The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1870-03-03
MIR. Clemson on Agricultural Education:

Mr. ClemSon Oh ASTlcu1LuIdi 3suuo"'Ae
1t induces in us feeling of surprise and
some degree of concern to see the almost
apathy with which the proceedings OF the
animal convention of the South Carolina
Agricultural and Mechanical Society (pub-
lished over month ago) has been receiv-
ed by both press and people. Only
few of our most thinking men seem to be
aware that in that brochure of seventy-two
pages there is thought-real, living, prac-
ticalthought-enough to make regulations
for half dozen volumes. 1t is thought,
too, Just such as we need in this day of
dawning progress in practical things
thought that goes to the roots OF things,
and which, it is to be earnestly hoped,
will do much to shape the policy of our
commonwealth.
There are in this publication eleven pa.
pers-the address of the president, re-
ports upon divers subjects, two letters,
and some notes on fencing--all bearing
marks of careful and practical thinking.
Prominent among these papers, and in
most respects the ablest, and, upon the
whole, the most suggestive, is that upon
the Necessity Of Scientific and Practical
Education" submitted by the chairman
ofsthe committee on that subject-Thom-
as G. Clemson, Esq.
Mr.. Clemson boldly takes the position
that South Carolina must establish insti-
tutions of technical character-lnstitu-
tions Tor an institution in which eduoa-
ton in the sciences, and their applications
to the productive arts, shall be given to
our people. Agricultural colleges esPe-
cially, he maintains, have become neces-
sity to onr State. ssUnder the new order
ofthings," Mr. Clemson adds, "Carolina
must take new departure. Science will
convert your quilted, sterile fields into
rich prairies of perennial .verdure, giving
sustenance to healthy and thriving stock,
which viii replace, with great profit, the
emaciated starvelings that wander about,
sad and unsatis6ed, dragging out unpro6-
table lives"
Mr. Clemson's idea is not only that this
technical education will bring South Car
oEina into the front rank of material pros.
psrity; but, further, that without it she is
doomed to sink lower and lower, because
her soil, climate and productions are such
that every year Of the old-fashioned agri-
culture leads to greater exhaustion. He
is against the importation Of expensive
fertilizers from abroad and finds in deep
ploughing, irrigation, and proper distribu-
tion and culture of crops-all of which
must be under the direction of scientific
practical knowledge-ample means to
make our soil and its yield all that could
be desired.
1t will, of course, be impossible here to
90 with Mr.. Clemson into the history, ,statis.
tics, and argument, by which he so ably
demonstrates his proposition, but we de-
sire to enter our record of the fact that he
has demonstrated it; and to point our
readers to the paper itself.
In indicating the abundant resources, SO
richly worth development, that TEEN in
our waters, soils, and vegetation, Mr..
Clemson mentions a dozen or more OF
which some are almost wholly untried.
Among these are salt (muriate of soda),
soda, cromine, iodine, lime, chlorine,
bleaching powder Chloride of lime),
manganese-all of which are found in
abundance in our soil or seas. lie urges
the preparation for use and sale of soaps,
beets, sugar, peas, potatoes, groundnuts,
fish, oysters, kaolin, meats, fruits, and
various vegetables.
On the whole, the paper is one somewhat
discursive and unequal as to form, but
eninently able and valuable in its matter,
and we'll worthy the careful study of
every planter, large and small, IN South
Carolina. Columbia Guardian.