Since my last report the chemical laboratories have been combined and moved to the third floor of the Mining Building, which, aside from concentration and convenience, has increased its facilities in every way. The Laboratory at all times has been well supplied with chemicals and apparatus for the current needs.

The Physical Department needs apparatus and space if much is to be accomplished in practice.

The Department is growing and I am quite well satisfied with the work accomplished. Respectfully submitted,

J. WARNE PHILLIPS.

ENTOMOLOGY AND BOTANY,

The President of the University:

SIR: The class work in this department during the years 1895 and 1896 embrace instruction in Botany, Entomology and Freehand Drawing. The science work was presented to students from the University School of Liberal Arts and Agriculture, and the State Normal School. Students from the Normal and Commercial Schools took the work in freehand drawing. The nature of the work in science and the manner of its presentation varied to a considerable degree in the different courses, the aim being to adjust the work in conformity with the purposes of the schools in which the subjects were presented. Lecture and text work invited illustrative in field observation on the part of the students, while the laboratory work gave practice with the compound microscope and the simpler methods of work in vegetable histology, and with the lower forms of plant life.

Within the present period the collections of plants and insects have been greatly augmented and have become much more efficient for educational purposes.

OUTLINE OF CLASS WORK, AND NUMBER OF STUDENTS.

SIR: In making report upon the Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Geology, I have to say that the work of the students has been satisfactory-in many cases excellent and in some cases worthy of special mention, were it within the province of an official report to specify particular individuals.

Tables exhibiting the number of students in classes in subjects taught, are herewith presented:

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It is to be observed that the number of students in many of the classes large. This is to be accounted for chiefly by the fact that so few students are enrolled in the course on Agriculture, in which course, alone, is much of the work of the department required for graduations. Furthermore, in the making of changes

in the various courses of study within the last few years, this department, especially, has been made to suffer through the advancement of subjects to the next higher year. This effect is to be seen in the work in Physical Geography, Geology and Anatomy, Physiology and Hygiene.

There is a growing demand upon the department for higher work in the Biological Sciences. This is due in part to the growing popularity of these sciences in general, and in part to the advantages offered by the University to young men and young women preparing for the profession of medicine. The demands made of candidates for matriculation in the better schools of medicine in the United States have been so widened and raised that a liberal secondary education, which shall include thorough preparation in Chemistry and Biology, has become necessary.

The equipment of the department to meet this growing demand is in some respects most excellent, but its efficiency could be hightened many fold by the expenditure of a sum of money amounting to $250. Yours, sincerely,

W. McN. MILLER,

Professor of Anatomy, Physiology and Geology.

NORMAL DEPARTMENT.

The President of the University:

SIR: I have the honor to submit herewith a report of the Normal Department, known in the State of Nevada as the State Normal School, for the years of 1895 and 1896: The total number of students taking pedagogical work during 1895 was 105; during 1896, 115.

June 4, 1895, Nevada State Normal School diplomas, and later, teachers' certificates of unlimited grade, good for five years, were issued to the following:

May Allen, Eva Irene Bradshaw, Edna Nevada Catlin, Marion C. Edmunds, Helen Murphy, Mary Anna Robb, Kate Isabelle Robb, Wilhelmina O. Sadler, Ina Hannah Stiner, B. A.

June 10, 1896, Nevada State Normal School diplomas, and later, teachers' certificates of Grammar grade, good for five years, were granted the following:

Lillian F. Campbell, Ella C. Duffy, Maude L. Douglas, Mary A. Erwin, Louise Evans, Lucy M. Grimes, Margaret B. Hymers, Edith Hand, Lillian M. Jones, Josephine Kelly, Kate Mayberry, Agnes Jean Maxwell, Edith McLean, Lena Mitchell, M. Jennie Mulcoy, Kate Moore, Hazel Belle Rulison and Augusta Saxton.

High School certificates, as provided for in the Statutes of 1895, were granted the following:

Agnes Bell, Louise F. Blum, Louise Frey, Gertrude Hironymous, Albert W. Ward, Otto F. Williams.

The degree of Bachelor of Pedagogy was bestowed on Agnes Bell and Louise F. Blum. Respectfully, MARY W. EMERY, Professor of Pedagogics.

COMMERCIAL DEPARTMENT.

The President of the University:

SIR: I herewith transmit my report for the years 1895-6. My immediate work is in the Commercial School, but in addition I have charge of various classes in the University and in the Normal School. The detailed report given below shows the nature of the work and the number of students in each class.

The following students completed the course of study in the Commercial School and were granted diplomas: Gabriella Delmas, Annie Foster, Elizabeth Longley, Florence Lamb, Walter C. Lamb, Herbert B. Maxon, John W. Wright, and Nellie Wright, in 1896.

Daniel W. Gault, James S. Giles, Carleton F. Muir, Jennie L. Sweetman, Charles A. R. Thompson and William R. Travers completed the work assigned them and were granted diplomas. I take pleasure in commending their work. A majority of the two classes is still in the University, taking a more extended course.

In addition to the foregoing work as instructor, I have the duties of Registrar, and also have the immediate charge of selling and furnishing textbooks to the students. The change in the method of handling textbooks made by the Honorable Board of Regents has very materially reduced the cost of textbooks to the individual student. This reduction ranges from 10 to 50 per cent, according to the class of books. The books are purchased from the publishers direct at wholesale rates, and enough added for expressage and interest on the capital necessary to carry on the business. I would recommend that some change in the direction of providing a fund for carrying on the textbook department be made, so as to relieve yourself and myself of the financial risk and responsibility (about five hundred dollars apiece) involved in the present system. The department is created for the benefit of the institution, yet the loss, if any should occur by fire or otherwise, would fall upon us personally. The extra work involved in the present method I am more than willing to perform for the students, but the financial risk is a little burdensome. Thanking you kindly for your more than hearty co-operation in the various lines of work I have charge of, I remain, sincerely yours,

ROBERT LEWERS.

AGRICULTURE AND HORTICULTURE.

To the President of the University:

SIR: The following report is presented for 1895 and 1896:

The period covered by this report has been one of more than usual activity in the class room, office and field.

The class room duties have nearly doubled, and the necessity for much extra effort in field experiments is explained in part by more extended operations on the leased property known as the Fair Grounds.

During the Spring term of 1895, the Junior class and Mr. Hanson, volunteer from the Department of Mines, took instruction in Agriculture. The same term the Seniors studied Horticulture and Forestry.

For 1896, during the second term, instruction was given to Juniors and Seniors in Agriculture, Horticulture and Forestry. The instruction is along the lines indicated by the best and latest practice and standard works of recent print.

It has been a pleasure to meet the young men, who elected the course in Agriculture, by reason of their strict attention to the subject under discussion, together with unvarying kindness and gentlemanly conduct.

A certain amount of laboratory apparatus would be valuable in illustrating the subjects taught in this department. Respectfully submitted,

R. H. MCDOWELL.

ENGLISH AND HISTORY.

The President of the University:

SIR: I herewith present the biennial report of the Department of English and History for the years 1895 and 1896:

The classes taught and the number of students in each are shown in the following tables: