ANNUAL REPORT OF THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE COLLEGE, FOR THE YEAR 1885. BOARD OF TRUSTEES. Members Ex-Officio. His Excellency, Governor ROBERT E. PATTISON, Hon. WILLIAM S. STENGER, Secretary of the Commonwealth, A. WILHELM, Esq., President of the State Agricultural Society, Gen. PRESLEY N. GUTHRIE, Adjutant General, E. E. HIGBEE, D. D., Superintendent of Public Instruction, Elected Members. Hon. FRANCIS JORDAN, (President of the | Hon. JOHN A. WOODWARD, Howard, JOHN HAMILTON, Esq., Lemont, Gen. JACOB M. CAMPBELL, Johnstown, FACULTY AND INSTRUCTORS. GEORGE W. ATHERTON, M. A., LL. D., President: Professor of Political and Social Science. JAMES Y. MCKEE, M. A., Vice President: Professor of English Literature and Mental and Moral Science. WILLIAM A. BUCKHOUT, M. S., Professor of Botany and Horticulture. CHARLES F. REEVES, M. S., Professor of Modern Languages: Librarian. I. THORNTON OSMOND, M. S., M. A., Professor of Physics. JOSIAH JACKSON, M. Á., Professor of Mathematics. LOUIS H. BARNARD, C. E., Professor of Civil Engineering. JAMES A. LEYDEN, Second Lieutenant, 4th Inf., Ü. S. A., Professor of Military Science and Tactics. JOHN W. HESTON, M. A., Principal of Preparatory Department. HARRIET A. MCELWAIN, M. A., Lady Principal: Latin and History. LOUIS E. REBER, M. S., Professor of Mechanical Drawing and Instructor in Mechanic Arts. WILLIAM HALE HERRICK, M. A., Professor of Chemistry. WILLIAM FREAR, Ph. D., Assistant Professor of Agricultural Chemistry. MILTON W. BOHN, A. M., Assistant in Prepartory Department. CUMMINGS C. CHESNEY, B. S., Assistant in the Chemical Laboratory. ANNIE L. GROVE, Instructor in Music. 1 STATE COLLEGE. DESCRIPTION OF THE INSTITUTION. The Pennsylvania State College Was organized in 1859 as the "Farmers' High School," and its object then was to give an exclusively agricultural education. Its organization, however, was upon a collegiate basis from the beginning; and its name was, in 1862, changed to "The Agricultural College of Pennsylvania." Subsequently, the Legislature of the State having appropriated to this institution the income from the proceeds of the National land-grant, and the scope of its work having thus been necessarily enlarged, its name was, in 1874, again changed, and it has since been known as "The Pennsylvania State College." This name is considered to have peculiar fitness, both on account of the intimate connection of the College with the State Government and because the benefits of the National endowment were designed and are administered in behalf of the people of the whole Commonwealth. The scope of the institution, as now organized, cannot be better stated than in the comprehensive words of the acts of Congress itself, defining the duty of this and similar colleges: The leading object shall be, without excluding other Scientific and Classical Studies, and including Military Tactics, to teach such branches of learning as are related to Agriculture and the Mechanic Arts, in such manner as the Legislature of the State may prescribe, in order to promote the liberal and practical education of the Industrial Classes in the several pursuits and professions in life. This act of Congress was, in 1863, "accepted by the State of Pennsylvania, with all its provisions and conditions, and the faith of the State **** pledged to carry the same into effect."-Laws of 1863, p. 214. Based upon this broadened foundation, the special work of the State College is INDUSTRIAL EDUCATION; that is, the training of youth in those branches of learning which lie at the foundation of modern industrial pursuits. In accordance with the purposes of its founders and the terms of its original charter, it aims to give special and prominent attention to Agriculture, both theoretical and experimental. But it also provides a "liberal and practical education" in the leading branches of mathematical, natural, and physical Science, in order to prepare youth for "the several pursuits and professions in life," as the laws of Congress and of this State distinctly require. In other words, while the College is no longer exclusively agricultural, it is doing more in the direction of progressive and scientific Agriculture than when that was its principal object; and, at the same time, it has increased its subjects and courses of study, and its teaching and illustrative equipment, to such an extent that it is now a well-organized Scientific Institution, or College of Technology-" without excluding classical studies "aiming constantly to teach the various sciences in such a manner as to show their applications in the more important industries, and thus to combine theory with practice. Such a course of training, aiming to cover even a part of the vast field of modern scientific knowledge, must necessarily be somewhat prolonged. But its results are showing themselves, in a most gratifying way, by the readiness with which our graduates from the technical courses find honorable and remunerative employment. The range of work is shown, as far as the limits of space properly allow, in the following schedules and descriptive statements; and the attention of those who are interested in scientific studies, either as a system of higher education, or as a means of preparation for active life, is cordially invited to the extensive facilities here offered. It is confidently believed that few, if any, institutions in the country furnish opportunity for obtaining an advanced scientific education, of equal extent and thoroughness, at so moderate a cost, and with so many incidental advantages. LOCATION. The institution is situated in the village of State College, Centre county, nearly twelve miles south-west of Bellefonte, and about equi-distant from the extreme parts of the State. Its position in the midst of a broad, rolling valley, with Muncy mountain on the north, Tussey mountain on the south, and Nittany on the east, secures a varied and remarkably beautiful landscape and a healthful climate. A special act forbids the sale of intoxicating drinks within two miles of the College, and all its surroundings are exceptionally free from demoralizing influences, and from temptations to extravagance. The main College building is a plain and substantial structure of magnesian limestone, two hundred and forty feet in length, eighty feet in average breadth, and five stories in height, exclusive of attic and basement. It contains the public rooms-such as chapel, library, armory, cabinets, laboratories, society halls, and class-rooms-and a large number of dormitories. The building is heated throughout with steam, one or more upright radiators being placed in every room, hall, and passage-way, and is furnished on every story with an inexhaustible supply of pure water from an artesian well. The sewerage system is frequently and carefully inspected, and the unusual exemption of our students from every form of sickness justifies the statement that the sanitary condition of the building is very nearly perfect. CAMPUS AND FARM.