of opinion that the sale had proved to be a most satisfactory way of bringing the college to the attention of those for whom it was organized, and that it had proven a much greater success than they had anticipated. They have decided to hold annual or biennial sales hereafter as the condition and numbers of our herds will warrant. Mr. J. A. Mann, of Kalamazoo, officiated as salesman, and his services were very satisfactory. I append a notice of the sale by that staunch and tireless worker in the interest of good stock for Michigan, Editor-in-chief Gibbons of the Michigan Farmer. THE COLLEGE SALE OF SHORTHORNS. On Wednesday last, as previously announced, the sale of a draft of Shorthorns from the herd at the Agricultural College, together with a few Ayrshires, some grade cattle and Berkshire hogs took place. The principal interest centered in the Shorthorns, and buyers were present in goodly numbers from various parts of the State. After lunch, Prof. Johnson called the crowd together in the large yard in rear of the cattle barns, and explained the object in making the sale, the condition of the cattle, etc., and then Mr. J. A. Mann, the auctioneer, spoke of the terms under which the sale was to be made, and expressed the hope that the buyers present would be lively and bid promptly up to what they considered the cattle worth. The sale then began, the animals being offered in the order catalogued. The following is a list of the animals sold, purchasers, and prices paid: College Red Rose. yearling, J. C. Sharpe, Jackson College Red Rose 2d (shy breeder) D. B. Hale, Eaton Rapids. Hela 7th, two year old heifer, Hugh Alexander, Evart, Osceola Co. Hela 4th, James M. Turner, Lansing.. Horatio 6th, bull calf, J. M. Turner, Lansing. $145 00 75.00 110 00 50 00 85.00 90 00 105 00 100 00 240 00 65.00 College Duchess, one year old, C. G. & J. R. Learned, Port Austin,. 230 00 Heroine 5th and calf, T. J. Monroe, Portland. 185 00 185 00 125 00 This completed the sale of Shorthorus, and upon its conclusion three Ayrshires were put up. W. A. Newton, of Lansing, purchased the heifer Lula for $30, and Messrs. C. G. & J. R. Learned the heifers Phyllacy Linden and Susette for $35 and $30 respectively. A. E. Andrews, of Williamston, got a Jersey heifer for $60. Some grade stock sold at fair prices, among which was the cross bred Galloway and Shorthorn fat heifer, which went to Mr. Burch, a Lansing butcher, for $85. Every Shorthorn catalogued was sold, and while the prices were only fair, the dispersion of the animals will be of great benefit to the localities where they go. Not an animal among them but will return a good percentage on the money invested in it if only given a fair chance. The total amount received for Shorthorns was $2,925, an average of $112.50 for the twenty-six head sold, including calves, heifers and cows, and when the season is considered, it may be put down as a successful sale. We feel satisfied the stock will do credit to the college, and bring into notice the very fine herd that is being built up there. Fifty-five head of swine, embracing three breeds, Poland China, Essex and Berkshire. One hundred and forty sheep, American Merino, South Down and Shropshire. The following cropping list for 1885 gives the area and yield of the crops. grown upon the college farm: The junction of the Detroit & Northern R. R. with the Grand Trunk is about one-and-a-half miles from the college. It is often very convenient for college people to take or leave trains at the junction, as well as the residents of the vicinity. Unfortunately the highway was some eighty rods from the junction and the only means of reaching it was by walking on the railroad track. Ascertaining from the owner of land adjacent to the Grand Trunk track that he would sell a strip of land wide enough for a highway, I circulated the proper petition among the land owners, who were only too glad to sign it, praying the Com. of Highways to lay out the highway. After some delays this was accomplished. A deep cut in the route was impassable and there was no means to fill it. I presented the case to the Board of Agriculture who authorized me to expend $75.00 on the road. This has been done and the road is now in very good shape and is a great convenience to our community. At the close of the fall term 75 trunks were shipped from the junction 14 miles from the college that otherwise must have gone to Lansing, a good part of them to Grand Trunk depot 44 miles away. This will give something of an idea of the saving effected by this action and outlay. ENSILAGE. The college silo was filled in Sept. last. The ensilaged corn came out in excellent condition. Continued feeding of ensilage only confirms me in the claims that I have for some years urged respecting this method of preserving fodder. Ensilage is a cheap substitute for roots, and gives in convenient form an ap petizing, healthy food for our stack, during the long period they must be confined in stables. It should never be the only food of the animal, but fed in connection with some grain and dried fodder to secure the best results. It has passed the trial period and has come to stay. Silos have been built all over the country, and without exception, so far as I can learn, when a silo has been filled properly and its contents fed judiciously by a practical cattle man, it has proved satisfactory. Some visionary people who have seemed to think that ensilage was to revolutionize cattle feeding and that it would supplement the lack of care and common sense in feeding and management, have as a matter of course been disappointed, and a few of our farm journals have taken