Drawing. This practice is obtained in the solution of problems in Plane Geometry, thus securing two ends, viz., a knowledge of the purposes of the instruments and of the manner of using them, and a knowledge of geometrical principles and their applications, particularly such modifications and applications of the principles as will give the shortest, neatest and most perspicuous methods of working. When the student has acquired some facility in the use of instruments, he is taught the methods of Topographical Drawing with practice in the use of colors, pen-signs, contour-lines, &c. Also the methods of Graphical Representation of Statistical Data. At the end of the first year's work, the student has had instruction sufficient to enable him to execute all the drawings required in Plane Surveying for farm purposes, &c.

In the Sophomore year, the course in Drawing is based on Descriptive Geometry, as that, at the beginning of the Freshman year, exercised the student's knowledge of Elementary Geometry. Besides the solution of problems in Solid Geometry, the course, during the year, includes practice in Shades and Shadows and Linear Perspective, the work being all directed by mathematical principles.

During the Junior and Senior years, the aim of the instruction is to acquaint the student with some of the many applications of the principles of Drawing additional to those in which he has had practice in the first two years. The limited time allowed to the subject, and the diversity of the intended pursuits of the students after graduation, prevent extended practice in any particular department of Drawing. The design, therefore, is to prepare intelligent and ready draughtsmen, familiar with fundamental principles and methods; men who will be valuable assistants in the draughting-room of the architect or engineer, rather than accomplished masters in these professions; to give the student a safe beginning on which to grow more easily and surely into the practical designer.

3. ASTRONOMY.

The Daniel S. Schanck Observatory is a two-story brick building, with revolving dome, constructed especially for astronomical work. It contains in the main part the equatorial telescope, mounted on a pier of solid masonry extending several feet below the surface of the ground, and detached from the floors, through which it rises, so as to be unaffected by the tremors of the building. The telescope is eight feet four inches in focal length, with an aperture of six and one-half inches, and was made by the late Henry Fitz, of New York. It has a small telescope attached for a finder, a driving clock, a position micrometer, a number of eye-pieces, a prism and glasses for solar observations. The declination circle is ten inches in diameter, reading by verniers to one minute of arc, and the hour circle, seven and onehalf inches in diameter, reads by verniers to six seconds of time.

On the west side of the main part is an extension for transit observations. The meridian circle used for this work was made by Stackpole & Brother, of New York, and has an object-glass four inches in diameter and four feet ten inches in focal length, with circles seventeen inches in diameter, reading by two microscopes with micrometer screws to single seconds of arc. The diaphragm carries one horizontal and seven vertical wires. There is also a striding spirit level and an apparatus for reversing the axis of the instrument. The bearings rest on two stone pillars, supported by piers of masonry.

The Observatory has also a sidereal clock, by Wm. Bond & Son, the gift of John Clark, Esq., of New Brunswick, with an electrical break-circuit; a mean solar clock, the gift of the Peithessophian Society of Rutgers College, and a reflecting circle, the gift of the Philoclean Society of Rutgers College, and a chronograph loaned to the Observatory by the Superintendent of the United States Coast Survey.

The Observatory is in connection with the United States Naval Observatory and others by the Western Union Telegraph Line, so that observations may be compared by exchange of time-signals. The instruments are all in good working condition, and the student of practical astronomy has here unusual facilities for learning the theory and the use of astronomical instruments. Practice is acquired in observing transits both by the "eye and ear" method and by chronographic signals, and also in making differential measurements with the micrometer.

The refined methods of measurement which the use of astronomical instruments requires, the discussion of results and the determination of errors, afford a mental training of great value. Add to these the familiarity with spherical astronomy and with the constellations which the practical study of this science imparts, and the advantage gained is a strong recommendation of its pursuit.

The elements of astronomy are taught by the use of a text-book and by lectures during the second term of the Junior year. Those who elect a special course in Astronomy receive further instruction three times a week through the Senior year, using the instruments and taking part in the observations. Post-graduate students can take a still more extended course. Among the subjects included in the course are the following:

Theory and use of the instruments.

Determination of instrumental errors.

Determination of sidereal, apparent and mean solar time.

Transformation of different systems of coördinates.

Reduction of observations for refraction and parallax.

Determination of latitude and longitude.

Reduction of stars from apparent to mean place, and vice versa.

Theory of interpolation.

Combination of observations by the method of Least Squares.
Calculation and projection of eclipses.

Calculation of ephemerides.

Calculation of the orbits of comets and planets.

The longitude of the Observatory is 10' 24.49" east of Washington. The latitude is 40° 29' 53".

