The requirement that instruction in gardening and horticulture should receive attention at the Garden, in addition to the provision of a lodging house for pupils, led to the entire renovation of the fruit orchard some years ago, at a cost of $444.44, and two small vegetable houses have been built for further experimental and educational use. The annual expenditure on the gardening course averages $930.34.
The Director reports that of the 39 pupils thus far enrolled, of whom 15 completed the course, ten are now successful florists or gardeners, two have become landscape architects, three hold responsible park positions, two are college horticulturists with teaching as well as practical duties, one is a surveyor, one is a government plant experimenter, and one is a forester in the Philippine service.
INSTRUCTION IN BOTANY
Mr. Shaw’s provision for a close connection between the School of Botany, which he had endowed in Washington University, and the Garden has been of great assistance to the undergraduate department of the University, and through the Garden opportunities for work have been offered to graduate students, of whom five have received the Master’s degree and six the degree of Doctor of Philosophy with botany as a major study. The Board expect to see a large increase in this utilisation of the Garden facilities commensurate with the very gratifying growth of Washington University. Indirectly the Garden has been of much use to the young men who have served as assistants in its office, library, or herbarium, or as teachers in the school of botany, for with very few exceptions they have gone to college, government or other positions of high responsibility in botany or horticulture, for which their service here gave excellent training.
NEW YORK STATE COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AT CORNELL UNIVERSITY, ITHACA, NEW YORK
Normal Work.—Two-Year Special Course in Nature-Study.—This course is organised to help persons who expect to teach nature-study and country-life subjects in the public schools. Persons actually engaged in teaching, and also all persons in the University who signify their intention to teach, are eligible. A certificate will be given on the completion of 60 hours in the courses prescribed below, together with such other work in the College of Agriculture as may be approved by the director. Designed to prepare students to teach elementary agriculture.
Nature-Study.—Lectures and discussion of methods.
Home Nature-Study Work.—Work in the training classes in the Ithaca schools in which students are also to take part.
Practice Work in Nature-Study in the public schools of Ithaca, comprising schoolroom work, excursions, and other exercises with children.
School Gardens, comprising actual garden-making with children on school grounds and in the University school gardens. In winter the work will be conducted in the forcing houses, where plant-growing subjects will be taken up in such a way as to adapt them to elementary school conditions.