TABLE 49.-Showing the percentage of students in schools of science endowed with the national land grant engaged in field, shop, or laboratory prac tice, etc., as reported in

1886-87.

a Of males.

VIEW OF PRACTICAL WORK AS REPORTED FROM TWENTY-FIVE COLLEGES.

Table 49 presents the result of an inquiry addressed to the land grant colleges for the purpose of ascertaining the proportion of their students who receive practical as well as theoretic training in agriculture, the mechanic arts, etc.

The questions included such practical work in the field or shops as serves to illustrate or to test the theoretic instruction or to familiarize one with a routine of labor, and also investigations carried on in laboratories or elsewhere in pursuit of scientific knowledge applicable to the arts.

From the number and varied character of the colleges addressed it could not be expected that a single form of inquiry would suffice for an exhaustive presentation of this part of their training. But a beginning has been made with results which are not devoid of interest.

Two of the colleges bere included report only field and laboratory practice. Delaware College and many land grant agricultural colleges report only laboratory practice.

In the remaining colleges, which reported shop practice also, the courses of training are generally identical, or nearly so, for one or more years, so that whatever may be the final selection, students work in two or more of the lines indicated, and hence the ratios tabulated involve reduplications-in other words, their sum is not 100 per cent. A number of the colleges afford opportunity for remunerative work, of which students, without regard to courses, often avail themselves. It has not been possible so far, even if it were desirable, to discriminate betwe en the work pursued considered as to its purposes, which for convenience may be called illustration, investigation, remuneration.

At the request of the Hon. Justin S. Morrill, the following inquiry was embodied in the form addressed to the colleges under consideration: "What is the full amount given by individuals, towns, counties, or States, either as an outright donation or as an annual appropriation on the part of the Legislatures, to the land grant colleges established under the act of 18627" The information thus secured, supplemented by statistics previously furnished to the Office, is presented in Table 50.

TABLE 50.-Appropriations and benefactions to land grant schools.

TABLE 50.-Appropriations and benefactions to land grant schools-Continued.

Name of college.

State

Benefac

appropria- tions.

tions.

South Carolina College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts (University of South
Carolina).

71, 200

Claflin University and South Carolina Agricultural College and Mechanics' Institute.

University of Tennessee and Agricultural and Mechanical College..
State Agricultural and Mchanical College of Texas.......

University of Vermont and State Agricultural College....

Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College....
Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute...

Agricultural Department of West Virginia University..
College of Arts (University of Wisconsin)

EQUIPMENT OF AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL COLLEGES.

The Special Report on Industrial Education in the United States, issued by this Office in 1883, contains a full report on the equipment of agricultural and mechanical colleges to that date. In order to ascertain the improvements in the farms, buildings, apparatus, etc, made since that year, an inquiry was addressed to the college presidents asking for further information on the subject. Some of the colleges reported fully. In the case of those not answering the inquiry the catalogues were consulted for the particulars desired. The follo wing is a summary of the information furnished directly by the presidents or gathered from the printed documents:

ALABAMA STATE AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL COLLEGE.

[From letter of Prof. O. D. Smith, secretary of faculty.]

The Agricultural and Mechanical College, Auburn, was organized in 1872. The endowment derived from the sale of the land scrip is $253,500, yielding an annual income of $20,280. The college had no other income, except incidental fees, and received no aid from the State until the year 1885. That year the State Legislature appropriated $30,000 to repair and furnish the college building and equip the agricultural, mechanical, and scientific departments. An annual apropriation was also made of one-third the net proceeds of the tax on commercial fertilizers, for the establishment and support of an experiment station and a mechanic art laboratory. In 1887 an additional appropriation of $12,500 was made for further equipment of the mechanical and scientific departments.

June 24, 1887, the main college building was burned. The trustees immediately provided for rebuilding it and for the erection of a chemical laboratory. The latter is about complete, and the main building will be completed during the next scholastic year.

In the endeavor to carry out the provisions of the land grant act, the college has become a distinctive school of industrial science or polytechnic institute. It offers three degree courses for undergraduates leading to the degree of bachelor of science (B. Sc.), requiring four years for their completion: (1) Course in chemistry and agriculture; (2) course in mechanics and engineering; (3) general course. There are also two partial courses, each requiring two years for their completion: (1) agriculture; (2) mechanics. Laboratory instruction constitutes an important feature in the work of the college, and is obligatory for all students.

