REPORT OF THE SECRETARY

OF THE

STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE.

LANSING, December 31, 1872.

TO THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN:

In compliance with legal requisitions, the accompanying Report for the year 1872, with supplementary papers, is respectfully submitted.

RICHARD HAIGH, JR.,

Secretary of the Michigan State Board of Agriculture.

STATE AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE.

INSTRUCTION DEPARTMENT.

STUDENTS.

The College has had a total number of 131 students during the year. The Senior class numbered 5. This is smaller than the Senior Class has been for some years; in 1871 it numbered 12; in 1870, 12; in 1869, 11; in 1868, 10. There have been 19 Juniors; 36 Sophomores; 53 Freshmen; 9 in special studies, and 4 ladies. No ladies have been received into the Hall the present year. The number of the applications of ladies for admission is constantly increasing, and it is a matter of regret to the Board of Agriculture, and to the Faculty of the College, that we have not a Hall for ladies, connected with the institution. Reference is made to the Report of the Board for 1870, pages 12 and 13, for further remarks on ladies as students.

Two graduates of the College have been present as resident graduates; one pursuing the study of Chemistry, until lately he has been called to teach Agriculture and Analytical Chemistry in the University of Minnesota; the other as a student of Botany, except for about two months, when he acted as botanist to an exploring expedition sent out by the Kansas Agricultural College into western Kansas.

During the summer vacation of the union schools of the State, three of the principals of such schools presented themselves unexpectedly, and without knowledge of the intentions of each other, and desired lessons in Analytical Chemistry and

Chemical Manipulations.

They were received, and their

names appear as resident graduates on the catalogue.

In consequence of several requests coming from teachers of the State, it has been determined by the Faculty to form a class in Chemical Manipulations, on the first Wednesday in August, to continue three weeks. This will be free of expense to the teachers of primary, graded, and high public schools of the State. The members of the class will of course pay the cost of the materials they use in the laboratory.

The Faculty have taken a good deal of pains to make sure that each student goes over the entire ground in the studies that the class he is in may have studied. All examinations are in writing; the series of questions given to be answered are filed with the Secretary of the College. Students absent one-fifth of the time from any class, receive a private and special examination over the whole of the study pursued by the class.

Students who are deficient in more than one study at the beginning of any term are not permitted to re-enter the class until all, at least but one, of their back studies are made up, and a satisfactory examination passed in them. Students have not been permitted to change from the regular classes into the class of specials unless their standing and examinations would allow of their passing along with their class. They can enter only by falling back into a class that is to go over the studies in which they are deficient.

The following list shows the counties represented, and students from other States: