Foreman of the Farm, $600 oo; Hospital Nurse, $270 00; 2 students, assistants in Departments of Biology and Chemistry, $112 50 each.

The Faculty is an able, earnest, and united one; they are all firm believers in industrial education; there is not a discordant element in it, and all are enthusiastic in their work.

THE DEPARTMENTS OF THE COLLEGE.

The reports of the professors and officers in charge of the dif ferent departments, supplement and form a part of this report. I commend them to your careful consideration, as to the details of their instruction and work with the student body. They are most complete, and show in detail our improvement and progress. I fully approve of the reports and the recommendations they contain. Several of the departments need some additional equipment, made necessary by our large attendance and rapid growth.

The Department of Mathematics needs an outfit for illustrating the principles of Mechanics, about $800 00.

The Department of Chemistry and Physics needs an additional outfit, about $860 oo.

The Department of Biology needs a supply of additional outfits, about $800 00. The other departments about $750 00.

ATTENDANCE OF STUDENTS.

In the two sessions since my last report (1883 and 1884, and 1884 and 1885), we had for the first, 257 students, (122 in the College classes, 135 in the preparatory department) graduating class, 9; in the second session, 291 students (141 in the college classes, 150 in the preparatory department), graduating class, II. At the beginning of the present session (1885 and 1886), we have in attendance 369 students so far. Our full capacity, with present buildings and outfit, with the largest Sophomore and Freshman classes we have ever had, (respectively 58 and 84), which indicates much larger graduating classes after the next two years. We could now have more students, had we accommodations; have refused nearly one hundred students from other States this session, but so far have been able to accommodate all Mississippi boys applying. A large number are applying for admission after January, but we will be able to accommodate only as many students more as will replace those who have left or may not return after the Christmas holidays (say about 30.)

The College has passed through that depressing period of uncertainty which attaches to all new institutions, and in future we can safely predict that under the able and wise management of the present Board of Trustees, and its increasing popularity, the attendance and development will only be measured by the means at their disposal. We have a post graduate class consisting of 9 Bachelors of Science, and 1 Bachelor of Arts; the latter a graduate of another State Univerity; and the indications are that in future we will have large classes studying the higher branches of scientific and practical agriculture.

Counting the attendance in each session as shown by the record, we have had at the College since our opening, in September, 1880, 1890 students in a little over five years, an average yearly attendance of 315. This record surpasses that of any other similar institution for first five years established under the Federal Act, passed in 1862, as indicated by the reports of the Commissioner of Education concerning the 47 institutions named.

The report of Lieut. Buck, U. S. A., the Commandant, shows also that the restlessness of students which marked the first few years of our progress has almost disappeared, and the percentage of students who enter and leave each year before the close of the session, has gradually and regularly diminished from 66 per cent. the first session, to about 15 per cent. the present.

COURSE OF INSTRUCTION.

There is a single course of study extending over four years collegiate and two years preparatory, (details shown in our catalogue)

PREPARATORY DEPARTMENT.

The organic law of the College makes a common school education obligatory, hence this Department. The common schools of the State, outside of towns and villages, are not such as they ought to be, and in the black belts of the State the establishment of schools for the whites is almost impossible, and if this department did not exist it would virtually rule out the very class of boys the law was intended to benefit in this State, viz: the sons of farmers. Many of the brightest and most promising boys now at the College could hardly get into this Department when they first entered, and would have been deprived of a collegiate education but for the existence of this Department. Again, students who are far advanced before entering college have generally already imbibed a bias in favor of the so-called "learned professions," whereas, boys who grow up at this College, under the honorable and favorable presentation of agriculture, are apt to be impressed in its favor, and it overcomes that tendency of country boys to move from the country to the towns and villages. Still, with the prospective large attendance in the future, I am inclined to recommend to the Board of Trustees, that this Department be limited to a one year's course, sufficient to fit boys for entering the Freshman class, but not to do away with the Department.

DAILY ROUTINE.

Commencing in the morning, the students rise about dawn, and several hours are given to study, breakfast, etc. The academic exercises, beginning with religious services in the chapel, occupy the students' time until dinner. The industrial and military duties take place after dinner-three-fourths of the students working, one-fourth drilling, according to company organizations, every evening. (weather permitting). Additional time for preparation of studies is after supper until 10 P. M.

DISCIPLINE.

The discipline is most excellent, and is directly administered by an educated and accomplished officer of the United States Army, a graduate of West Point. It permeates every department of the College, and its influence is felt in the class-room, and on the farm, as well as in the dormitory and on the campus. For nearly two years there has been no disorder of any kind in the student body, and the moral, best element among the students is in front controlling in all matters. I have never seen better behavior among an equal body of men or students, and too much credit cannot be given the Commandant as a disciplinarian.

MILITARY EQUIPMENT.

The College received from the United States 150 stand of cadet rifles and accoutrements, and two rifle cannon; from the State, 100 stand of cadet rifles and accoutrements-total, 250 stand. With the present attendance we still need one hundred stand of

arms more.

THE INDUSTRIAL FEATURE.

