Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1884 [PAGE 182]

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new ones put in. The cost in labor and material has therefore been considerably more than it would have otherwise been. Besides this, after the most strenuous efforts to save the plants, several kinds have been injured and a few destroyed. No change is now asked for, but during the summer the matter will demand consideration, and in some way improvement must be made. A case with glass doors is much needed in the office room of the green-house for storing and exhibiting florists' goods, which have heretofore been much injured by the dust and by handling. I refer to baskets and papers for bouquets, designs for crosses, columns, etc. It is thought that twelve dollars will be sufficient for present need. In the orchard and grounds about the building considerable damage was done to the trees by the ice freezing upon them. In some cases we found limbs had two hundred times their own weight of ice upon them. The numerous broken branches has required considerable pruning, most of which has been done. For the apple orchard I recommend the cutting away of all trees now unsound to any considerable extent and the trimming to an even height the rows of evergreens. A. wirefence now across the east side will permit the pasturage of cattle, and by cutting the weeds once or twice during the summer the best use and best appearance of the orchard can be secured. The only doubt about the advisability of turning cattle in is whether they may not seriously injure the evergreen trees, but there are so many of the latter that the proper number of cattle may not perceptibly interfere with the trees. I am quite certain that it will not be good policy to undertake to fill up rhe open spaces with young trees. A.11 the large size forest trees in the nursery, near the veterinary stable, should be removed this year. Many may be used where needed or sold, but no doubt some will have to be destroyed. The whole place should be cleaned an as fast as possible. If we wanted to use it, as the land is now it is not fit for nursery stock. I do not find a man to act as working foreman of this part of the horticultural grounds whom I wish to have employed permanently. Probably one capable of filling the place satisfactorily cannot be had for less than $40 to $51 per month We can hardly expect to "grow" such men as has been suggested and keep them, even at this rate. Under the circumstances it does not seem to me wise to undertake anything new in this part of our work, i. e. beyond the reach of ordinary laborers with such attention as I can give to it. Neither do I think the latter can be sufficient to do what ought to be done. I dislike the details of peddling things around for sale and of the minutias of directions necessary to make really successful any considerable variety of horticultural crops. It is too time-consuming for one thoroughly busy about something else. My whole time is given to proper University work in one sense or another, but it does not seem either justice to myself or to the specialties in my charge that a large amount of it should go as a field laborer or manager. It is to be hoped, however, and we may reasonably expect, that with good crops the ordinary expenses of the department for the season will be covered by the returns. To help in this latter direction I think it best to plant a part of the land north of veterinary stable in onions, though for want of proper winter storage a failure was made last year. In the fall there is very little demand for onions, but in the spring good prices and ready sale is always the case. T. J. BURRILL, Professor of Horticulture.

T. Klingenspor was appointed Florist and Gardener, as recommended, at a salary of $50 per month. An appropriation of $12.00 was made for glass case. The recommendation to remove trees from apple orchard was referred to the committee on buildings and grounds. On motion of Mr. Kenower the matter of Illini printing office was referred to the Executive Committee and the Eegent for report at next meeting.* The following report from the Executive Committee was received and approved:

• To the Trustees of the Illinois Industrial University: GENTLEMEN—A.t the last meeting of the Trustees a communication from Mr. J. McClenahan, of Knoxville, was referred to a committee consisting of the Executive Committee and the Regent. A meeting of the committee was held at the office of Col. R. B. Mason in Chicago, on the 13th of January, at which were present Messrs. Mason and Millard, and the Regent. Mr. McOlenahan appeared before the committee and presented a detailed statement of his plan for a wider dissemination of agricultural instruction. This plan may be briefly stated thus: That a course of study, a tapted to young men and boys working on the farm, should be devised, and that it should be made known to such as might desire to take part therein, by circulars, distributed from a central office.