My assistant, Mr. Walker, has taught as follows: In my Department, Tutor J. M. White has been employed as follows: Ist Hour. 2d Hour. 3d Hour. 4th Hour. 1st Term. Algebra Algebra.. COMPARISON OF RESULTS Of work in Mathematics, first month of years 1883, 1884 and 1885. SENIOR CLASS-IN ASTRONOMY. JUNIOR CLASS-IN MECHANICS. SOPH MORE CLASS-IN GEOME'RY. FRESH MAN CLASS-IN ALGEBRA. As will be seen by the above comparison, there has been a steady increase in the number of students in the Junior, Sopho. more and Freshman Classes, and a steady decrease in the number deficient, showing a gradual elevation of the mental capacity of the students attending this College. PROPERTY OF THE MATHEMATICAL DEPARTMENT. On December 30, 1880, the following were bought of W. & L. E. Gurley, No. 514 Fulton St., New York: The microscopes of the Theodolite and Transit, four pins, and the case of mathematical instruments, and one chain, were lost, and one chain broken, before I took charge of this department. The instruments have been in constant use in the Mathematical Department and out of it by the Professors of Agriculture and Horticulture at different times for the past five years, and are in good condition for that amount of service. The Theodolite and Transit have been sent on to New York to be repaired. MEANS OF ILLUSTRATION. Except in Surveying, there are in my department, no means of illustration. RECOMMENDATIONS. I respectfully recommended that the text-books in this Department be changed to the Wentworth Series of Mathematics; which has been done, to take effect as soon as practicable. I respectfully also recommended that the Mathematical Department be furnished as rapidly as practicable with the following means of illustration, taken from the price-list of models for general instruction of the Polytechnic Working Institute, J. M. Schroder, Darmstadt, (1884,) Principal. They can be procured through Messrs. Eirmer & Amend, 205 Third Avenue, New York. For this purpose I ask that eight hundred dollars ($800) be appropriated. This is an Agricultural and Mechanical College, and yet there is not a single means of illustrating Mechanics here taught, and it is in the College course. Catalogue Blocks and pulleys on stand Apparatus for explaining laws of the MEANS OF ILLUSTRATING MECHANICS., ARTICLES. 3 The bent lever... 6 I The parallelogram of forces The inclined plane, with graduated arc The screw. . . . The endless screw, 50 The apparatus for illustrating the laws IÚ Bohenberger's apparatus for explaining Crank handle and axle Chain puiley with single groove 34 Breast wheel constructed of timber... 175 blades Independent wharf crane 66 430 150 MEANS OF ILLUSTRATING CIVIL ENGINEERING. 1020 1021 Portion of house corner with frame work, 14 Marks. 1022 B. Frame work of crossed beams. 1023 C. Frame work of crossed beans with Single timber connections, 1 to 73, Schro- Double beam construction.. 1033 Simple shed roof, height-length... 9 1034 Simple shed roof with collar beams. 15 1037 1052 1300-7 length. Vertical roof truss with single coliar Various stone facings and joints.. 1342 Door and window semi-circle arch. 1349-50 Elliptical and parabolic arch Models of simple key and queen post 1450 Seventeen training ditches of different 1480-5 Securing embankments and dams 16 6. 26 6. These models are very expensive, and the above list is an exhaustive one and probably beyond the present ability of the State, but I respectfully and earnestly request that, as many as can, be furnished the Mathematical Department, which at present is behind all others in equipment, be given to the extent of the $800 requested, which will fit out the Mechanical Department very fully with models. IN CONCLUSION. The students, as a body, in my Department are more earnest and are making better progress than at at any time during my connection with it. The grade of students is better and the standard of recitation marks is higher. To the constant attention to individual cases when laggard, and the giving of punishment by the President for failures in recitations, and frequent reports for visiting in the dormitory during study hours, are due, in my opinion, the present attention to study, excellent progress and consequent contentment of the students. I am under obligation to all my assistants for the conscientious and able manner in which they have performed their duties in my Department. Expressing my appreciation of the assistance given in my Department, and for his uniform courtesy and kindness in our official intercourse with the President, I am. Very respectfully, your ob't serv't, WM. L. BUCK, Acting Professor of Mathematics. REPORT ON DEPARTMENT OF HORTICULTURE. Gen. S. D. Lee, President A. and M. College: DEAR SIR-The following report of the Department of Horticulture from the time I took charge, September 22, 1884, to date, November 25th, 1885, is respectfully presented. I found the Department in possession of about one hundred acres of land, including the grounds about the Professors' houses and the College buildings, the whole lying in one body at the eastern extremity of the College farm. Most of the undergrowth had been removed from the groves in the vicinity of the buildings, and a part of the campus was sown down in grass. The greater portion of the open land was poor, broken, and in an untillable condition. Much work, however, had been done in the way of filling gullies, clearing off rubbish, plowing and ditching. Some of the land was in condition to bring fair crops. Several thousand trees, plants, and vines were growing in permanent orchards and in the nursery. Owing to the severe and protracted drouth of 1884, the fall garden was almost a failure. The supply of garden seeds and implements and food for teams was limited. During the fall months of 1884, and the mild winter weather following, students assigned to this department spent their working hours in thinning out the groves, and preparing them for grass, grading about the building and ditching, planting trees and vines, grafting and budding nursery stock, constructing hot-beds and cold-frames, hauling wood's mold, preparing compost, etc. The spring of 1885 opened with the regular work of the garden, the orchard, and the nursery. Instruction in Horticulture embraces the regular lectures of the class-room, together with such illustrations and works of reference as bear directly on the subjects under consideration; also the information given the student in field work. Instruction in class room is as follows: Junior class, first term, lectures on the selection of soils and location of orchards, nurseries, gardens, and ornamental grounds; manures, their sources. preparation, and application, certain soils and plants; the construction of propagating houses, cold-frames and other appliances for forwarding early garden plants; the propagation of trees, shrubs and vines, farm seeds, layers and cuttings; crossing and hybridizing; grafting and budding; pruning and training; the best methods of harvesting and putting up fruits and vegetables for home use, of gathering, packing, and shipping to distant markets. Senior Class, third term, Economic Entomology. With but few appliances for forwarding early garden plants, we attempted last spring to grow only a sufficient number for the College garden. Having more than was needed, ready sale was found for the surplus. Cold weather was protracted till late; but, since the first early vegetables were ready for the table, the students and officers of the College have been furnished with an uninterrupted supply of garden products. Quite a nice supply is now being harvested for winter use. The College Nursery (not yet a very extensive one), has done well this season. The trees, plants, and vines are strong, healthy, and of good size. Orders are being received daily for nursery |