special pains to call the attention of the public to these examples of failure. QUERY. Is it because the papers, or their contributors took the wrong side of this question on the start, and have been trying to prove themselves consistent ever since, that they maintain this antagonism? The English Parliament recently appointed a committee to investigate and report upon this method of preserving fodder as likely to be of great importance to agricultural interests. This committee, composed of some of the best known men in the kingdom, after taking a large amount of evidence from those who had built silos and fed ensilage, and after the most thorough examination of the subject, have made a most favorable report. They say that "all the evidence seems to show that a nourishing, useful food for animals can be preserved by this process." They further report "that the testimony of the dairy farmers does not justify the assertion that dairy products are injuriously affected by ensilage, but that on the contrary it distinctly improves the yield of milk and cream and the quality of the butter- the silos in Great Britain have doubled in number in the last twelve months-and that the evidence warrants the extension and development of the system as a valuable auxiliary to the farm." -- We have been favored with visits from committees appointed by the executive committee of the State Agricultural Society and the State Grange. The Shorthorn and the Holstein Breeders' Associations also visited us during their annual meeting in December last. The college, to be useful and accomplish its proper work, must have the respect, support and sympathy of these and other kindred agricultural associations in our State, and all legitimate means to cultivate pleasant and intimate relations should be improved. The kind words of commendation and the friendly criticism of many of our leading farmers and stock men have been a source of gratification as well as of encouragement to me in my work In April, Mr. Abram Birch, the foreman of the farm for the past five years, resigned his position to take charge of his father-in-law's farm. I desire to record my appreciation of the services of Mr. and Mrs. Birch during these years, in what is in many ways, a tr、ing position. They had proved themselves efficient and faithful, our relations had been of the most pleasant character, and I regretted to part with them. Mr. L. E. Snyder filled the position very acceptably until September 1st, when Mr. H. D. French, class of '85, took charge. Mr. and Mrs. C. W. Ayres were secured to take charge of the farm house, and have done so acceptably. In this respon Mr. Wm. Brown has rendered efficient service as herdsman. sible position his fidelity, constant service, and pleasant ways, deserve cordial commendation. To those named, as well as to all employés of the Department, I am under obligations for cheerful acquiesence in my plans. Whatever of success we have achieved is largely due to their generous support. Respectfully submitted, SAM'L JOHNSON, Prof. of Agriculture and Supt. of the Farm. REPORT OF THE PROFESSOR OF HORTICULTURE AND LANDSCAPE GAR DENING. To the President of the College : With this report is concluded the third year of the Department of Horticulture and Landscape Gardening as a separate feature in college management and instruction. Horticulture and landscape gardening have a longer history than that embraced within these three years, however. Hitherto these subjects had been associated with botany under the management of Dr. Beal, and through his work, both here and among the fruit growers of the State, arose the demand for an enlargement of instruction in horticultural matters. The work of the Department itself was initiated and outlined by my immediate predecessor, Prof. Satterlee. It is now highly proper, therefore since the Department has been created and its usefulness is in a measure assured, to present a brief outline of the work it aims to accomplish. It is the purpose of the Department to work with the horticulturists of the State and so far as possible to meet their demands in experiment and instruction. Its work naturally falls under two heads, so far as instruction is concerned: out-door illustration and practice, and class-room instruction. In most directions the means of out-door illustration are comprehensive. It is to be regretted that our climate is too rigorous to allow of the cultivation of peaches, sweet cherries and some other fruits. I apprehend, however, that some of the mischief which has been attributed to hard winters has been due to insufficient drainage or other causes. The most notable new feature of the department is a fruit garden which has been set apart this year for the double purpose of testing new varieties of small fruits and of furnishing illustrative labor to students. It comprises four acres of variable soil. It has been enclosed in a double windbreak composed of a row of maples alternating with a row of spruces. It is expected that the maples shall be removed when the spruces become large enough to afford protection. A thorough system of tile drainage is being placed under the garden. Most of the fruits which are growing in the fruit garden were set last spring, or early this fall in the case of strawberries. A catalogue of these and other fruits is published in Bulletin No. 7, which has just been issued. There are forty-seven varieties of strawberries, representing three or four distinct species, fifteen varieties of raspberries, ten of blackberries, ten of currants, five of gooseberries, two of quinces, and a number of the newer grapes, pears and cherries. There |