4. PHYSICS.

Instruction is given in Mechanics, Heat and Electricity, Light and Sound two hours a week during the Sophomore and Junior years. "Deschanel's Natural Philosophy" is used as a text-book, but is largely supplemented with lectures, explanations and problems. The class use the French edition of Deschanel as the regular textbook in Physics. The subjects are treated both experimentally and theoretically. The students are required to take notes of the lectures and experiments, and of the solution of exercises, and these notes are at intervals inspected by the instructor.

The Mechanics included in the first part of this course serve not only as a good preparation for the subsequent parts of General Physics, but also as an introduction to Analytical and Applied Mechanics in the Engineering Course.

The work of the lecture-room aims to make the principles clearly understood both in their nature and their application, by the following

methods:

1. By experiments; made, as far as possible, by the students, under the guidance of the instructor.

2. By their use in the explanation of these illustrations, or of wellknown phenomena.

3. By their application of the solution to numerous exercises of a practical character.

Quite an extensive supply of physical apparatus, to which additions are made as needed, permits a large variety of illustrative experiments. It is not the sole or chief aim in teaching this science to store the mind with facts, but rather to develop the reasoning powers and accustom the student to trace the connection between cause and effect. After grasping a general principle established by observation and experiment, he is exercised in deducing from the general law the numerous and varied consequences which, under stated conditions, flow from it. Students who wish to pursue further a special subject

by experimental investigation under the direction of the instructor, have opportunity given as far as present means allow.

When desired by a sufficient number of students intending to teach Physics in public or private schools, a brief course of lectures will be given in the spring term on the methods of teaching, with special reference to such easy experiments and illustrations as may be given with apparatus which can be constructed or obtained at very small expense.

The application of the Science of Heat to the warming and ventilation of houses, to the steam-engine and to the weather, is made by such illustrations as will tend to fix principles, as well as facts, permanently in the memory. The subject of Electricity is presented with equal fullness of detail in its relations to natural phenomena and modern industrial progress.

Throughout the whole course in Physics, care is taken to show the intimate connection of the various branches of science, and to give to the novelties of the day no more than a just share of attention. The concluding part of the course is devoted to such suggestions and directions as are calculated to stimulate to and guide in original work.

Through the kindness of friends of the College, large additions to the Electrical apparatus have been made during the past year.

INORGANIC CHEMISTRY is taught in the Sophomore year by textbook and lectures. The subject is introduced by experimental lectures on the volume-composition of substances. Then follows a careful black-board drill on the writing of empirical and constitutional formulas of acids, bases and salts. The elements are next taken up in lectures, followed by recitations. In all cases the aim is to illustrate every fact, experimentally, thus giving the student ample experience in experimental demonstration. The students are required to take full notes on the lectures, and sketches of the apparatus used in the experiments. These notes are afterwards copied and handed to the Professor for examination, criticism and correction, thus training the student in accurate observation, and in facility and brevity of expression. In the Senior year Theoretical and Higher Chemistry is studied.

(b) Organic Chemistry.

ORGANIC CHEMISTRY is taught by lectures and recitations and laboratory practice. Beginning with the determination of the mole

cular weight of organic compounds, the student is led to examine the principles of substitution, valence and structure of organic compounds. Starting out from Methane, and various members of the Methane (mono-carbon) series are derived. When this series has been completed, the Ethane series is taken up and gone through with in the same manner. Then follow the Butane and Propane series, &c. At the end of each series a recapitulation of the typical reactions and relations of each group is given.

The manner in treating the subject is substantially the same as that introduced by Prof. Hofmann, of Berlin. As the various substances are considered, their relations to vegetable and animal life and to agriculture are pointed out. Attention is also given to their practical applications, as in food, medicines, dyeing and in manufactures generally. Familiarity with the various methods peculiar to work in Organic Chemistry is obtained by laboratory practice.

(c) Applied Chemistry.

The applications of Chemistry to the arts and manufactures are taught by text-book and lectures. Whenever it is practicable, the actual products are exhibited to the students, and the manufacturing processes reproduced in miniature. Attention is drawn to the scientific relations and connections between the various manufactures. The great losses by imperfect methods of manufacture and by waste products are pointed out, and the student is taught to see the true economy of production. Illustrative of lectures, visits are made to various manufacturing establishments, of which there are a number in and about New Brunswick, and an opportunity is given to see the manufacturing operations in actual working.

(d) Laboratory Practice.

Rooms in the Geological Hall are at present devoted to chemical instruction.

An extensive stock of apparatus is kept on hand in the supply-room, so that the student is able to use the most modern appliances in his analyses.

The student begins EXPERIMENTAL CHEMISTRY by making the experiments in Eliot and Storer's Manual. In this way he becomes acquainted with the various elements and their compounds by actually working with them, and not by merely reading about them. Experience is also obtained in chemical manipulation and the setting up and management of chemical apparatus. Students are uniformly much interested in making these chemical experiments.

The study of QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS is next begun. The student