XII. THE LIBRARIES.

The Library of the College is open for consultation during each term, as follows: On Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, from 8 to 8:40 A. M., and from 12 M. to 12:50 P. M., and from 2 P. M. to 4:30 P. M.; on Saturdays, from 9 A. M. to 12:50 P. M., and 2 to 4:30 P. M. Students are allowed free access to the books, and are encouraged to become familiar with the proper methods of using a library for literary work.

The late P. VANDERBILT SPADER, Esq., of New Brunswick, presented to the College a Collection of some 4,500 books, valued at $15,000; and the Library Fund given by the late Gen. ROBERT H. PRUYN, of Albany, N. Y., provides for large annual additions to the Library.

A "Subject Catalogue" and an "Author Catalogue" have been prepared.

By the gift of a permanent fund of $1,000 from JAMES SUYDAM, Esq., supplemented by gifts from other sources, the Library is supplied with the leading learned periodical publications in the various departments.

By the courtesy of the Theological Seminary of the Reformed Church the SAGE LIBRARY of more than 40,000 volumes is opened to the students of Rutgers for consultation; and under certain limitations books are drawn from it as well. It is within four minutes' walk of the College campus.

XIII. EXTENSION DEPARTMENT.

The Trustees, desiring to increase the usefulness of the State College, and to give the benefits of liberal training to the people at large who cannot enter the institution as regularly enrolled students, have established a special department, for extension teaching. Under the auspices of this department, lecture courses are given in various localities in the State of New Jersey, by members of the Faculty and other teachers connected with the College, in Agriculture, the English Language, and the various branches of natural and economic science. The work is conducted chiefly on the plan that has proved eminently successful elsewhere, embodying the following features:

1. LECTURES. Full courses consist of twelve lectures, delivered generally at weekly intervals, beginning at any time after October 1st, as may be arranged with the places desiring them. Shorter courses of six or more lectures are also furnished if demanded.

2. SYLLABUS AND TEXT-BOOKS.-For every course of lectures a syllabus is prepared, giving an outline of the subject treated and serving as a brief and condensed text-book. Other books for parallel reading are introduced as required.

3. THE CONFERENCE HOUR.-To give those who desire the benefit of personal contact with the lecturer, an hour for informal classwork is held immediately after the lecture, where questions are asked and answered, and where obscure points are further elucidated.

4. THE WRITTEN EXERCISES.-To those who attend the conference hour, work is assigned, upon which written papers are prepared during the week and mailed to the lecturer for correction and criticism.

5. THE EXAMINATION.-At the end of a course the lecturer holds an examination, open to all who, besides attending the lectures and conference hours, have performed the required written work.

6. CERTIFICATE.-To those who successfully pass this examination, the College awards a formal certificate. This specifies the subject, the date, and the lecturer under whose direction the work has been done.

Full information concerning the courses offered and the lecturers who shall deliver them, the cost of any course, the methods of local organization, etc., will be furnished on application. Inquiries should be directed to the President, or to Professor LOUIS BEVIER, Jr., the Secretary of the Extension Department.

XIV. THE AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT AND

THE STATE FUND.

The operations of the Agricultural Department during the past year are set forth in the accompanying report of the Professor in charge, and the lectures on Agriculture in several counties have been given as called for.

The amount of money received from the State Treasurer (as the income of the Trust Fund held by the State for the College, realized from the sale of the United States Land Grant of 1862 for State Colleges) for the fiscal year ending October 31st, 1892, is six thousand nine hundred and sixty dollars ($6,960), which has been expended, as the law requires, exclusively for the salaries of Professors in the Scientific School, but a small portion of which is covered by this limited amount.

In connection with the work of the College as the "New Jersey State College for the Benefit of Agriculture and the Mechanic Arts," a new and important department was organized in 1887, viz.:

XV. THE NEW JERSEY STATE AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE

EXPERIMENT STATION.

By the act of Congress of March 2d, 1887, a law was passed entitled "An act to establish Agricultural Experiment Stations in connection with the Colleges established in the several States under the provisions of an act approved July 2d, 1862, and of the acts supplementary thereto." This act is commonly known as the "Hatch Act," from the active interest taken in its passage by Hon. Wm. H. Hatch, M.C., of Missouri. It authorizes the appropriation of $15,000 annually for the support of Agricultural Experiment Stations in connection with the colleges which were established in the several States "for the Benefit of Agriculture and the Mechanic Arts," by the Congressional act of July 2d, 1862.

The Legislature of New Jersey, by its acts of March 16th, 1887, and of March 5th, 1888, designated the Trustees of Rutgers College in New Jersey "as the parties to whom all moneys appropriated by Congress under said acts of Congress or supplements thereto shall be paid for the purposes mentioned in said acts of Congress." The department of Rutgers College known as Rutgers Scientific School is, by law, the State Agricultural College. The Agricultural Experiment Station is established in connection with it.

By the co-operation of the State Experiment Station, a large and well-fitted laboratory has been erected and is now occupied. Investigators upon the insect enemies of plants, on the food products of our fresh and salt waters, and their improvement, on the geology and chemistry of our soils, and the effect of tillage and fertilizers upon

them, and on the study of the diseases of plants, and the application of science to the growth of agricultural and horticultural products, and to the economic management and product of dairies.

While the main business of such a Station is in searching after new truths, and arranging them for practical and economic use, the proper location for it is in connection with an institution of learning. Almost all our investigators are teachers. The investigation and diffusion of knowledge necessarily go hand in hand; and the example of men devoted to the searching for useful truths is stimulating to those who are yet in their preparatory studies, and are aspiring to fill well their places in life.

It is from those now studying that our future investigators must come, and it is important that such students should have those who are now in the field of work directly before them. In this respect it is believed the location of the Station at the College will be most salutary in its influence.

Respectfully submitted,

AUSTIN SCOTT,

President of the Board of Trustees.