new Alabama claims court. Judge Wells, as President of the Board, gave the college a large share of his interest and time. All documents of importance, all sales of lands of large amounts were committed to his care. In certain crises of the college, Mr. Wells has given weeks together of his time to its interest, and has enlisted many friends in its behalf. He carries with him off the Board the sincere affection and esteem of his successive associates on the Board for the last twenty years. The college library is fortunate enough to possess a fine oil painting of Mr. Wells, a gift of his to the college. Mr. Geo. W. Phillips had been a member of the executive committee of the State Agricultural Society long before he became, by appointment of Gov- ernor Baldwin, a member of the Board. It was fortunate for the college that it had so warm and outspoken a friend in that body. Mr. Phillips's acquaint- ance with farming in general, and stock in particular, and his general acquaintance with business made him a valuable counselor and member of the Board. The newly appointed members of the Board are the Hon, Henry Chamber- Iain of Three Oaks, well known and respected throughouc the State, and Hon. Elijah "W. Rising of Davison Station, well known also as a gentleman, and a member for many years of the executive committee of the State Agri- ricultural Society. The Board was reorganized at the first meeting after the new appointments, by the election, unanimously, of Hon. Franklin Wells of Constantine, for President, of Hon, Thomas l3. Dewey for Vice President, and the reelection, unanimously, of Robert G. Baird as Secretary, and Ephraim Longyear as Treasurer. The following committees were constituted : On Buildings and Bepairs — Tlios. D. Dewey, of Owosso, Franklin Wells of Constan- tine. On Employes— R. G. Eeynolds of Old Mission, Wm. B. McCreery of Flint. On the Farm— }ienry Chamberlain of Three Oaks, E. W. Rising of Davison Station, and Franklin Wells. On Finance — Wm. B. McCreery, E. W. Rising. On Horticulture and Botany— R. G. Reynolds, T. D. Dewej'. On Institutes — E. W. Rising, Henry Chamberlain. OFFICERS OF THE COLLEGE. At or near the beginning of the present year, 1883, certain changes were made in the officers of the institution. Forestry was added to Dr. Beal's professorship. Mr. Louis Knapper was transferred from the Superintendency of the Horticultural Department to the position of Florist, made vacant by the resignation (Jan. 15) of the former occupant, Mr. James Cassidy. Mr. Eugene D. Willis, a graduate of 1882, was made foreman of the vegetable garden. The most important changes were the entering on duty of two newly appointed professors. Mr. jas. Satterlee, Professor of Horticulture and Superintendent of the Horticultural Department, was graduated from the college in 18G9. He received the degree of Master of Science in 1874. The State Horticultural Society was consulted regarding the selection of a person DEPARTMENT REPORTS. 19 for this professorship, and expressed great satisfaction with the selection of Mr. Satterlee for the position. Mr. Satterlee entered upon duty January 1st, 1883, and in addition to the charge of the department out of doors, gives lectures on Horticulture and Landscape Gardening. Prof. E. A. A. Granger, V. S., was for seven years the professor of veteri- nary in the Ontario Agricultural College at Guelph, Ontario, and presidents, professors, government officers, and others speak of him in the highest terms, and manifest sincere regret at losing him. The course of instruction in Veterinary has been enlarged to a full year for those who elect it. Mr. Grange came as a lecturer, but is now under regular appointment as a professor in the college. In November, 1883, Henry W. Baird, a graduate of the college, class of '83, was appointed by the Board Assistant Secretary of the college, witli a salary at the rate of 1600 a year. By this appointment the Secretary of the college will be relieved of the burden of transcribing accounts, keeping the record of student's standing, and the many clerical duties incident to the office, and will have time to take up the broader duties contemplated in the organic law of the institution as pertaining to the office, Mrs. Mary J. 0. Merrill, B. S., was graduated from the college in 1881. She entered upon duty as Librarian, July 1st. Her acquaintance with the course of study facilitates the assistance she can render students and others in the use of the library. She has begun the extensive work of cataloguing the miscellaneous matter of the library. COMMITTEES OF THE FACULTY. On College Hall— Professor Harrower. Library Hall — Secretary Baird. Williams Hall — Professor Satterlee. Wells Hall—^lr. Frank Kedzie. Public JE'xercises— Professors Johnsou and McEwan. Entrance Examinations — Professors Cook, Carpenter, and McEwan. Studies of Specials of Irregular Students and on Deficiencies — Dr. Beal. Catalogues — Professor Harrower and Secretary Baird. Assignment of Students'^ Booms — President Abbot. Farmer''s Institutes —Dr. Kedzie. The Club System — (Appointed by the Board) Messrs. Abbot, Kedzie, and Carpenter. The Library — President Abbot. Work done by the College Carpenter— Secretary R. G. Baird, appointed by tlie Board. COMMENCEMENT, 1883 Commencement exercises took place on the morning of Tuesday, August 14. On Sunday preceding. President Abbot preached the Baccalaureate sermon. He took for his text the request of Zebedee's children, showing, that like some modern people, they asked for responsibility rather than fitness for it, were willing, for example, to become secretaries of state, of war, of the treasury, etc., without the requisite knowledge and experience; asked for place by arbitrary assignment, on account of personal friendship for the one in authority, — a way not in accordance with God's methods; and that they sought for personal gratification rather than usefulness. The excellent music for the occasion was kindly given by a choir consisting of Mrs. R. B. De Viney, Miss Mabel Paddack, Miss May Murdock, Mr. L. A. Baker, Mr. H. A. Lee, with Miss Alice Weed (class '83) accompanist. Mr. Frank Kedzie took upon himself, at the president's request, the management of the music. 20 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. GIFT OF THE GRADUATING CLASS. On the afternoon of Monday the graduating class presented to the college a beautiful fountain. The presentation exercises took place upon the lawn near the fountain, which was located by Mr. Adam Oliver, the college landscape gardener, near the greenhouse. The presentation speech was made by Mr. Daniel C. Holliday, Jr., the president of the class, and the response was by Dr. Kedzie. It was altogether a delightful exercise. The audience was reminded that the last graduation present to the college was the "big stone " upon the lawn north of AVilliams Hall, given by the class of 1873, just ten years before. The senior class day exercises took place on Monday evening, and are spoken of as in every respect doing much credit to the good sense and taste of the class. The class motto was "Deeds, Not Words." For the exercises of commencement day eight members were selected to represent the class. The music was freely furnished by the Eight O'clock Club, an amateur orchestra of high merit, to which the college has been pre- viously indebted. The following is the programme and list of the graduating class. PEOGRAMilE. Overture— Golden Fleece, Bipley. Eight O'clock Club. Oration— Living the Test of Learning, Henry W. Baird. Oration— Higher Education for the Farmer, Leslie A. Bnell. Airs from Don Juan, Mozart, Eight O'clock Club. Oration- The Chivalry of To-day, Wilber F. Hoyt. Oration — Youthful Ilkisions, not all Hlusions, .... Arthur T. Kinnan. Princess Alexandra Waltz, Eight O'Clock Club. Oration— The Call for Practical Men, John T.Mathews. Oration — Unprotitable Things on the Farm that Pay, , . . Frank F. Rogers. "Waltz — Snow Flake, Bescle, Eight O'clock Club. Oration — The Motives of Scientists, Clarence M. Weed. yans youci, Eipley, Eight O'clock Chib. Conferring of Degrees. Benediction. NAMES OF THE GRADUATES, CLASS OF 'S3. William A. Balilke, Pewarao. Henry VV. Baird, Lansing. * Albert M, Bamber, Highland. Arthur C. Bird, Highland. Leslie A. Buell. Chester. Ernest P. Clark, Benton Harbor. Herbert W. Collingwood, Boston, Mass. Henry A. Danville, Jr., Marilla. Clark H. Eldridge, White House, Lucas County, Ohio, Archie M. Emery, Lansing. Edward J. Fletcher, Washington, District of Columbia, Edgar Grimm, B. S., Corvallis, Oregon. Daniel C. Holliday, Jr., New Orleans, La. Osmond C. Howe, Buchanan. Wilbur F. Hoyt, Grand Rapids. Willard S. Kedzie, Deerfield. Arthur F. Kinnan, Lansing. Eugene F. Law, Portage. Charles F. Liudsley, Highland. Albert W. Mather, Battle Creek. John T. Mathews, Portland. Henry C. Nixon, Bridgeman. Frank F. Rogers, Holloway. Allen C. Redding, Berlamont. Edmund Schoetzow, Volinia. Jeddie H. Smith, New Troy. Milton St. John, Yates, Mew York. Herbert M. AVeed, Lansing. Clarence M. Weed, Lansing. Sarah E. Wood, Lansing. * Died June 1, 1883. DEPARTMENT REPORTS. 21 The degree of Bachelor of Sciences was conferred on the members of the graduating class, thirty in number, thus bringing the number of graduates up to 302. One of the number, Mr. Edgar Grimm, had previously been graduated from the Oregon Agricultural College. He had spent a year here, and left just before commencement to enter upon the professorship of agriculture in the Oregon College at Corvallis. At commencement time the degree of Master of Sciences was conferred upon John E. Taylor, class of 1876, for proficiency in agriculture; Charles T. Davis, 1880, professor of chemistry in Colorado Agricultural College; Frank T. Gulley, 1880, professor of agriculture in Mississippi Agricultural College; Louis G. Carpenter, 1879, instructor in mathematics, Michigan Agri- cultural College ; and on Eugene Davenport, 1878, for proficiency in agri- culture. The name of Albert M. Bamber appears in the list of graduates, and would have appeared on the list of speakers but for his removal by death, June 1, 1S83. Mr. Bamber was one of the noblest students the College ever had. At the time of his death he was president of the Young Men's Christian Associ- ation and of the College Students' Organization, and one of the club stewards. He had a brother graduated in 1881. At the request of his class, a diploma was made out for him and presented to his father. When the body of Mr. Bamber was taken from the College, his class, his fraternity, the Y. M. C. A., and his club sent delegates in token of respect and affection, and the president preached a memorial sermon for him and Mr. Charles E. Bush. Mr. Charles E. Bush, son of J. J. Bush, Esq., of Lansing, was graduated in 1881, and soon took charge of a part of his father's business in Pentwater. In about a year his health began to fail, and he in vain tried the climate of Florida. He died of consumption, departing in great peace, and dearly beloved for a soul full of lovable qualities, and scarcely a discernible fault, May 6, 1883. In the afternoon of commencement day, the Hon. Edwin Willits, late member of Congress, and now principal of the State Normal School, on the joint invitation of the graduating class and the literary societies of the College, delivered an address in the College chapel. The theme was "The future of Agriculture," and it was handled in a highly instructive and interesting manner. The president's reception on commencement evening closed the exercises of the (if we include 188U) twenty-third commencement season of the College. STUDENTS. The attendance at the College for the three terms ending August 14, 1883, was as follows : Resident graduates 3 Seniors - 31 Juniors - - 33 Sophomores - 56 Freshmen 57 Specials , 5 Total 185 22 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. States and couuties were represented Allegan 3 Alpena 1 Baraga .