Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1869 [PAGE 79]

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intendent of the Farms—these being his laboratory and apparatus of illustration. It was also provided that his plans for the management of the farms should be annually submitted to the Regent and Faculty, and, after discussion and adoption by them and the Trustees or Executive Committee, shall be put on record. I have the pleasure to submit herewith Prof. Bliss' plans of management for the farms for the current year, which have been discussed and concurred in, though not formally adopted by the Faculty. To make clear the aim and scope of his plans for the year, he has presented a series of diagrams, exhibiting the proposed rotation of crops on the stock farm for the next ten years. Accompanying this report, I submit a paper from Prof. Bliss, prepared by my request, and a plot illustrating his suggestions regarding the ultimate subdivision of the Experimental Farm. I concur heartily in his suggestion of the need of an intelligent foreman to aid in carrying out the practical work on the farms, and recommend that he be authorised to employ such foreman at a reasonable rate, and also such other farm laborers-as may be necessary. The 200 acres lying nearest the University will doubtless be found sufficient both for the horticultural grounds and the experimental farm. The plan accompanying this report exhibits the proposed distribution of this 200 acres, which is as follows, beginning on the north, next the street railroad : For arboretum, ten acres. Allowing sixty trees to the acre, which it is believed would leave abundant space for the paths and drives, this would afford room for 600 trees. Only eighty species are reported as indigenous to Illinois. But a much larger number can be acclimated here from other parts of this continent, and from the old world. The arboretum should be divided so as to exhibit, as far as practicable, the trees of each quarter of the globe by themselves. A distinct department should be made of the Illinois trees. Next the arboretum, if the ground is suitable, may be placed the nurseries, occupying five acres. Next this is the market garden, ten acres. These two departments, which will furnish considerable labor for students, will thus be found near at hand. Next may follow the small fruit plantations, viz; For strawberries, two acres. For raspberries, blackberries, etc., two acres. For currants, gooseberries, whortleberries, two acres. For grapes, two acres. These plots will be large enough to exhibit the several varieties of these fruits. This will bring us near a swale or slough susceptible of perfect drainage, but probably unsuitable, on account of its greater liability to early frosts, to most of horticultural purposes. It may be used for the cranberry or other shrubs or trees loving a wet soil. Passing this swale we again reach high ground, where we may plant our specimen and experimental gardens requiring five acres. In this garden we