Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1876 [PAGE 174]

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174

D E P A R T M E N T OF

HORTICULTURE.

To DR. J. M. GREGORY, Regent 111. Ind. University: 1 respectfully submit the following report of the condition and wants of the Horticultural Department.

ARBORETUM.

The Arboretum now contains the following species of trees and shrubs, with the number of each that are intended to remain: American or White Elm, 12 ; European Larch, 6 ; American Arbor Vitse, 3; Irish Juniper, 1; Box Elder, 6 ; White Ash, 6 ; Norway Spruce, 6 ; Osage, 1; Hazelnut, 6 ; Butternut, 6; Sycamore, 2 ; Blue Ash, 6 ; Willows of numerous species, 44 ; Hard Maple, 6; Austrian Pine, 2; Scotch Pine, 2;. Red Bud, 2; Coffee Nut, 4; Honey Locust, 4; Cottonwood, 4; Dogwood (Cornus Sericea), 2; Button Bush, 2 ; Crab Apple, 1; Plum, 1; Wild Cherry, 1; Sumach, 2; Linn, 4; Thorn (Crataegus Coccinea and Tomentosa), 6; Mulberry, 4; Whahoo, 3; Prickley Ash, 2; Iron Wood, 5. Besides these, a considerable number of Silver-leafed Maple and Catalpa trees were planted in the spring and fall of 1875, for present effect and to afford shelter for those kinds which are too tender to withstand the rigors of the open field, at least while young. Of the latter there are many varieties which can be successfully grown, with a slight protection, and which, after a time, afford sufficient shelter for themselves; but which it would be impossible to start in the open ground. To this end it seems to me advisable to plant many more of such common kinds as we have on hand. I would also again urge the purenase of a large number of kinds of young trees for this plantation. Thomas Mehan, of the Germantown Nurseries, Penn., then offered to let the University have a collection of such young trees, for twenty-five cents apiece—two each, or two hundred species, four h u n d r e d plants, for one hundred dollars, all of these to be different from those we have or can readily obtain near home. This offer is probably still good, and may be the best that can be done. Such trees would require setting in tne nursery for a few years, after which time the arboretum, if planted now, as suggested, would be better fitted to receive them. The common trees planted for temporary use can be removed as necessary, at little cost. Heretofore, owing to travel across the grounds by men andteams, other property being inclosed in the same lot, and the sidewalk upon the west being inside of the fence, necessitating stiles or gates frequently out of order, great annoyance and no little damage has been done by the droves of town cows which are nearly always hanging about, winter and summer. It has also been very difficult to make workmen understand the value of trees, or careful enough to save them from injury by their teams while plowing, cultivating, etc. These causes, combined with the excessive drought of the summers preceding the last, have retarded the progress expected upon these grounds. The dangers are not yet fully passed, but very much lessened. Constant watchfulness by interested persons can only fully avoid them, yet the conditions are very much improved. Clover was sown last spring, and has now obtained an excellent footing, now appearing thick and fresh.

GREEN HOUSE.

As things now are it would be much better in everyway if the green house was near the new university building. When a Chemical Laboratory is erected a Botanical Laboratory comprising plant structures and class work rooms ought to be connected with it. If there is no prospect of this it seems to me the best thing that can be done for real usefulness is to connect a low propagating house with the south end of the east or west wing of the main building, using a portion of the basement room for the class work room. Besides the inconvenience of transporting specimens the use of many of them in the lecture room keeps it in a constant litter. Botany and horticulture may be taught, after a fashion, from books and by words alone, but it certainly is not the best way. An abundance of stems, leaves, buds, flowers, &c, &c, to be dissected and examined microscopically and otherwise with facilities for recording observations by words and drawings, are necessities in teaching, properly, these subjects. Tables are needed and a few instruments with drawers for keeping them, and the drawings made or in progress are also required. Thus it will be seen a common recitation or lecture room can not well be used for its own purpose and for that of a work and laboratory room as well. The recitations might about as well be held in the chemical laboratory. Adopting the plan suggested, a plant house made for use, not for ornament, sunk to the eaves in the ground, could be heated by a steam coil from the boilers now used to heat the building by adding a common stove to be used when the boilers were not in use Sundays, &c. For the stove one of the back flues would answer. The glass, sash, &c, for such a structure are already on hand, so that but a small outlay would be required, according to the size of the house—say from 8100 to $300, or even a less sum if positively necessary. I believe such a house could be cared for with very little expense, students in their class exercises doing most of the work. For experimental purposes an arrangement for a platform on wheels to be run out on pleasant days would be a great advantage. In this way plants in pots could be grown, each having its special soil, fertilizers, &c, and many facts ascertained. It is the method followed with best results at the experimental stations in the old world. This house would be altogether different from the one we now have, and would be used for an entirely different purpose. In.the one, small plants only could be grown ;*in the other, such large plants as we now have; the one for practical use especially, the other for show and illustration of tropical and other plants. The low house would be needed whether the other is moved or not, but more if it was not. The old house is badly out of repair. One floor was taken out last a u t u m n , and the other will have to be this summer. The putty is almost all loose, and some of the glass broken. A partition wall is rotten and liable to fall. The brick'work about the furnace has been patched until there is little of mending further without considerable pulling down. If the winter had been severe we should have had much trouble to get through safely. It will probably cost $100 to repair properly, perhaps $150. Would it not be better to move it during the summer, letting this sum go towards the expense? I am not competent to say how much the moving would cost; perhaps $400. Its care would be rather less when moved, for the reasons given before.