bracing as great a variety of soil and climate as possible; said report to be made to the Board at this meeting if practicable, or if otherwise, to the Executive committee at its next meeting. Resolved, That said scheme of Agricultural experiments, when revised, corrected and approved by this Board, or the Executive committee, shall be carried out by the Superintendent of the farm and the Corresponding Secretary under the direction of the Regent, and that the Regent be authorized to draw a warrant, or warrants, not to exceed the sum of $500, to meet such expenses as may be incurred in procuring material for, and carrying out these experiments, unless the Legislature shall, at the next session, make an appropriation for that purpose. Also the following: Resolved, That the Executive committee be instructed to provide for a course of Agricultural lectures and discussions, to commence about the 12th of January next and continue two weeks, these discussions to be held at the University and free to all persons—and that the attendance and co-operation of the practical farmers of this State is hereby earnestly solicited to aid in making these discussions successful, both in disseminating their views on the best methods of practical farming and in furnishing facts for a science of agriculture. Carried. The Committee on Horticulture reported plans and specifications for improvements of horticultural grounds and experimental planting, which, on motion, were referred to the Finance committee. To the Board of Trustees of the Illinois Industrial University: The committee on Horticulture respectfully beg leave to report. Section seven of the Act of Incorporation, among other things, authorizes the Board of Trustees to "establish and provide for the management of said model farms as may be required to teach, in the most thorough manner, such branches of learning as are related to agriculture and the mechanic arts." As a part of such model farm, and for the more perfect demonstration of that department of agriculture known as horticulture or garden culture, we beg leave to make the following recommendations: The plat hereunto attached as a part of this report, marked A, exhibits the ground plan of the grounds proposed to be occupied, and the schedule shows how they may be planted, and also contains the list of forest trees recommended for trial. No extended argument is required at this time to prove the need of teaching the cultivators of the soil the importance of forest tree planting, of orcharding, and of other departments of gardening. In regard to the orchard proper, the most important feature that we now recommend, is the procuring and planting of samples of all the improved varieties of fruits for identification and for comparison-a sort of fruit tree museum of varieties, that will be at all times accessible for reference. The management of the orchard, vineyard and garden will more properly come under the care of the Professor of Horticulture, or head gardener. But we would urge that the grounds reserved for the orchard, be occupied for that purpose at as early a day as possible. The estimate for the cost of trees will be found in the schedule, but that for labor and other material are combined in the ground plan, and its proportion, to some extent, must be left to the discretion of the person in charge of the improvements. The great feature of these grounds, and what is of paramount importance at this time, to the whole people of the State, is the planting of forest trees for useful purposes: It is a new demand upon their industry and upon their lands, from which they cannot fail to reap the most valuable results. The new condition of things, created by railroads and improved agricultural implements, present new industries, both to the cultivators of the soil and to the mechanic, in which they have a mutual interest. The forests are rapidly disappearing, or at least those useful trees that have a commercial value, and yet many of the new demands have not been met, nor is the old supply likely to hold out. But, if the forests of Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Indiana were adequate to the demand, as a matter of economy in freights, if not in the superior quality of our second growth timber, especially of the decideous varieties, it is an object to grow them at home, rather than to buy them. Timber for railroad ties, culverts, cars, roadways and buildings, fencing, vineyard stakes, hop poles, stanchions for coal banks, soft wood, like white willow and the poplars, for berry boxes, crates and staves; hoop poles, wagon and carriage material, agricultural implements, and the multiform wants of the age, make up a demand of most surprising magnitude, that will add to our rural industry an importance that the most sanguine have not hitherto dreamed of. If we look at this as simply the demand of agriculture, it must be conceded that it is legitimate and ought to be granted without an objection; but we have added to this the claim of the mechanic, who is also largely interested, for it will enable him to compete with those of other States in the supply that commerce demands. The State that sells the raw products of its soil is never rich, while the States that manufacture for others do well; those that grow the raw material and manufacture it at home, are the most prosperous. No doubt the State of Illinois had these facts in view when it established this great school of the industries for the especial benefit of those two classes who create the wealth of the State. There are in this State about eighty species of forest trees, besides the larger shrubs. With the