-The tract of land on which the building stands contains nearly three hundred acres. Of this, about fifty acres in the immediate vicinity of the building constitute the campus, and furnish recreation grounds, sites for the professors' houses, and other needful buildings, &c. The campus contains, at present, several of these residences of professors, and is tastefully laid out and adorned with trees, shrubbery, flower-gardens, and walks. PRACTICAL TRAINING. The College has, from the first, sought to combine practical with theoretical instruction, and thus to fix in the student's mind a knowledge of both methods and principles. With this end in view, a portion of each student's time has been set apart for this training, and the number of subjects in which such instruction is given, and the apparatus for it, have been added to until it covers an extensive range of topics, as will appear from an examination of the several schedules. A portion of this training is largely technical, and so is almost wholly confined to certain courses. Other parts, however, are so general in their character as to be appropriately required of all students. Among these practicums taken by all the students, without reference to the particular course of study they may be pursuing, the following may be mentioned for the sake of illustration: Book-keeping, so important for the right conduct of all business; Drawing, free-hand and mechanical, needed by individuals in all employments and professions; Military Drill, required by the law of Congress, and helpful in securing right habits of mind and body; Mechanic Arts, in which are learned, among other things, the making of plane surfaces, correct angles and joints, and the care and use of tools; Horticulture, where instruction is given in all ordinary operations belonging to fruit-culture, such as pruning, grafting, budding, and propagation by cuttings and layers; and Surveying, which acquaints the student with the instruments of the art, and trains him to determine points, distances, and areas. Some of these practicums not only give knowledge of almost universal use, but also serve a good purpose by developing, during the early part of the course, tastes and aptitudes which may determine the student's choice of a technical course and of his life-work. In the Technical Courses, special lines of practice have a large amount of time given them, proportionate to their importance, or looking to subsequent professional use. Each practicum is directed by an instructor who is familiar with both the theory and the practice, and with their mutual relations. The instruction is so largely personal that an earnest student may advance far beyond the average attainments required as a minimum. The experience of the College adds, from year to year, to the evidence that this training is highly valuable, and in directions which no one can foresee, even when the pupil does not, at the time, fully appreciate its importance COURSES OF INSTRUCTION. The organization of the College is such that the instruction given naturally falls under several departments, which are distinct, and yet so mutually related as to form, when combined in groups, well-proportioned, systematic, and progressive Courses of Study. The number of such courses is now seven, viz: A General Science Course, a Latin-Scientific Course, a General Course in Agriculture, and four Technical Courses, designated as Courses in Agriculture, Chemistry and Physics, Civil Engineering, and Natural History, respectively. The studies in the four Technical Courses are the same, for the first two years, as those in the General Science, or the Latin-Scientific Course, at the option of students. All students, accordingly, who intend taking a regular course, enter the General Science Course, or the Latin-Scientific, at the beginning of the Freshman year, continue its studies until the end of the Sophomore year, and then either complete one of these courses or select that one of the Technical Courses which prepares directly for their chosen work. The studies of the first two years are so arranged as to form a course by themselves, especially adapted to meet the wants of those who cannot take the four years' course, but who desire to fit themselves well as land surveyors, or for any of the ordinary callings of life, at the same time acquiring a fair degree of liberal education. Students leaving at this period of their course receive from the Faculty a Certificate of their attainments. Besides the regular courses, of four years each, there are provided a three years' course in Mechanic Arts; distinct Special Courses, of two years each, in Chemistry and in Agriculture, and a Course of the same length in Literature and Science, which is especially designated to meet the wants of young ladies. In this Course ample facilities in music are also provided. The character of the several Courses may be briefly indicated as follows: I. GENERAL COURSES. I. The General Science Course. The Course in General Science may fairly be taken as representing the best average of work and of results among all the college courses. It is designed to meet the wants of those who desire to obtain a sound and lib |