The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1853-10-25
,}or tbe @armers.
From the Charleston Mercury.
Agricultural Science.

lie public Journals forinf0rmation and instruc-
lion. they are the guides of the community,
Ind leaders in directing every purpose which
3sintended5to promote the welfare and advance
6,ent of theaStatea l therefore call your at.
tention to question which intelligentmen are
cantinually asking, aud to which hitherto there
sesns to have been no adequate answer. Why
IS it that South Carolina does so little for the
agriculture of the Stateg2s Why is it that she
carefully and munifcently fosters every kind Of
obstruction except that which is so essential to
her prosperity? She is emphatically an Agri-
cultural State. Agriculture is the business OF
tie,highest and humblest ofher citizens. Why
las, she no Professorship Of Agriculture within
her limits
aIhe State .Conege>does her honor, and has
conferred advantages Of fexceeding great value.
Bit while SHE cultivates the minds other youth
iheIassica learning, general literature, rhetoric,
Ehgfc, and mathematical science, she gives them
mo lesson ON the principles and practice of the
most important Of all sciences. Among the
scominon places with which political writers,
and stump orators, are used to tickle the ears
i of the plain, honest, but unlearned farming
class, one is to assure them of the honor and
dignity that belong to the man who succeeds
ip making two blades Of grass grow where one
rev before. And what is the consequence OF
this flourish when the speaker takes his seat in
the Legislature9 Is tito use the necessary
means for teaching his constituents how to per-
form this exploit which heshas SO loudly eulo,
,fisedg Not at ALL He will lend his aid to
/ make our young men lawyers, or doctors, or
preachers. He will establish military schools
t,, teach our lads the mysteries of the drill how
1. TO march and countermarch, ard handle their
muskets with adequate skill; bnt he gives no
Thought to the poor farmers necessities, and
rights. He never once thinks of these blades
Of grass that make SO pleasant picture in his
exercise of rhetorical talents. They have with.
cred away, and, having, served the purpose. OF
tickling the ears of the groundiogs, are aban-
.doned and forgotton. - ~
Now, of the youth of the State, how many
are intended to become: professional mens Not
one in one hundred. How often will an occa;
sion arise forsthe application Of that military
science which is taught at the expense of the
farn,ersq Not,once probably, in lifetime.
When, and by whom is agricultural knowledge
. reaaired2 By the whole :people-by rich and
poor, high and humble, educated and ignorant.
And .yetthe care and wealth of the State is
exclusively devoted to the cultivation of the
few, and to preparation for the rare occa-
siens that may happen but once in an age.
1t may be said that the instruction impaired
at College is. intended for the general improve
,nent of the mnd-to make our youth accom-
plisbed scholars-to embelish their minds with
the charms of literature and learning and not
for mere professional preparation. But even
i,,that point Of view, the advantages accrueto
: avery small number only. Of the young men
who 90 to College, the proportion is very mi.
mute that is able to acquire the tastes and
knowledge of a cultivated mind. The mass
of even College lads fall back, on leaving Col.
lege, into the ordinary pursuits of life. When
their education is completed there, they begin
to learn. the first principles of what is to be
their constant occupation. They are sons. for
the most, of planters They have been trained
IN Grammar Schools, Academies, and at Col.
-lese. They return hone. when graduated TO
: cultivate their farms Not one in ten has the
slightest knowledge of his business. They dc
not know the trees and shrubs on their plan
tations the nature Of their soils, the qualities Of
their manures, the habits Of the insects that
destroy their crops. Their practice is all EN-
pirical They learn by successive losses. II
thev succeed at all it is by the sacrifice OF ma
ny harvests.
But the danger is that they may never sue
ceed at ALL Our mode of education not only
does not fit our young men for the business Of
their lives, but it really units them for it. Not
merely the knowledge, but the taste for the oc,
cupation of farmer is 10 be acquired in early
Life. The College wi!hdraws the young stu
dent from the country. He acquires habits
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