- 1 Barry 8 Berrien 9 Branch — 5 Calhoun — 4 Cass 1 Charlevoix __ 1 Clinton 6 Eaton 7 Emmet — 1 Genesee. - -.. 1 Gratiot 1 Hillsdale 3 Huron 1 Ingham ^3 Ionia... 9 Jackson 3 Kalamazoo 4 Kent.- 5 Lapeer 1 Leelanaw 1 Lenawee 5 Livingston - 6 Macomb 1 Manisteee 2 Menominee 1 Muskegon 1 Oakland 8 bv students as follows: Ottawa 1 Shiawassee 5 St. Joseph 5 Van Buren 8 Washtenaw - 3 Wayne 3 Total 147 FROM OTUER COUKTKIES AND STATES. California 1 Connecticut 3 Dakota 1 District of Columbia 1 England.. 1 Illinois 3 Indiana 3 Japan , 1 Louisiana 1 Massachusetts 1 New York. 5 Ohio 5 Oregon 1 Pennsylvania 3 South Carolina 1 Texas 1 Vermont 1 Total.... 31 The average age of the various classes was as follows : Seniors, 21 years 7 months; Juniors, 21 years 7 months; Sophomores, 21 years 2 months; Fresh- men, 23 years ; Specials, 22 years 8 months. COURSE OF STUDY. The course of study has undergone important changes, by which Seniors are permitted each term to select three out of five studies. This is a step toward enabling students to secure a more thorough knowledge of some chosen branch of science or of practice. The course in Veterinary has been extended from a half term to three whole terms. This time is still insufficient to make a Vet- erinary Surgeon, but is sufficient to give a farmer such a knowledge as the best of them would like to possess, without pretension to the thoroughness of the professional man. The courses in the various departments have been enlarged to as great an extent as the officers in charge thought that they had time and strength to warrant additions. A half term in Botany and Forestry, a term of instruction in Agricultural Engineering, a term in Quantitative Analysis, for which new and beautiful rooms have just been fitted up, an additional term in Horticul- ture, and the Veterinary already mentioned are the additions to the course. DEPARTMENT REPORTS. 23 The whole course in Chemistry has been put two terms later in the scheme of study; and a half term of Agriculture, Botany, and Moral Philosophy transferred each from the Senior to the Sophomore year. Spring Term. Summer Term, FRESHMAN YEAR. Autumn Term. Algebra. Ancient History. Rhetoric. Geometry. Drawing. Agriculture. Geometry completed. Botany. Khetoric. SOPHOMORE YEAR. Avtum7i Term. Algebra completed. Astronomy, half term. Moral Philosophy, half term. Botany.* Agriculture.* Spring Terra. Trigonometry, half term. Surveying, half term. Botany — Laboratory work, two hours daily. Rhetoric. Summer Term. Mechanics, Elementary Chemistry. Agriculture.* Landscape Gardening.* •JUNIOR YEAR. Autumn Term. Mechanics completed, half term. Anatomy, half term. Horticulture. Organic chemistry. Blowpipe and Volumetric Analysis. Spring Term. Human and Comparative Physiology. Analytical Chemistry — Laboratory work, three hours daily. Horticulture — Lectures (elective instead of the third hour of chemistry.) * These atudies alternate throughout the term. M STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. Summer Term. Entomology. English Literature. Agricultural Chemistry. SENIOR YEAR. Autumn Term. Psychology. Chemical Physics. Zoology, half term. Agricultural Engineering. Veterinary. Spring Term, Logic. Meteorology. Civil Engineering. Constitution of the United States. Political Economy, half term. Veterinary. Geology, half term. Summer Term. Quantitative Analysis. Botany, and Forestry. Agriculture, half term. Veterinary. English Literature, half term. Philosophy of history, half term. Astronomy, half term. Rhetorical Exercises. — The students meet weekly, in classes or divisions, for rhetorical exercises. The following scheme indicates the work required throughout the course : FRESHMAN. First Term. — Essays once a fortnight in rhetoric class ; two declamations. Second Term. — One exercise a week reading and studying some English classic. Third Term. — Essays in rhetoric classes ; declamation every three weeks. SOPHOMORE. First Term. — Declamations and essays, three exercises. Second 2erm. — Essays in class in higher English; two declamations. Third Term. — Two original declamations delivered before the class. junior. First Term. — Two essays, on assigned subjects ; public orations. Second Term, — Three essays in rhetoric class ; public orations. Third Term. — Two critical essays in English literature; public orations. DEPARTMENT REPORTS. 25 SENIOR. First Term. — Two essays, on assigned subjects, or debates ; public orations. Second Jerm. — Two essays on assigned subjects; public orations. Third Term. — Two essays; public orations. Public Exercises. — Upon each alternate Wednesday, members of the Junior and Senior classes deliver orations in presence of all the students. Two orations are to be thus presented by each student during his junior year, and two during his senior year. Upon each Wednesday not thus occupied, some member of the faculty or a gentleman from abroad lectures to the students in a body, upon some topic connected with their course of study or their work. Labor. — Each student, not exempt on account of physical disability, is required to labor three hours each week day (except Saturdays) in those seasons of the year when labor can be furnished. Students receive remuneration for most of their labor in the quarterly settlement of accounts, at the close of each term, at a rate depending on their ability and fidelity, the maximum being eight cents per hour. The labor is to some extent planned with refer- ence to illustrating and applying the instruction in the lecture room. The work during the junior year is performed on the gardens and grounds. Six hours are spent each month, without compensation, under direct instruction in practical horticulture. The Sophomores work for the year on the farm ; the members of other classes are assigned to the farm, the gardens, or some other duty. Select Course. — Persons of suitable age and acquirements, who desire to pursue one or more of the branches of study more closely related to agricult- ure (such as chemistry, botany, animal physiology, apiculture), may be receiv- ed for a less time than is requisite for the full course. By reference to the scheme of recitations in the catalogue any person desiring select studies can ascertain whether the classes are so arranged as to permit him to pursue them. club system of boarding. The students' organization, a society consisting of all the students, held a meeting in the College chapel Nov. 13, 1882, and adopted a plan for a club system of boarding and submitted it to the State Board of Agriculture for approval. After careful consideration the Board adopted the plan, and authorized the students to divide themselves into five clubs, to elect stewards, and begin on the new system with the opening of the spring term, 1883. Three club dining rooms were made out of the one dining hall in Williams Hall, and two out of the old armory in Wells Hall; rooms were assigned to the cooks in each hall, and a committee of the faculty was appointed by the board, with whom the club officers could consult. President Abbot, Dr. Kedzie and Prof. Carpenter constitute the committee. The general arrange- ment of room, disposal of college property used in the old system, and many other matters of detail, were committed to the charge of Professor Carpen- ter, with whom the students had taken frequent council in maturing their plans. Mr. Carpenter continues to be the chief adviser of the stewards, and the success of the system is largely due to his assistance. The club system has been tried for one year, or for the spring, summer, and autumn terms of 1883, with very gratifying success. 13oard was at once 4 26 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. reduced from $3.00 to $2.50, which was as low as the students themselves desired that it should go. The food has been better, and served warmer than before, and the comparative fewness of those dining together has given some- what of a home-feeling at the meals, which before was wanting. As the clubs own certain property, new students purchase certificates of membership, which are redeemed at their face value when the student leaves college. These cer- tificates were sold for $2.50. The experience of the year suggested to the students certain changes, which were adopted in November, 18S3, and which are incorporated in the following : CONSTITUTION OF THE CLUB BOARDING ASSOCIATION. Article I — The association shall be known as the Club Boardinsr Associa- tion. Article II. — The members of this association shall be students of this col- lege who hold boarding club certificates in their respective clubs. These cer- tificates shall be redeemed by the steward at the face value on occasion of the holder leaving college. Article III. — Section 1. The ofiBcers of this association shall be the presi- dent and secretary of the students' organization, and the secretary of the col- lege, who shall act as the general treasurer of the association. Sec. 2. The duty of the treasurer shall be to receive all money from the members and place the same to the credit of their respective clubs. Sec. 3. The treasurer shall pay out said money only on orders drawn by the several stewards. Article IV. — The students shall be divided into clubs. The membership of a club shall not be less than twenty, or more than forty. Article V. — No club shall be allowed to have a majority of its members belonging to the same class or society. Article VI. — The division into clubs shall be effected by a standing com- mittee of three, elected by the association. This committee to be known as the committee on membership, and shall be elected for one year at the time of the regular election of officers of the students' organization. The first division shall be made by taking each alternate group of five from the list of names as found in the catalogue. Article VII. — New students and those expecting to enter College, may We temporarily assigned to any club by the President of the College. They shall be permanently assigned to their places by the Committee on Membership. Article VIII. — With the consent of the Committee on Membership, students mav change to any club providing such change does not conflict with Articles IV and V. Article IX. — Section 1. The clubs shall be designated by letters. Sec. 2. Each club shall elect a steward whose term of office shall be one term. Sec 3. The election of stewards shall be by ballot, and held four weeks preceding the end of the term. The election of the steward must be- approved by the President of the College. Sec 4. No senior shall hold the office of steward during the summer term. Article XI. — Section 1. Each club shall elect an auditing committee con- sisting of two members ; they shall be elected the last week of each college- term. DEPARTMENT KEPORTS. 27 Sec. 2. Their duty shall be to examine the accounts of the steward and report to the club at the middle and end of each college term. Article XII. — Section 1. Each member of the association shall be required to deposit twenty dollars ($20.00) at the beginning of each term with the treasurer, and will be admitted to the club only on presentation of this receipt to the steward of his club. Sec. 2. The steward of any club is forbidden to allow members to remain in his club unless they keep deposited with the treasurer to their club's credit, the price of one week's board in advance. Article XIII. — Clubs shall be in running order the day preceding the opening of each term. ^ Article XIV. — Amendments to this constitution may be made at any time by a majority vote of the association. military. But little is to be added to what was reported last year, report 1881-2, page 33. All the arms and accoutrements on deposit at the college were recalled by the Quartermaster General of the State and were returned to him. As he expressed a doubt of his authority to deposit arms at this place, the Legisla- ture of 1883 passed the following enactment No. 105, public acts of 1883, approved June 6, 1883 : An act to authorize the Quartermaster General to deposit arms and accoutre- ments at the Agricultural College. Section 1. The People of the State of Michigan enact, That the Quarter- master General be authorized, with the advice and consent of the Military Board, to deposit with the State Board of Agriculture, at the Agricultural College, arms and accoutrements for the use of said college. Ordered to take immediate effect. SIGNAL service STATION. In the autumn of 1882 I was appointed, with Dr. Kedzie, a committee to confer with the Signal Service Bureau at Washington, regarding a signal ser- vice station at the college for the benefit of the farming community. The committee was appointed at the request of Gov. Jerome, with a view to State aid if it should be requisite. My part of the work of the committee was sec- ondary to that of Dr. Kedzie, and I refer to his report of the chemical depart- ment, for further information regarding the matter. Nothing was done in 1883, but in the winter of 1883-4 Col. Wm. B. McCreery, member of the Board, was directed by the Board to represent the desirability of the establishment of such a station to the authorities at Washington. And now while revising these sheets for the press, Feb., 1884, comes the word officially that Brigadier General W. B. Hazen, chief signal officer, has determined to establish such a station at this college, if the needed appropriations for his department are made to it. The assistant chemistof the college is in communication with the telegraphic world, through lines, batteries, and instruments of his, in his office in the chemical laboratory, all of which as well as the use of meteorological instru- ments, he proposes to put to the service of the signal service. Dr. Kedzie has long thought it worth the trying, to see if some ways can not be devised to bestow on farming communities the same kinds of service which the signal service extends so beneficially to commerce. Should the station be established here, the Board of Agriculture will, I suppose, make the department under Dr. Kedzie, the medium of the connection of the station and the college. 28 STATE BOABD OF AGRICULTURE. JUNE MEETING OF THE BOARD. The Executive Committee and officers of the State Agricultural Societ}'-, the State Horticultural Society, and the State Grange were the guests of the Board of Agriculture at the College, June 13. The forenoon was spent in an exami- nation of the condition of the college. There was a pleasant gathering includ- ing students and the families at the college, as well as the visitors, the faculty and the Board in the general lecture room in the afternoon, and addresses were made by the Hon. Philo Parsons, President of the Agricultural Society, the Hon. Witter J. Baxter, one of the early members of the College Board, and others. ^ Two of these societies appoint committees in the College who inform them- selves by personal examination of the doings of the Board and Faculty, and whq give us the benefit of their suggestions. These committees have made formal reports which appear in their printed transactions. President Fralick of the State Agricultural Society, in his annual address in 1S83, says: "For the last four years by the invitation of the State Board of Agriculture and officers of the Agricultural College, this committee have enjoyed the pleasure of visiting and examining the college, its school and lec- ture rooms, classes and manner of teaching their pupils, its farm and farm buildings, and valuable improved stock, and the manner of cultivating their land." The State Horticultural Society, without appointing a Standing Committee on tjie college, has always been closely united to the college in interest and in the persons of its officers. In the inaugural address of the present President of the Society, delivered January 14, ISSi, the Hon. Philo Parsons says: "It appears desirable that your periodical visits to the Agricultural College should be continued. Tliis institution was au outcome of your Society and mainly tlirough its influence was secured to tlie farmers of Michigan. Its history from tlie date of its origin to the present moment shows tiiat no mistalvC \vas made wlien the Legis- lature appropriated the required funds for its existence. It is to our credit as a State, also, that it was in the thoughts and hearts of the people, and a fixed fact, before the national government made appropriations that secured such institutions for all the States. Uur own Agricultural College stands pre-eminently first, and its practi- cal teachings and beneficent influence are effecting a radical improvement in the intellectual character, daily lives and tastes of that great class of ourconmmnity for whom it was specially established. The farmer's institutes held in difierent sections of the State, though too few in niunber, have stimulated thought, created a higher ambition and a more appreciative sense of the character and dignity of agricultural life and occupation. But the near future is still more to vindicate the wisdom of securing this institution for the farmer. The Influence of fifty per cent, of tlie students graduated, returning with new tastes, matured thought, cultivated intellects, men of wisdom and practical judgment, to the farm, cannot be over- estimated. It will ^e the leaven which is to lift the farmers of Michigan upon a higher plane, and furnish men who are to properlj' represent their interests in legis- lative and congressional halls, as also to secure a more intelligent and economical cultivation of the soil. But there is yet an incompleteness in this institution. The mechanical department is still wanting. A liberal appropriation, securing this, will greatl}^ augment its power for good to a much larger and diflerent class of students, I submit whether some action on your part may not hasten a movement of the Legislature in this behalf." The Committee of the Society, appointed in the College, made the following report : To the Executive Committee of the Slate Agricultural Society. Your Committee appointed at the last winter meeting to visit the State Agricult- ural College during the year and report to you at this meeting their views of the DEPARTMENT REPORTS. 29 condition of this State Institution, would report tliat in company with the Presi- dent of this Society and members of the Executive Committee, with other promi- nent agriculturists of the State, we visited the College on Wediiesdaj', June 13, 1883, and were cordially received by its president and faculty, who were untiring in their efforts to give us every opportunity to view tlie College in all its depart- ments. We spent the day in examining the buildings, the grounds, the stock, the grain, grapes, and fruits, us well as the departments of Education, and found them in complete order, and we see no reason, with the ample provision made by the State for the encouragement of the science of agriculture and a tliorough knowl- edge of all its branches, why the young men and ladies of this State who desire a practical education should not avail themselves of its privileges. In the annual visits of this Society to the College, your Committee believe that improvements are being made and tiie Agricultural College is attaining that standing wiiich is a credit to the agriculturist of the State of Michigan, and every effort should be made on the part of this Society to aid the State Board of Agriculture in their efforts to make this a model institution, for its practical instruction in the science of agriculture. All of which is respectfully submitted. VVM. CHAMBERLAIN. A. F. WOOD. JOHN LESSITER. In the report of Hon. C. G. Luce, Master of the Michigan State Grange, presented to the National Grange on the second day of tlie session in Wash- ington, in December, 1883, he says: "For several years our State Grange has appointed a standing committee upon the Agricultural College, with instructions to visit the institutes when in session, exam- ine, commend, criticise, or suggest as in their judgment the case requires. This course has brought the Grange and College into very close and very Iriendly rela- tions. This has done much to strengthen the college with tlie public. And to-day it is not claiming too much to say that it rests on as solid a foundation as any of our institutions. It now ranks with any of them in confidence, esteem, and usefulness, in a State that we believe to be justly proud of its educational and charitable insti- tutions. "Tlie farmers are more and more, each year, taking charge of it. This is true of the people at large, on the board of agriculture, and in the Legislature. More and more they are leeling that it is our college. The whole number of students in attendance during the year 1882 was 21G. The average for ten years has been very nearly 200. A large number of these never complete the course. Some of them come in as specials, to study some specific subject. And some commence with the intention of completing the course, but for various reasons fall out by the way. The whole number of graduates in the twenty-three classes, has been 272. The smallesli graduating class was in 1862, consisting of only five students. The largest was in ISSl. and consisted of thirty-three. Of the 272 graduates, 103 are farmers, 60 others are engaged in various industrial pursuits; 109 are in the profession, or engaged in commercial pursuits. Of course all of the graduates are comparatively young men. "It is too early to take the full measure of their success, or want of it. More than seventy of these graduates are on farms in the State of Michigan. I enjoy the per- sonal acquaintance of many of them, and know that they are adding materially to the intellectual