The facilities for this are as follows: In agriculture, a farm of 226 acres, on which is the State experiment station. The students of agriculture accompany the professor in the field, garden, conservatory, stock yard, where lectures are delivered in presence of the object discussed. The mechanic-art laboratory consists of two shops: the first, 90 by 50, contains the wood and the machine shop; the second, 72 by 36, the forge and foundry, all fully equipped.

The power for running the machinery of this department is furnished by a twentyfive horse power Harris-Corliss engine. A steam pump, heater, and indicator form a part of the steam apparatus. The course in shop work extends through three years: first year, carpentry, turning, and pattern making; second year, moulding and casting in iron and brass, forge work in iron and steel; third year, machine work and steam and mill engineering. All students are required to take the first year's work in the shop at least 6 hours per week. Special students take 12 hours per week throughout the entire three years.

The chemical laboratory is a separate two story building, 60 by 43, with a one story annex, 57 by 36. The cost, including furnishings, was about $20,000. It contains the students' laboratory to accommodate 60 students in analytical work, the State chemical laboratory, two balance rooms, an office, library, apparatus room, and a large lecture room. The engineering department is fully equipped for field and office work. The departments of physics and natural history will be provided with laboratories in the new college building, and offices and equipment for printing and telegraphy. All students are required to take technical drawing for two years.

The experiment station has been organized in accordance with act of Congress, with the following corps of directors: (1) president of the college; (2) agriculturist and director; (3) chemist and vice-director; (4) physiologist, animal and vegetable; (5) botanist; (6) entomologist and meteorologist; (7) first and second assistant agriculturalists; (8) first and second assistant chemists. Work will begin at once on the station. Notwithstanding the fire the college has maintained its patronage, and is growing in public favor.

ARKANSAS INDUSTRIAL UNIVERSITY.

Farm.-The farm consists of 160 acres of land, 120 acres of which are susceptible of cultivation, of which 60 acres are actually under cultivation. A large and commodious barn has been built and the farm has been very well equipped.

Shop. The shops of the department of mechanic arts and engineering are in the basement of the university building and consist of the following rooms: wood-working room, finishing room, forging room, foundry, metal-working room, engine and boiler room, tool room and a wash room. Each of these rooms contains a full complement of machinery and tools necessary for instruction in the various departments. Laboratories.-The chemical and mineralogical laboratories have been greatly developed by the addition of appliances, etc.

COLLEGE OF MECHANIC ARTS, ENGINEERING, ETC., UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA.

Shops.-A valuable addition to the equipment of this college was made by the erection of a mechanical laboratory It is designed to offer facilities for tests and experimental inquiry and comprises a machine shop, carpentry and pattern shop, shop for fine work, steam-fitting apparatus, foundry and blacksmith shops, engine room, and experimental laboratory. These shops are supplied with the latest improved machinery and tools.

Laboratories.-The assaying laboratory is very well equipped and the appliances are of the most approved pattern.

The metallurgical laboratory has been erected and is now being equipped out of the appropriation made for this purpose by the Legislature.

Miscellaneous.-The students' astronomical observatory has been constructed and equipped out of the Legislative appropriation of $10,000 made for that purpose.

COLORADO STATE AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE.

Shops.-Additions have been made to the machinery in the machanics' shop. Laboratories.-The chemical laboratory has been enlarged and provided with more suitable and efficient appliances.

Miscellaneous.-A new conservatory has lately been built and now contains 10,000

plants.

FLORIDA STATE AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE.

The first annual catalogue of this college was published in 1886. The trustees have acquired by donation and purchase more than 100 acres of land suitable for agricultural, horticultural, and ornamental purposes, lying within the corporate limits of Lake City. A commodious building has been erected and farm buildings, equipments, etc., have been added. The college has acquired a large and costly museum of natural history and mineralogy.

GEORGIA STATE COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND THE MECHANIC ARTS (UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA).

Laboratories.-The only improvement mentioned in the catalogue of this institution is the addition of appliances in the new laboratory.

NORTH GEORGIA AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE.

Laboratories.-A valuable philosophical and chemical apparatus has been added to the appliances, and is used in the department of natural science.