The principle of technical education as loyally carried out in the interest of agriculture as it now is in the education of the soldier, sailor, doctor, lawyer, engineer, mechanic, will produce like results in preparing young men for the profession of a farmer. It is doing it at this College. Of 27 living graduates, 14 of them are engaged at farming or kindred pursuits--over fifty per cent. Every student here is instructed theoretically and prac tically in agriculture, and it is telling on the body of students, most of whom indicate that they will be farmers, when their education is completed. All graduates at the College engaged in teaching are taking post-graduate courses in advanced agricultural sciences. The brightest students are all prosecuting their agricultural studies zealously and engaging in work on the farm mainly. The amount of work done by each student depends in a great measure upon the student himself, although it is compulsory on all. If the student is healthy and the weather permits, a willing, earnest student shows better results than the unwilling, careless boy, who requires punishment to enforce his work, studies, or other duties. Our experience shows that generally those students who are most earnest in their work, stand highest in their studies. This working feature enables boys of moderate means to assist themselves in getting an education, and at much less expense than they can obtain one elsewhere. It also inculcates and retains industrious habits at a period of life when most boys give sole attention to brain culture, to the exclusion of any industrial training, which has a tendency to make them look down on labor or any industrial pursuit as not requiring culture. The system of this College makes labor honorable and demonstrates that high culture is not separate from, or incompatible with work of any kind, and especially farming; but go hand in hand in developing our vast industries and resources. It is essential that theory and

practice go together in the education of the farmer. It is deemed essential in preparing young men for the so-called "learned professions" to give them a liberal education and then send them for technical instruction to the military, naval, law, medical, divinity, engineering and other colleges to fit them for their life-work. Why is this not necessary for the farmer, who has to understand nature, and nature's laws? He has the most difficult and constantly varied problems to solve, depending on the seasons, soils, diseases of stock, etc. Yet it is generally assumed he needs but little education. The lack of this education accounts for our worn-out lands and decreasing crops yearly on the same acreage. The so-called professional men require expensive outfits outside of the class-rooms, such as are necessary at West Point, Annapolis-dissecting conveniences at medical colleges, field-work at engineering colleges, shop work, moot courts, etc.-all of which is about as expensive as the theoretical class-room instruction, yet is deemed necessary for success. Should not the farmer have his outside instruction, as well under able and practical professors on the farm, with stock, in garden, etc.? It is stated this is expensive. It is expensive, but it is as essential to the intelligent, educated farmer, as to those in other pursuits or professions. The lack of this special training, which is deemed so necessary in other Colleges, is what places the farmer at disadvantage in the struggle of life. The outside equipment of an Agricultural College in way of farm, stock, nursery, creamery and crops, brings a handsome return in the way of profits; whereas, this outfit in other professions shows no tangible return, except in the education of the student, hence the reason is two-fold, for this outside technical training for the farmer. The burden of taxation, too, in Mississippi falls on the farmer; he should, therefore, have a college as well equipped as any provided for those entering other professions. Agriculture is nearly everything in Mississippi (as we have no iron or coal beds) and it should be elevated and intelligently guided, or else there can be no prosperity in the State.

FARM, GARDENS AND EXPERIMENTS.

The farm has in it about 1750 acres, only 400 of which is good land, (and not all this in cultivation); the balance is worn, gullied hill, land, (old cotton fields.) At first it was considered a great disaster to have selected such a poor farm. Now it is evident it will be a great blessing to the State in showing how our worn lands can be reclaimed and made remunerative under skillful, simple treatment. The proportion of good and poor land on the College farm is about the same as that on the average Mississippi farm, still all is now being utilized and becoming rapidily profitable. The good lands are being carefully cultivated in crops, and increased in fertility, while the poor lands have been enclosed, secured from washings, and nature is being assisted in covering them with grasses for grazing cattle, and in this way they are almost as remunerative as the good lands. The farm is now beginning to pay handsomely. A mistake was made in anticipat

ing this result too early (considering the poverty of most of the land), but there is no doubt now about the farm paying well in the future, and increasing the income every year, as it is improved and more thoroughly cultivated.

RESULTS.

As a result of the work done, I refer to the increased value of the farm as shown by the appraisers; to the fact that lands around the College have greatly enhanced in value, in copying after the College plan; to the fact that much land that was regarded as almost valueless, is now being enclosed by wire fencing as pastures for stock; to the fact, that during the last summer twenty one silos were erected almost in sight of the College, as the result of ensilage feeding of stock at the College; to the fact, that herds of milk-cattle are being doubled to patronize the College Creamery, which has proved a success; to the fact, that this Creamery, by its work, has caused the imaginary "dairy belt" claimed further north to disappear, and demonstrated at the Agricultural College, that Mississippi is a great cattle and butter State, and for little outlay our butter can be easily handled and placed in market at the South, driving out Northern and Western butter, that in almost every instance the College Creamery butter com. manded better prices than the Western butter; to the fact, that farmers in our own and other States, are almost daily visiting the College to see our methods and get information as to our practice and results; in fact, the College is almost an official bureau of information.

HORTICUlture.

The horticultural grounds are being rapidily developed by one of our own graduates, and that department is self-sustaining from this time. We have permanent orchards coming on, which are promising. Have a paying commercial nursery, supply all our students with abundant vegetables and small fruits, and soon will be shipping vegetables and fruits to add to our income.

LABOR.

All the labor in the farm and in the horticultural department is done by students, excepting the driving of the teams, which requires constant work, and thus would interfere with their studying.

VETERINARY SCIENCE.

This science is taught only three months by Dr. Phares. This time is not sufficient. There is a demand in many directions over the State for the establishment of a Chair of Veterinary Science at the College, and a State Veterinary Surgeon. The stock interests of Mississippi are rapidly becoming more and more valuable. Many of our citizens have herds of pure-bred stock, and single animals are frequently valued at thousands of dollars. The loss on live stock annually in Mississippi is very great, and frequently the most valuable animals die because of no one knowing the ordinary remedies. The teaching of this science more