forces to be" found on the farms. And they are thus aiding the tillers of the soil, in building upon the only real solid foundation, knowledge. I venture the assertion that full as many of these students remain on the farms as would have done so if they had not enjoyed the benefits of a college education, and many more thaii would have done so if they had graduated at our University, While there is still room for improvement, as all will admit, yet we do know tliat our college is doing much to educate the farmers of the State. And we shall hail with delight the day when graduates of the Michigan Agricultural College are to be found on the farms in every neighborhood and township. No one now questions that it was the height of wisdom to maintain it as a distinct agricultural school, with its one single depart- ment." NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL CONVENTION. The Hon. George B. Loring, United States Commissioner of Agriculture, called a series of sever^ll conventions on various departments of agricultural 30 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. practice, in Washington, in December, 1SS2, and again in December, 1883. To the first series of conventions the Hon. F. Wells, and Secretary R. G-. Baird were sent as delegates; to the last series the president of the college was sent. Full stenographic reports of each series have been published by the Department of Agriculture, making an extended account of them in this place unnecessary. The conventions called together a large number of gentlemen distinguished in their several branches of agricultural study and practice, and I believe it is the universal opinion of tlie delegates that these conventions have been of essential service in awakening interest in various important desiderata of agri- cultural practice, and directing effort toward their elucidation. While I was at Washington action was taken having reference to securing government aid to carry on agricultural experiments at tlie various agricult- ural colleges, and the following circular, prepared by President Knapp of the Iowa Agricultural College, has been circulated. A very important measure to aid practical science is now pentlintj before Congress. On tlie 10th of December, 1SS3, tlie Hon. A. J. Holmes, of Iowa, introduced a bill " To establisli National Experiment Stations in connection with the Agricultural Colleges of the various States." Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Bepresentatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That in order to enable the Department of Agriculture to ful- fill the design and perform the duties for which it was established, as declared in the organic act creating the said Department, to-wit, " to acquire and diffuse among the people of tlie United States useful information on subjects connected with agri- culture in tlie most general sense of that word, and to procure, propagate, and dis- tribute among the people new and valuable seeds and plants," institutions shall be established in connection with each of the agricultural colleges in the States pro- viding such colleges, with an improved farm in connection therewith, and placed under the conduct of such colleges, to be called and known as "national experiment stations." Sec. 2. That it shall be the object and design of the said national experiment stations to conduct original researches or verify reported experiments on the physiology of plants and animals, the diseases to which tliey are severally subject, with the remedies for the same; the chemical composition of useful plants at their difTerent stages of growth; the comparative advantages of rotative cropping as pur- sued under a varying series of crops; the capacity of new plants or trees for acclima- tion within the isotliermal limits represented by the climate of the several stations and their vicinity; the analysis of soils and waters; the chemical composition of manures, natural or artificial, with experiments designed to test their comparative values for raising crops of different kinds; the composition and digestibility of the diflerent kinds of food for cattle; the scientific and economic questions in the pro- duction of butter and cheese; and all other researches of experiments bearing directly on the agricultural industry of the United States. Skc. 3. That the said experiment stations shall be placed under the general con- trol of the regents or trustees of said agricultural colleges, who shall have power to emploj' a professor for each agricultural college who shall act as superintendent of the experiment stations established under this act. Sec. 4. That the said professors shall make such reports to the Commissioner of Agriculture from time to time as he may direct. The general character of the work and of the experiments to be performed at each station shall be determined by the Commissioner of Agriculture, the president of the college where the station is located, and the professor in charge of said station. Sec. 5. That to each agricultural college providing for experiment stations under this act, to pay the salaries of the professors and superintendents of the said experi- ment stations, the wages of the laborers employed in their operations, and the cost of the experiments and researches connected with their conduct as heretofore speci- fied, the sum of fifteen thousand dollars is hereby appropriated out of any money in the treasurj' not otherwise appropriated, or so much thereof as may be necessary to cover expenditures actually made for said purposes; the money to be drawn quar- terly from the treasury of the United States, upon a certified statement of the amounts actually expended at each station, properly indorsed hy the college board of audit, the professor in charge, and the Commissioner of Agriculture. DEPARTMENT REPORTS. 31 Sec. 6. Tliat upon the passage of this act, before the agricultural college in any- State can draw any funds as provided, the legislature of such State shall pass an act accepting such trust and agreeing to conduct an experiment station in accordance therewith. In the 47th Congress the Hon.C. C. Carpenter, of Iowa, introduced a bill, substan- tially the same as the foregoing, which was referred to the committee on Agriculture. At a meeting of the delegates from the several Agricultural and Mechanical Col- leges, called by Commissioner Loring, for January, 18S3, this bill was perfected as here printed, and the following standing committee was appointed by Dr. Loring to have the matter in charge: President Knapp, of Iowa, President Abbot, of Miciiigan, President Peabody, of Illinois, President Chadbourn, of Massachusetts, President Lee, of Mississippi. In the 48th Congress tliis bill was promptly introduced by Hon. A. J. Holmes, of iowa.— H. R. 447. It should not be necessary at this time to enter into a discussion of tlie value of agricultural experiment stations. The importance of a body of scientific experts and observers in the leading industries, has been fully recognized in Europe, and their beneficial labors are understood by well informed men in this countr}'. In the United States we have the anomaly, among enliglitened nations, of a people, the prosperity of which depends largely upon sustaining agriculture, and upon elimin- ating from it the uncertainties of production, failing to support their interests and deflecting their school funds almost entirely to other lines of education. Witli no agricultural instruction in the common schools of the country, what can one or two stations on the Atlantic coast do towards educating half a continent in the broad domain of agriculture? As well might a single cannon, planted on Bunk- er's Hill, defend the seaboard cities of the nation from the combined attack of the n.avies of the world. There are, therefore, many important reasons why this hill ought to become a law; to some of which allow me to call public attention: 1st. The diversity in climatic conditions in the United States is so great that any attempt, by a single station, to give information of general value, must be limited to pure scientific statements, so narrow as to fail in accomplishing the worlc designed; or allowing greater latitudes of advice, such statements would be misleading in most sections of the country. The fruit trees, many of the forest trees, the wheats, the corn, the oats, etc., adapted to the Atlantic States, are totally unsuited to Iowa, and to nearly ail that great territory between the Mississippi and the Rocky Mountains; and a positive damage has been done to this mid-continent section by the distribu- tion of the plants and seeds suited to a moist climate. A similar statement may be made in regard to other sections of the United States. This diversity in climatic conditions is sogre at as to include not only the plants, but all that relates to their production, the sales and the methods of retaining or restoring their fertility and nearly all the processes in the wide domain of husbandry. 2d. The distribution of seeds and plants, to be valuable, must be done with intelli- gent reference to the requirements of the several localities to which they are sent. Marked climatic difterences frequently exist within the limits of a State, requiring close discrimination in the disemination of plants. 3d. The domain for experiment is very wide, covering such countless things and details as to almost overwhelm the investigator upon the threshold of liis inquiries. Judicious selection from the multitude, is of primary necessity, and an experiment station is valuable in proportion to its considerate selection of the more important lines of agricultural investigations, audits devotion to them of most careful attention. Agriculture in the United states is so diversified that it requires stations devoted to the specialties of tlie several divisions, and so located as to make the tests under con- ditions similar to those in the districts to be benefited. To intelligently carry out the purposes for which the Department of Agriculture was created, to wit: "To acquire and diffuse among the people of the United States, useful information on subjects connected with agriculture, in the most general sense of the word, and to procure, propagate, and distribute among the people, new and valuable seeds and plants," requires that experiment stations be established in every State; and it remains only to notice some of the features of this bill. It is not presumed that any one favorable to station work will object to sections o,ne and two of this bill. 33 STATE [BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. The union of the stations with the several Agricultnral Colleges, is based on the following reasons: 1st. Economy. Each college has buildings and apparatus (including farm) for such purposes, wliich could not be specially provided for many tliousands of dollars. It has its organized board of trustees and a faculty that can give important aid. 2d. The investigations would be of great benefit to the students of the colleges as object lessons, and would perfect and give practical value to the work of the colleges, as contemplated in the original law creating them. Section 4 wisely gives to the Commissioner o^ Agriculture such a relation to these stations as will systematize their work throughout the United States, and will avoid too much repetition of experiments at different stations. To the great work of establishing Agricultural Experiment Stations, we invite the attention of the thoughtful men of this countrj', and ask their aid, so far as tliey can indorse the views here presented. Respectfully, S. A. KJTAPP, President of the loioa Agricultural College, and Chairman of the committee, appointed by the Department of Agriculture, on experiment stations at the several Agricidtural Colleges. The matter of experiment stations lias been discussed in the State agri- cultural societies, the State grange, and in the poniological and horticultural societies of the State, and an earnest desire expressed that such a one should be established. I find in a published address before the poniological society at Allegan, February 19, 1SS4-, by Mr. A. J. Bracelin, a student in tlie college in 18G7 and 1868, a portion of a letter of mine, giving my idea of the rela- tion of an experimental station to the college, which I take the liberty to transcribe. Mr. Bracelin says: I have conferred with President Abbot, and take pleasure in submitting to you liis estimate of such a department and his plan of how it should be conducted. He saj'S: '"You ask. 