exception of the oaks, yellow poplar and hickory, we have not drawn largely from our native forests; and to-day we purchase nearly all of our timber. Nearly all of the ash timber used for agricultural implements, a part of our fence posts, and a portion of our railroad ties come from other States. Added to these is the greater part of the material for our wagons and carriages, when not wholly manufactured in other States; timber for railroad cars, and hard-wood lumber for many other useful purposes, that ought to be grown near the place of manufacture. To bring these useful trees within the bounds of culture and to utilize them, is one of the objects of this industrial institution. To teach the people of the State how to add these products of the forest to their other crops, and thus add millions of dollars annually to the wealth of the State, to give labor a wider range and a more comprehensive field for its employment, are objects worthy of such an institution. Thousands of acres of timber can be planted in shelter belts, to check the winds that comes down from the north, with its polar cold, destroying the plants that the genial summer, fanned with the breath of the tropics, has made to flourish on our open plains. Wall in these prairies of central and northern Illinois with belts of conifers and decideous trees and we shall have one of the best of climates; genial and equable, and with the best soil in the Union, with a geographical position midway between the two oceans, over which must pass a large part of the commerce of the world, and if we are not laggards in the world's progress we may reap from such surroundings a rich reward. The Committee have divided these thirty species of useful forest trees into three classes, according to their supposed value for the demands of commerce and for domestic use. In the first class they include the European Larch, Austrian Pine and Norway Spruce, native trees of Europe, and the Osage Orange, native of the Southwestern States. In the second and third class, White Willow, a native of Europe; Black Spruce and Norway Pine, natives of the more Northern States. Thus making up the list with four European, three of other States and twenty-three species from the forests of Illinois. Our other native trees of minor importance will find a place in the arboretum, where those of other sections of this Continent and of Europe may be tested side by side. It is probable that among them may be found many of value. The ten acres reserved for a commercial garden and grounds-for the testing of new varieties of plants-for comparing and further testing of old ones for the proving of new modes of culture and the testing of new implements, cannot fail of proving useful, especially to those students who remain at the University during the spring and summer occupied in some "industrial avocation." As the larger part of this plot of ground will be devoted to a market garden it is hoped that it will prove to be a paying investment. We recommend the planting of an osage hedge around the two hundred acres embraced in the plat. We recommend that so much of lot Y as is suitable for the purpose be planted to an experimental orchard of the apple; two trees of each variety; the rows to run North and South, twenty-four feet wide, and the trees twenty-five in the rows; the trees in each tenth row to consist of Norway spruce. In this connection we also recommend that the offer of A. M. Lawver for duplicates of his collection of varieties, be accepted, and the proper order drawn for the amount. We also recommend that there be an additional experimental orchard of twenty acres, to be located on the stock farm, (Busy farm), for the testing of varieties of the peach, pear, plum, cherry, quince, apricot, nectarine-two trees of each variety, to be planted in rows sixteen by sixteen feet, with every tenth row running North and South to be planted with Norway spruce. Pears to be both standard and dwarf; one half of the dwarf pears to be planted eight feet in the row, thus: 8 by 16 feet. The relative value of standard quince stock to be tested with same varieties, both as regards market value and quality. Cherries to be tried on Morello, Mazzard and Mahaleb stocks. The whole to be surrounded with a double row of Norway spruce, set eight feet apart. The site selected to be the highest point, or points, best adapted to the purpose. Also, one acre of vineyard, two plants of a variety, and so planted as to test the relative value of different modes of training and pruning. Also, that lot B of the plat, containing one acre, be devoted to the testing of new varieties of the small fruits. It is probable that at some future time it may be found advisable to extend the plantation of small fruits for market, for the purpose of giving employment to those students who may, in accordance with the law, desire to remain in the University. We also recommend the formation of an arboretum, to be located North of the new street that is located East and West on the forty acre tract, to contain about ten acres, and marked on the plat "W." So far as practicable to make the same ornamental, on the ground plan of a park, for the use of the University, and the citizens of Urbana and Champaign. Shelter belt of two rows of trees, the one sixteen feet inside of the hedge and the other eight feet therefrom, and trees eight feet in the rows, as follows: From 1 to 2, European Larch. 80 rods 7" 10, 66 feet wide, and may be slightly curved. Alley west of belt 33 feet wide. 46 Y, enclosure for apples, about 43 acres. &, two acres for Superintendent's house and outbuildings. Avenue 1 to 12, 80 feet. |