ANNUAL REPORT OF THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE COLLEGE. BOARD OF TRUSTEES. Members Ex-Officio. His Excellency, Governor H. M, HOYT. Hon. FRANCIS JORDAN, Secretary of the Commonwealth. Hon. JAMES W. LATTA, Adjutant General. Dr. E. E. HIGBEE, Superintendent Public Instruction. JAMES MILES, Esq., President State Agricultural Society. W. P. TATHAM, Esq., President Franklin Institute. Elected Members. Hon. FRANCIS JORDAN, (President of the CYRUS GORDON, Esq., Clearfield. Gen. JAMES A. BEAVER, Bellefonte. Hon. J. H. ORVIS, Bellefonte. FACULTY AND INSTRUCTORS. GEORGE W. ATHERTON, M. A., President, Political and Social Science. CHARLES F. REEVES, M. S., Modern Languages. I. THORNTON OSMOND, M. S., M. A., Physics. JOSIAH JACKSON. M. A., Mathematics and Astronomy. W. H. JORDAN, M. S., Agriculture and Agricultural Chemistry. CHARLES J. BELL, B. A., Professor of Chemistry. E. H. CHRISTIE, M. A., Assistant Professor of Ancient Languages. J. W. HESTON, M. A.. Principal Preparatory Department. LOUIS H. REBER, B. S., Military Instructor. Miss A. M. COOPER, B. S.. Lady Principal. Miss HATTIE I. FOSTER, Instructor in Music. PENNSYLVANIA STATE COLLEGE. Opened to students, February 16, 1859, as the Farmer's High School, and limited in its purposes, at that time, to theoretical and practical agriculture, this institution has since been enlarged in its scope in order to comply fully with the act of Congress of July 2, 1862, which prescribed as its object"the liberal and practical education of the industrial classes in the several pursuits and professions in life." Its courses of study have, consequently, been greatly extended, and now include subjects foreign to the original plan; and yet, though no longer exclusively agricultural, it presents a more extended and complete course of instruction in that special pursuit than ever before. Among the gains in this direction, may be mentioned the establishment of a course of training in mechanic arts; the fitting up of a special laboratory for quantitative analysis with reference to agricultural work; the organization of a short SPECIAL COURSE in agriculture, for those whose time or means will not permit them to take the longer course; and the beginning of a series of bulletins for distribution among farmers. In a subsequent part of this report there are presented some results of investigations conducted by this department during the past year. This is, with modifications and additions, the same as the bulletins issued in November and December last, and may serve, in part, as a specimen of the work intended to be done by these bulletins. Other investigations and experiments are now in progress, the results of which will be published hereafter. The College invites the fullest inquiry on the part of farmers, by personal visits to the College, through committees of those in whom they have confidence, and in every way that will acquaint them with the instruction imparted on matters pertaining to their calling. The College further invites correspondence concerning new weeds, new insects, and similar topics of interest to agriculturists. While the attendance is still far below the capacity of the College, it is nevertheless gratifying to be able to announce that the higher instruction is more valued year by year, as is evidenced by the fact that former graduates are returning to pursue graduate studies in the College, and that those who enter on a college course are more desirous than formerly to complete it. The following is the summary of attendance, as given in the last catalogue, 1882-83: |