'Would a farmer's experiment station, added to our agricidtural college, be beneficial to the practical farmer and horticulturist?' Tiie term 'experiment station' is somewhat vague, but I have no hesitation in saying that, in the sense in which 1 understand it. such a station is higlilj'^ desirable. I would not think it well /o2' tAe co?;e£r(;, however it might be with the science of agriculture, to plant here an experiment station to be conducted independently of the various departments at the college, and of their separate heads; but if the term means such an enlargement of force and means as would enable our officers greatly to extend their experimental work. I saj' yes. We have ordinaril}' done at this college. I believe, more experi- menting than any simply experiment station in the United States. It is rather an extension of our work than a superseding of it by a foreign .set of workers with new laboratories, that seems to me to be needed. Take for example chemistry. Arti- ficial fertilizers are beginning to be used in this State more than ever before, espec- ially, perhaps, by horticulturists. Now, many of the experiments that would natur- .ally be tried would require the joint ellorts of a skillful, well-read horticulturist, and of a chemist. "W^e have three, and under their directions and immediate oversight, young graduates could do the work which would otherwise call for separate men of "high attainments and salaries. I do not speak of the government inspection of phosphates and other fertilizers offered for sale, because any good chemist, author- ized by the State courts, would suffice, probably, for that simply; and yet there might be an advantage in having that work done in a place where any practical question might receive a practical test. Such inspection forms a large part of what is done in many experiment stations. "But if the questions before an experiment station were such, and involved one, as the source of nitrogen in plants — such as Dr. Kedzie has been engaged in — what could such a station do? The persons competent to perform such experiments are so very few that a small number of stations would exhaust the supply in the country, and an independent station of such investigation would require labor- atories, apparatus, and a high-priced chemist, and might as well be in one place as another. My plan would be to give our chemist, who is one of the few competent men, all the skilled help he needs, and such a limited field of labor that he can do the work. One liead, of course, must plan and direct, while much detail work could be done by such graduates as develop an aptitude for the work, while not improbably such practice here might develop and bring into the field, in time, DEPARTMENT REPORTS. 33 iudepenclent and skilled investigators. Take another example. Dr. Seal recom- mends, for good reasons, the trial of some of the not so well known grasses. Experi- ence has shown that seeds true to name are only to be got when you have a competent botanist to distinguish them. Now, professional botanists are few, but we could here easily find graduates who, under proper instructions, could learn to make an inspection of seeds. Would it not be better and more economical to have such necessary inspection done here, with a botanist known to be competent, than to set up an independent station under new officers? Here, too, the botanist and the horticulturist, or the professor of agriculture, could act in unison. These are illustrations. When our professor of agriculture experimented in ensilage, he employed graduates to take immediate charge of feeding and weighing. When Dr. Kedzie experimented with sorghum he had some of the work and some of the analyses made by graduates. It might be necessary, in experimenting in fruit trees and nurseries, to go a few miles away from the college for suitable sites; but in the main we have both men and facilities, and only need the larger force and outlay to make right here the experiment station which is desired." Commissioner Loring was freely consulted as to some plan for the establish- ment of such stations, and his hearty sympathy and good sense were of essen- tial service in making out a trial plan, such as is given above. Some such plan seems to be the best that has been devised to give some unity and sufficient aid to the attempt to transform agriculture from an empiri- cal art to a true science. T. C. ABBOT, President. REPORT OFJ THE PROFESSOR OF AGRICULTURE AND SUPERINTEN- DENT OF THE FARM. 2o the Preside7it of the College : I herewith submit my report of the work of the Farm Department, for the College year, ending September 30, 1883 : INSTRUCTION. The Freshman class, in two divisions, met me daily during the spring term for lectures on drainage, breeds of domesticated animals, their characteristics and adaptation to particular purposes. The interest of the class in the sub- jects discussed was a matter of encouragement to me. Not a single member failed to pass a satisfactory examination at the close of the term. The class room instruction was supplemented by visits to the barnyard, where our best specimens of the different breeds were critically examined, their defects as well as good points noted and each member of the class was required to mark the animal according to the approved scale of points adopted by the leading breeders. During the summer term I lectured daily to the Seniors on the Principles of Stock Breeding, the Feeding of Animals, Rotation of Crops, Farm Build- ings and Implements, Manures, Farm Economy, the Law and. the Literature of the Farm. During the present term I am lecturing alternate days to the Sophomores. This is a new arrangement, but one which I have desired ever since my con- nection with the College. In my last report I said " the Sophomores are now and have been for years assigned to the farm for labor the entire year; but as Professsor of Agriculture I do not have a single opportunity to see them in class 34 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. room during this time. It seems to me this is a grave mistake." It was somewhat difficult to arrange the programme of studies so as to effect this cliange ; but after much effort and mutual concessions the plan has been adopted. I feel confident that it will add to the efficiency of the department. We are completing our studies of the different breeds of domestic animals and their cliaracteristics, at present. The new plan provides that the Sophomores shall have lectures on Practical Agriculture alternate days of the summer and autumn terms. The whole number of students who have received instruction in Practical Agriculture in the classes named was one hundred and fourteen. Their dili- gence and deportment has made the work of instruction a pleasant task. I have taken my regular assignment of the Wednesday afternoon lectures. My topics have been "Farm Economy" and "The Ontario Agricultural Col- lege." I attended the Farmers' Institutes to which I was assigned by the Board of Agriculture in Barry and Muskegon counties, and also at the request of Prof. Carpenter, filled his appointment at the Farmiugton Institute. I have attended local Institutes at Mason and Eaton Rapids by invitation and lectured at both places. The interest in these farmers' meetings is increasing and they are contributing in no small degree to arouse increased attention to the best methods of modern agriculture. We meet the most intelligent, the best farmers at these Institutes and in mutual association, and the discussion of topics in which we have a common interest, we are mutually benefited. As teachers we come to have a keener, more practical appreciation of the needs of agriculture. Our theories of agricultural science are possibly exploded or greatly modified by the criticisms of intelligent farmers, who are not slow to find the holes in our skimmers. On the other hand prejudices against the College, against agricultural education and agricultural teachers are often found to be the result of a misapprehension of facts, which this personal asso- ciation serves to dissipate. That the Institutes have been a most efficient means of popularizing the College with the farmers cannot be questioned. TEACHERS OF AGRICULTURE. By the favor of the Board of Agriculture I was permitted to attend the annual meeting of the Teachers of Agriculture at Columbus, Ohio, July 4th and 5th. Representatives from the Eastern and Western Colleges were pres- ent. The meeting was quite informal. We were very cordially entertained by the Faculty of the Ohio State University, who gave us the best facilities for inspecting the laboratories, the farm in charge of Prof. Townsend and the Experimental Station, with Prof.Lazenby at its head. The association meets next year at Cornell University. At the September meeting the Board of Agriculture authorized Hon. Frank- lin Wells and n)yself to attend the Provincial show held at Guelph, Ontario, September 24 to 29, and to also visit the Ontario Agricultural College, with the view of learning what we could of its methods of work and practical man- agement. Mr. Wells was unavoidably detained at home, to my regret, and j made the trip alone. My visit was a very enjoyable and profitable one — made doubly so by the kind attention and hospitality of President Mills and Prof. Brown of the College. My impressions of the College and the Fair were embodied in the lecture to the students referred to elsewhere and in a report to the Board of Agriculture at their November meeting. The College, under its present efficient management, is doing capital work for Canadian Agricult- DEPARTMENT REPORTS. 35 ure, — is growing in favor with the farmers, and though young in years is pusliing its way to the front rank of the industrial schools of the counti'y. EXHIBIT AT STATE FAIR. By the order of the Board a draft of Short Horns and Ayrshires from the College herds was exhibited at the state fair. The animals were shown in their respective classes and treated exactly as other exhibits by the judges. Premiums were awarded to the college stock to the amount of ninety dollars. Upon my recommendation the board authorized me to return the order for this amount to the secretary of the State society. IMPLEMENTS. A Buckeye mower was purchased of Mr. Rolla Bryan, general agent for the State, in Jime last. Another five-inch tire wagon from Messrs. Harvey & Oregg, of Constantine, has been purchased. I am convinced that a narrower tire would not be as desirable for farm work the season through; hay racks of Mr. A. G. Barton, Constantine. All implements have been repainted, and in our commodious tool-house are always sheltered when not in use. The new grain barn, so planned as to save the straw when threshed in the barn, is proving very servicable. More or less straw was always wasted in stacks — now everything is saved — no small item when we utilize all this straw, in combina- tion with other foods, in keeping our large and rapidly increasing herds. AGEICULTURAL CLASS EOOM. In my last report reference was made to the needs of the department in this regard. The old library room in College hall was assigned for this purpose, and the Board authorized me to expend $500 in putting in new floors, black- boards, tables, seats, and furnishings. The work was completed in July, and I am using the room for this term's work. I have an office in the northwest corner 12x24. The main class-room is 35x40. It is well furnished and arranged for my classes, and as I have had up to this time since my connec- tion with the college no fixed habitation, having met my classes in the chapel, the mathematical room. Prof. Beal's laboratory, and the model-room, I think I am able to very fully appreciate the pleasant quarters I now enjoy. To Hon. Franklin Wells who suggested and secured the assignment of this room for my department, and to the members of the board, who have author- ized its equipment, I desire to record my hearty appreciation and gratitude. A good, commodious class-room and office, furnished with desirable appliances, for use and illustration in class-room work in practical agriculture, cannot fail to give the department a higher vantage ground, and ought, and I believe will, greatly increase the efficiency of my work. EXPERIMENTS. The peculiarly unfavorable season has made our experiments almost a total failure. The nitrogen experiment reported last year, was continued, but on account of the drowning out of the crop early in the season, and the frost in September, it was a failure. Oar grass plats were productive, but the unfavor- able weather prevented proper curing. The products of some plats were worthless. Oar experimental wheats suffered in the same way, so as to greatly impair anything like a fair showing. Experiments to determine the depth at which certain seeds germinate, and the effect of deep and shallow covering are herewith appended. Sophomores Sheldon, Watkins, Snyder, and Waldo ren- dered excellent service. Several new varieties of potatoes were purchased and 36 STATE BOAKD OF AGRICULTURE. planted. Under my supervision Sophomore French, of Paw Paw, had charge of the work, from the planting until stored in the cellar. His interest in the work, his habit of observing and noting in detail points of interest during the growing and ripening season, are apparent in the report of these experiments. ENSILAGE. The report of the ensilage experiments for 1883 and '83, was published in the report of '81 and '82, so as to get them out a year earlier than if retained for this report. Reference to that report will show that we still have faith in ensilage, as a cheap substitute for roots, and in connection with other foods. The extravagant claims of some enthusiasts are to be deprecated, but that by this method a large quantity of good, succulent forage can be cheaply secured from a small area, will not be questioned by those who have given the subject sufficient attention to enable them to express an intelligent opinion. EXPERIMENTAL FEEDING OF STOCK. The increasing attention paid to stock in this country, its financial value as the right arm of our agriculture, demands that we do something in the way of experimental feeding. The field is a wide one, and seems to promise as much or more in the way of service to the agriculturist, than any other. Ought not this college to be provided with the proper facilities for this work? First in order is a suitable building, in which the experimental ani- mals and food can be entirely separated from the main herds, and so planned that the most perfect accuracy, in«every detail of the work, might be secured. I trust that this matter may receive the favorble consideration of the board of agriculture, and that provisions may be made for more and better work in this direction. STUDENT LABOR. In my last report in discussing the difficulties connected with our system of student labor I suggested, as the practical solution of supervision, the employ- ing of senior students for this work. I said " make those wlio have ahoays deen attentive to laior duties since entering the College, and have acquired some skill in the details of farm operations, overseers of gangs and allow them extra compensation therefor. The thought of some preferment of this kind, I fancy, would be a stimulus to students and make them more attentive to labor duties. Such supervision would require constant attention and oversight from those in charge ; but this given must prove an advance method. Then the marking of the labor performed, by the person in charge, the same as a recitation,! believe will be found advantageous." We found this plan worked well on the farm in '83, but we were not authorized to pay extra compensa- tion. At the May meeting of the Board of Agriculture this subject was pre- sented for consideration, and after extended discussion, resolutions were adopted authorizing 1st. Extra compensation to Seniors for supervisory work ; 3d. A labor record to be kept in which each student shall be marked daily as his work merits; 3d. Providing for a report (from the Superintendents to the Secretary) of the College of the student labor for each term. The plan continues to work well. Students have, almost without exception, been diligent and attentive in discharging labor duties. I fully believe these changes will aid greatly in making our labor system more efficient. Experi- ence and trial will indicate whether they will need to be modified or reinforced in certain particulars. DEPARTMENT REPORTS. 37 My faith in the system of student labor, which has been, a distinctive feature of the Michigan State Agricultural College from its organization, is unabated. Our students believe in it. Our graduates come to feel its value in fashioning habit and sympathy in right directions more and more as they engage in the active work of life on the farm or elsewhere. Our patrons regard it as one of the main inducements that decides them to send their sons to this College. With the President of the College and the successive members of the State Board of Agriculture it has always been a cherished idea. Our legislators, however much they may object to other items in appropriation bills, never object to that which provides for payment of student labor. The Faculty generally approve. And so while we would not overlook or depreciate the difficulties that beset its practical management (and which have caused so many industrial Colleges to discard it), we would urge to united effort to give student labor the prominence it deserves in an Agricultural College course. STOCK. There have been no purchases of stock during the year except a very fine Merino ram from the flock of Hon. John T. Kich, of Lapeer. Flocks and herds have been in excellent health. The poorer specimens have been weeded out and our stock has made marked improvement. Our sales of stock amounts to $3,600 for the time covered by this report. I append a table of weights of cattle and the summary of the milk record for '82 and '83. Two of our farm teams will need to be replaced at no distant day. I renew a recommendation made in a former report "that it seems desirable to place a pair of Percheron mares on the farm." CHOPPING LIST, 1883. Field. Areas. No. 3 23.66 4 19 5 20.50 6 27.64 7 17.11 8 23.23 9 23.66 10 22.17 11 23.66 12 22. 13 23. 14 10 15 14 Crop. ( Wheat and } { experiments. ) Pasture. Hay. Corn and roots. Pasture. Corn, Hay. Oats. Wheat. Pasture. Pasture. Hay. Pasture. Quantity. 260 bii. 43.417 tons. 324.64 bu. corn 832 bu. roots. 255,3 bu. 53.339 tons. 1340 bu. 349 bu. 7.22 tons. Cost. Rate per Acre. $82 15 $6 18 42 40 2 23 211 31 7 64 165 43 7 12 50 62 2 14 176 46 7 95 119 13 5 03 9 54 95 Remarks. f 10 acres of No. 3 J devoted to exper- iments. Egypt- (^ ian wheat. ^ Only a pai't of the \ corn was husked. Corn frosted ; only part of it husked. The cost embraces 70 loads of manure at 50 cts. per load. Clawson. The season has in some respects been an unpropitious one for the husband- man. The excessive rains followed by drouth and early frosts have made the corn crop nearer a failure than ever before in the history of our State. 38 STATE BOAKD OF AGRICULTUKE. Grass was abundant but not of good quality. The table above gives the crops and yields for 1883. SUMMARY OP MILK RECORD FOR YEAR ENDING JANUARY 1, 1884. NAME. Hermia 2d Heroine.- Heroine 2d Hela 3d-. Peri Phoenix 12th -- Lady Philly.. Lulu of Lansing Philetta Stewart Queen Stewart, Mary. Stewart, Susie Idyl of Cedar Vale 2d Jersey Queen Mae* Age. 6 7 6 5 G 6 5 5 4 G 12 9 3 17 6 Breed. Short-Horn. Date of Calring. Aj'shire. Jersey. Holstein. Nov. 17th, 1SS3. March lSth,lS83. March 23d, 1883. Marcl! 25th. 1883. August 12th. 1883. Mav 15th, 1883. May 10th. 1883. August 29th, 1882. October 20th, 1882. September 29th, 1882. February lUh, 1883. Mav 15th, 1883. December 20th, 1882. April 1st, 1883. May 15 th, 18S3. Weight of MHk for ISaS. No. pounds. 5.21 01^ 5,732x7 5,5513^ 5,318 2,802 5.4403^ 4.962 3,4451^ 4,438 2,4971^ 3.603i| 2,2051^ 5,1651^ 4.7331^ 4,503 *Mae was away for breeding and we have no record for two and one-half months. TABLE OF MONTHLY WEIGHINGS OF CATTLE ARRANGED BY BREEDS FOR 1882, 1883. Short Horns. Colonel Acomb Coivs. Heroine Heroine 2a Hela Peri Duchess Bonny Red Rose 2d Crystal Queen 9tli Hermia 2(1 College Peri Duchess Handsome Hela 2d Victoria Duchess 4th College Red Rose Heroine 4th - Handsome Hela 3d College Victoria Duchess Hela 4th AYRSHIRES. Jacob of Linden Cows. Mary Stewart Susie Stewart -. Stewart Queen Lady Philly I..ulu of Lansing Philetta Ayrshire Steer Scott Galloways. Snow Flake " 2d, Cross-bred, S. H. & G. " 3d, " " Jerseys. Idyl of Cedar Vale Herefords. Coir. Lemon Holsteixs. Cow. Mae Devons. Sleer. Batavia 2d •6 > e .c 8 .Q G s 8 3 c C8 3 Q f u OS 1878 2018 1970 2040 2055 2050 2050 1S76 1225 1200 1300 13.W 1,372 1145 1877 1260 1250 i;«o 1330 1400 12;K 1873 1422 1400 1460 1540 1552 1400 1877 1280 1270 1300 l;i40 i;«2 1375 1874 l.'iSo 1550 1546 IfiOO 1.598 1344 1876 1445 1430 1430 1460 1454 15.56 1878 1454 1340 1250 1226 1120 1175 1880 1225 1240 1270 1320 13.50 1428 1880 1210 1190 liMO 1133 1065 1875 1364 1340 1340 1400 1440 1450 lasi 977 1000 1060 1065 1100 1128 1881 863 860 920 994 1035 1080 1881 674 660 700 720 797 aso 1881 730 730 810 860 900 924 1880 1200 1220 1220 1218 1222 1248 1880 1230 1230 1260 1266 1295 1278 1S71 1044 1070 1100 1171 1050 1016 1874 984 1030 1040 1060 1180 1090 1878 1054 1030 950 966 956 959 1878 980 970 990 978 1040 1050 1878 970 950 940 912 910 965 1879 940 930 910 902 918 918 1880 1050 1040 1070 1037 1100 1115 1877 1202 1170 1180 1224 1250 1285 1881 1000 1020 1070 1110 1144 1190 1882 467 510 550 580 617 6G0 1871 984 1020 1040 1010 1020 1060 1876 — - .— 1475 1515 1512 1610 1875 1227 1200 1230 1234 1285 1340 1880 1025 990 1030 1040 1085 1070 5> p. < 2055 1125 1203 1286 1240 1387 1590 1200:1203 1380 ia55 2085 1135 1190 1320 1136 1360 1602 1300 1127 1060 860 955 1244 1300 1010 1090 970 1057 1010 933 1147 1266 1175 675 1060 1580 1385 1227 1300 1140 1050 884 948 1250 1320 2045 1130 1190 1345 1162 1440 I08O 1225 1385 1335 1125 1075 883 964 1295 1335 940 990 944 937 988 1010 9001 915 1034 1030 898 960 1167 1135 1300' 1200 1200 1200 6801 690 1056 1062 1575 1200 1120 1620 1225 1060 2040 1160 1200 1370 1170 1500 1565 1300 1325 1350 1140 1110 910 1000 1340 1340 1000 940 1000 930 1060 1000 1170 1100 1200 735 1080 1550 1250 1090 2030 1120 1200 1360 1130 1510 1440 1390 1130 1330 1120 1120 950 1020 1410 1350 950 950 1000 920 1050 980 1120 s 1980 1150 1280 1380 1170 1410 1370 1350 1115 1320 1195 1180 1020 1080 1460 1310 990 910 950 960 900 986 I2;i0 1090 1195 1180 740 820 1260 800 9.30 1490 1435 1130 1115 DEPARTMENT REPORTS. 39 NOTES OK POTATO EXPERIMENTS. Ground for the experiments was mostly a sandy loam. There were a few places in the flats where clay was the prevailing soil. The ground had an ordinary dressing of manure, put on in the spring, before plowing. The ground was plowed at a good depth, harrowed thoroughly, and marked with a common two-horse marker into rows three feet apart, each way. The potatoes were cut into pieces having from two to three eyes; dropped in the rows, one piece in each hill, and covered to the depth of about four inches, l^he planting was done May 24th. After planting, the ground was rolled. The potatoes came up very uniformly, with one exception, iu Clark No. 1, which came up three dayshef ore the other varieties. The varieties were all up seventeen days from date of planting. The heavy rains injured those on the clay soil very much. The potatoes were cultivated three times during the season, with what is known as the double shovel cultivator or plow. Paris green mixed with plaster was sprinkled upon the vines twice daring the season. This kept the vines almost entirely free from the beetle. The extreme dry weather after so much rain early in the season, injured the growth of the crop. All of the varieties were beyond the injurious effect of the frost, September 8th, except the Burbank Seedling, which were growing very nicely at this time. The drought did not affect this variety as badly as some of the others. The potatoes were dug, commencing September 26th, and weighed; each variety separately ; the results are seen in the table. From careful estimates, and close observation, the Beauty of Hebron No. 2, or those from seed raised on the farm, seem to be a little ahead of the other varieties. Late Ohio are next, and this is a very desirable potatoe, from all appearances. It is not quite as smooth as the Beauty of Hebron, but is a very firm, fine growing, fair yielding potatoe. The Dunmoro next in importance, according to the result of the experi- ment. This is a very handsomB potato. The skin and flesh are white, and when the potatoes were planted, the 24th of May, they were as firm and free from sprouts as when dug the fall before. This variety had a very vigorous growth, and the tubers are very compact in the hill. It is evident from the experiment that this variety is to be classed among the later varieties, although not as late as Burbank' s Seedling. The potatoes are not as mature as some of the other varieties. There is a spongy feel to the tuber wheu pressed with the hand. Clark No. 1, fourth iu the list, is a promising variety, although it has one or two bad features this year. One is in being hollow, especially the larger speci- mens, another in being affected with a dry rot. This is not shown in either of the other varieties that were grown on exactly the same kind of soil. This variety is the most vigorous grower of any planted. It came up three days earlier than any other, but did not ripen sooner than the Early Ohio, or Beauty of Hebrou. EARLY OHIO. This variety was damaged, to quite an extent, by the heavy rain storms dur- ing the forepart of the season. The wet weather might have affected its growth, and time of ripening; but notwithstanding its backwardness, it ripened ten days earlier than any other variety. The vines grew very rapidly and were strong and vigorous. 40 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. The yield of the Early Ohio is not quite up to some of the other varieties, and there was a large per cent of small potatoes ; next to Clark's No. 1 in this respect. The tubers of this variety are not as smooth as those of the Late Ohio, but are marked with white spots peculiar to these varieties. Early Ohio are not as smooth as Late Ohio, on account of the eyes being deeper, and the tubers are not as sound as late Ohio. The experiments with Early Ohio are not satisfactory, on account of the young plants being so severely washed by the excessive rains. BURBANK SEEDLING. This is the latest of the varieties. It did not mature before the frost came, Sept. 8. Counting from date of planting, we find it to be one hundred and seven days, or over three and one-half months. This is a longer season than we can calculate on in some parts of our State. The Burbank is a very vig- orous grower; vines more stocky than any other variety. The tubers are long, white, and smooth, and a very handsome potato. The yield was not as large this year; perhaps it was on account of not maturing completely, as the potatoes were growing nicely at the time of the frost. The tubers of this variety were very uniform in size. There was a less per cent of small potatoes than any other variety. BEAUTY HEBRON NO. 1. This seed was bought for Beauty of Hebron, but I am inclined to think it is the Early Rose, because of the marked difference between this and No. 2, or those from pure seed raised on the college farm. The potatoes are of a reddish cast, while No. 3 are white. The eyes of No. 1 are deeper than those of No. 2, and there is also a great difference in the yield. They grew side by side, under exactly the same conditions, and we find a difference of seventy-four bushels to the acre. No. 1 had a more vigorous growth of vines than No. 2, but not as vigorous as the other varieties. > o « 03 < Scale 10 perfect. % o o > S 10 10 10 s 10 9 □0 CO CJ C ■3 C 3 O m 10 10 10 7 10 10 10 O} a o o a CO 10 9 10 8 9 10 9 2 ►H 10 10 9 9 8 7 6 o N s O 10 8 8 9 9 10 8 3 s 10 10 9 10 10 8 8 o D. eS ■a cc 10 10 10 9 9 9 9 ♦J o u ^ o «^ "a X 10 9 10 9 9 10 9 ■3 bo 0^ a W Beauty Hebron No. 2 .35 .38 .33 .35 .30 .14 .23 59 65 54 58 33 14 22 170 171 164 166 110 100 96 10 Late Ohio 10 Dun more 7 Clark's No. 1. 10 Early Ohio 10 Burbank Seedling 8 Beauty Hebron No. 1 10 Total 2.08 305 DEPARTMENT REPORTS. 41 Cutting and planting... Putting on Paris green Cultivating Digging and sorting... Total 193 Number Amount at hours' 8 cts. per work. hour. 29 $2 32 U5 2 00 23 1 84 116 9 28 $15 44 The work was all done by students, and as will be seen at a cost of about 5 cts. per bushel for all the labor employed. This does not include the cost of employing a horse for cultivation. EXPERIMENTS TO DETERMINE THE VITALITY AND GROWTH OF WHEAT, CORN, AND OATS, WHEN SOWED .IT DIFFERENT DEPTHS. The grains were sowed in rows six feet long and eighteen inches apart. Two feet of each row was devoted to oats, one foot to corn, and the remaining three feet to wheat. Twelve rows were sowed — the depth of soil covering the seeds in various rows varying from one-half inch in No. 1, to eight inches in No. 12. The experiment was not as accurate as could have been wished, owing to the heavy rains which occurred shortly after and during the time of planting, and washed the ground somewhat. The results of the experiment are embodied in the following table: 3 i 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 °.c ~ bo c. a M 1 1^ l?i 2 3 3^ 4 5 6 8 No. OF Seeds Planted. Wheat. 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 Corn. 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 Oats. 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 a bo June 4 4 4 4 4 4 5 5 5 7 7 7 No. OF Seeds Germinating. Wheat. Corn. Oats. 45 41 41 25 24 30 31 22 22 9 4 10 9 9 7 7 10 5 8 9 9 7 8 37 31 25 24 27 31 30 27 18 13 6 Date of appearance OF Sprouts at Surface of Ground. Wheat. Corn June 7 7 8 9 9 9 10 11 12 June 7 9 9 10 11 11 13 13 13 Oats, June 7 9 9 9 9 9 11 11 12 Per C't of Seeds germinating. Wheat. Corn. Oats. 90 100 923^ 82 90 77 J< 82 90 62.V 50 70 60 48 70 65 60 100 IIK 62 50 75 44 80 eiK 44 90 45 18 90 32J<( 8 70 15 80 In closing this report I desire to express my obligations to those who have assisted me in the work of the department. The rapidly increasing value of our herds demands the unremitting attention of careful and considerate men who have learned the practical part of breeding and feeding stock. It is a field that gives ample scope for the exercise of no mean abilities and the most conscientious fidelity in the discharge of duties imposed. To the State Board of Agriculture, whose members have evinced their deep interest in the department and who have cheerfully made such provision that I have been enabled to develop and strengthen it in various ways, I am under renewed obligations. All of which is respectfully submitted. SAMUEL JOHNSON, Prof, of AgricuUiire and Siqit. of the Farm. Agricultural College, Lansing, Mich., October 15, 1883. 6 42 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. EEPOKT OF THE PROFESSOR OF HORTICULTURE. lo the President of the Michigan State Agricultural College : My work began on the first of January, 1883. The remainder of the winter was occupied in studying the wants of the department, its condition, and in laying out a plan of work for the ensuing season. The teamster was kept employed in drawing manure from the city, in cleaning paths about the grounds and in delivering wood for the various furnaces, Mr. Cassidy, who had been since 1874 tlie efficient florist of the department, resigned his position and left about the middle of January to take a position in the Colorado Agricultural College. Mr. Louis Knapper, the former Super- intendent of the department, was secured to take Mr. (Jassidy's place. He has worked very hard, and has proved very efficient and skillful in his posi- tion. The grounds about the green house and the flower borders of the entire department have been very beautiful. A large part of the green house has been reglazed and painted, some of the benches lowered and otherwise changed and repaired, and the rosebed entirely reiirranged and made new. The plants have all been repotted and are looking in good condition in all parts of the house, and promise abundant bloom for the coming winter. Quite a large number of new plants have been obtained, some from Germany and some from New York, Mr. Knapper making a trip to the latter city on purpose to make personal selection of varieties. About one-fourth of the entire labor of the department has been expended at the greenhouse and in the flower borders. The large water tank which was formerly poorly supplied by the windmill, has been connected with the new water-works and there will be no further lack of water in the summer season. The excessive rains beginning in May and continuing until the last of July, have been a great hindrance to all outside work. For many weeks it was impossible to repair the walks and drives as fast as they were washed out of shape, and they still show the abundant need of repairs. I have found it impossible to obtain efficient help in team labor among the farmers of the vicinity, as I had been led to expect I might. The work has lagged on that account, the few days of pleasant weather not being sufficient to keep every- thing in order with the team labor of the department, and the farmers who have usually been obtained for extra work, finding the few pleasant days nec- essary for their own farm work. On account of the breaking of the bridge across the Cedar river, above the college, the old gravel pit became inaccessible, and no gravel has been drawn for new drives. I have planned some changes under the direction of Mr. Oliver, our landscape gardener, and have opened a new gravel pit at the east end of the woods, upon the farm beyond No. 7, and from this we hope to get sufficient gravel to finish the new walks and drives already laid out, and to repair the damage done to those already finished. The problem of good gravel for walks and drives is a serious one here, there being none within reach that is exactly suitable for the purpose. That which has been used becomes soft and sandy upon the surface in a short time, mak- ing the temptation to walk upon the grass too strong to be resisted by many. The laying of the new sewer from the library and museum building, and the laying of the pipes for the water-works about all tlie buildings, has dis- figured the lawns in some places, and it will take another season before they DEPARTMENT REPORTS. 43 can be thoroughly settled and reseeded. The lawns in front of the professors' houses, and that in front of Wells Hall and about the college building and greenhouse, have been kept mown once a week until the dry weather in September, and have looked in very good condition. The location of the fountain, presented by the senior class, near the green- house, will necessitate some changes in the lawn and group of trees near by, and the trimming of trees, and opening of vistas, to give a view of the foun- tain from other parts of the grounds, which will be carried out early the com- ing season. The grounds are kept in order by students, and with the great extent of lawn to maintain, and the drives and walks to keep in order, it makes a very heavy tax upon the department for labor. The balance against the depart- ment is owing largely to this work, and to various extra work in clearing up about the halls, drawing away rubbish left from making repairs about the buildings, and in putting on new roofs, etc. The vegetable garden was continued in the same location as heretofore, and with the same general plan. Quite a large addition was made to the planta- tion of strawberries and raspberries. The west half of the southwest square was seeded to clover, for the purpose of green manuring. The excessive rains of the early part of the season, followed by the severe drouth of August and September, rendered many things of the garden an entire failure. This was true of the beans and squashes, the cucumbers and melons, and to a great extent, of the later planted corn and potatoes. The strawberries and rasp- berries produced a good crop. The blackberries and the blackcap raspberries have been entirely destroyed by the yellow rust. The apple orchard has done very poorly. I have watched it carefully during the season to discover its needs. Tlae trees have made a very small growth, and many of them are suffering from the effects of the cold winters of a num- ber of years ago — being more or less rotten, and some of them dying annually. The fruit has been small and scabby. The whole orchard needs plowing, prun- ing, and fertilizing thoroughly for a series of years, to bring it into good, con- dition. Many of the trees are too old and feeble to ever be of any use. If there was any available ground upon the college farm, suitable for such a purpose, I should recommend the setting of a new apple orchard. It is certainly needed as a means of illustration. The pear orchard has made a very fine growth, and there have been no signs of blight, or other disease. Some of the older trees are budded very full for blossoming next year. I fear the early frost may have injured some of the trees, as they were still quite green the 9th of September. The Duke and Morello cherries and the plums are doing fairly well, although the birds help themselves liberally to the former, and the curculio does an abundant thinning of the latter. The Heart cherries are nearly an entire failure here. The vineyard near the observatory has made a good growth, and is ready to bear a crop of fruit next year. The soil is exceedingly tenacious however, and in seasons like the present, it is impossible to make a good showing. The vineyard upon the terraces near Wells Hall has made an excellent growth, and is ready for a large crop of fruit next year. There was a fair crop of fruit in both vineyards the present season, but the killing frost of Setember 9th, destroyed the whole of it. I shall have both vineyards pruned and the vines laid down for the winter. 44 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. The arboretum and wild garden has beeu in charge of the Professor of botany and forestry. I have been assisted in experimental work by Mr. James Troop. A full account of experments tried and carried out is appended here. CROSSING CUCURBITACEiE. This experiment was tried for the purpose of ascertaining which of the Cucurbitacese family can be cross-fertilized and how soon the effect will show. I planted two hills of each of the following kinds of seeds: Long Green Cucumber, Summer Crook-Neck Squash, Boston Marrow and Hubbard Squash, Nutmeg and Cantelope Musk Mellon, Phinney's Early and Peerless Water Melon,, and Pumpkin. During early summer these promised good results, but the cold weather and excessive rains during the month of July seriously injured the vines, and heavy frosts on September 9th and lOth entirely ruined them. CROSSING BEANS WITH FOREIGN STOCK. Planted beans raised in the same locality for many years, with those of the same variety raised in different localities. These were planted in drills about fifteen feet long. Three of these were mixed in the same row and two rows kept separate. These matured in spite of the early frosts, and the product will be planted again next year. EFFECT OF DEEP OR SHALLOW CUTTING OF EYES IN POTATOES. A plat of about two rods square was used for this experiment. The White Elephant and Early Ohio varieties were planted. The cUe2) eyes were in each case cut to the centre of the jootato, while the shalloiv eyes were cut one- fourth of an inch deep. These were planted in separate rows alternating throughout the plat, with two eyes in a hill in each case. Different tubers were used for the deep and shallow eyes. There was a marked difference in the size of the vines from the beginning until they reached maturity, the deejj eyes being much the larger. The extremely wet weather during July injured them very much, so that the result was not what might have been expected. However, in every case, as will be seen by the following table, the rows with the deep eyes yielded the most and the largest potatoes. Beginning with deep eyes in the first row : iVb. White Elephant. 1. 3f pounds, medium size. 2. 1 a all small. 3. 3 It good size. 4. * ki. i: 60—70 u (> 60—70 «k ki ;; 60—70 a k. k. 60—70 il kk kk 60—70 kl U k. 60—70 (t (i kk 60—70 tk U kk 60—70 kk (t kk 60 —70 kl kk k; 00-70 kk kk t. 60—70 (k tl kk 60—70 Seeds Tested. 100 100 100 100 100 lOO 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 Percent Germi- nated. 70 68 39 r-.> lO 68 04 87 65 100 47 65 38 30 34 48 24 32 Gale of Oorunna, Mich. Seeds bought at groceries in Lansing. Variety of Seed. Onion, Yellow Danvers. Mode of Testing. Porous plates Damp paper on moist sand Temperature Seeds Tested. 00° to 75° 200 60° to 75° 300 60^ to 75° 100 00° to 75° 100 Percent Germi- nated. 37 47 47 50 {No. 2.) D. M. Ferry & Co., same as No. 1. Seeils bought at groceries in Lansing. Variety of Seed. Radi>h, Early Rose Cabbiige, Early Winnigstadc. Spinach, Round Summer I>ei luce. >inips()n's Early .. . Onion. Yellow Danvers Leek. London Flag Beet. Improved Early Blood.. 'J'urnip, White Globe Endive. Green Curled Cress. Curled Carrot, Long Oi-ange Kale. Green Curled Sal.-ify.. Nasturtium Mode of Testing. Damp paper on moist sand kk kk Temperature Seeds Tested. 60°— 72° 100 60 —72 100 60 —72 100 60 —72 100 60 —72 lOO 60—72 100 60 —72 100 60—72 100 60—72 100 60 —72 100 60 -72 100 60 —72 100 60—72 100 60—72 33 Percent Germi- nated. 82 64 33 o5 59 44 58 99 57 64 36 30 60 06 DEPARTMENT REPORTS. 59 D. M. Ferry i& Oo. Seeds bought in bulk at groceries in Lansing. Variety of Seed. Muskmelon, Skillman's fine net'd " Fine green Nutmeg " Long '• " Watermelon, Peerless " Black Spanish Beau, German Wax Golden Wax Pea, Extra Early Kent " Large White Marrowfat.. " Improved Dan U'Kork " McLean's Little Gem " Best of Early Dwarf " Ferry's First and Best Corn, liarlj"- Minn. Sweet " Stowell's Evergreen Beet, Long Dark Blood Carrot, Large Orange Radish, E'rly I'ng .sc'rl't short t'p Onion, Large Red Weathersfield Lettuce, Frankfort Head Radish, Cliinese Hose Winter.. Carrot, Early Scarlet Horn Cauliflower, Extra Early Paris. Lettuce, Simpson's E'rly Curl'd Cucumber, L'ug green improv'd Celery, Seymore's White Solid Mode of Testing. Temperature In porous plates 70°— 85° u a 70—85 k( i-. 70 —85 u a 70—85 l( ti. 70—85 b4 u 70—85 kl t; 70—85 Li ii 70—85 ,i a 70—85 6* a 70—85 tl a 70—85 U a 70—85 (( ii 70—85 (( a 70 85 (; a 70-85 a t( 70 —85 i* a 70—85 li if 70—85 fcb u 70 —85 a a 70—85 •i a 70—85 i( a 70—85 (I a 70—85 li a 70—85 a (b 70-85 i* 11 70-85 Seeds Tested. 100 100 100 100 100 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 Percent Germi- nated. 91 100 99 94 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 80 80 75 51 26 73 20 . 40 92 6 100 92 6 Seeds bought in Lansing. D. M. Ferry S Co. Variety of Seed. Mode of Testing. Temperature Salsify Damp paper on moist sand 62°— 70° Turnip, White Egg ib U 41 6-2 —70 Radish, Early Round Scarlet... (k » t( 62—70 Onion, Large Red Globe (( (( a 62—70 Carrot, Long Orange il. .1 k( 62—70 Spinach, Round Summer 11 U 11 62-70 Radish, E'rly I'ng sc'rl't short t'p hi ti a 62—70 Onion, Large Red Weathersfield (; (( '( 62 —70 Lettuce, Frankfort Head