The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1871-08-18
AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT COLLEGE.


q. ". Hiakle, Esq, Atlanta., Ga :
Dear iSir-From long interview ]
held short time ago with you on
the subject ofagricultural education,
and your great desire to see an agri-
cultural college established in Geor-
gia, ! thought whilst on visit tc
this place, might give you some in
formation as to the workings of Am
herst Agricultural College.
This college has been open to stu
dents for four years. Its friends
claim that it is grand success.
The farm contains 385 acres, with
various buildings, consisting of two
dormitories, chapel, two boarding
houses, plant house and museum,
farm house and several barns, are
situated a mile from the village. on
the road to North Amherst.
The total value of the college real
estate is two hundred Ghousand dol
lars the value of the stock. imple-
pIements and produce at the COM
mencement of this year was S15,-
600.
The Legislature at the last session
voted the College $3.50. O00-and it
now has a cash fund of a quarter Of
a million and as much more invested
in good securities.
Massachusetts is making a great
effort TO give her farmer boys a good
professional agricultural Education
in the hope of keeping most of them
within her borders, to multiply her
pleasant places, so that the broad
prararies of the northwest shall not
draw her sons away.
The college is in charge Of a BOARD
of Trustees elected by the Legisla
turc, aud the Board of Overseers il
the State Board of Agriculture.
w. $. Clark is President and Pro
fessor of Botany and Horticulture
He is assisted by six resident Pro
fessors in Agriculture, Modern Ian
guages, Chemistry, Mathematics an
Farm Engineering. Military scien
ces and tactics, and mental moral an
social sciences are taught.
Several members of the Amhers
Faculty give instruction in elOcution
English literature, &C., and eminent
gentlemen from abroad lecture upon
various departments of agricultural
science.
The aim is to give a thorough ed
ucation in all the branches Of farm
ing and sufficient general knowiedg,
to enable the farmer to take that pc
sition in the community to which h
is entitled-ftted alike for farm an,
Senate, like the Cincinnatus of Ro
man tilnes>
The farm presents most beauti
FIJI appearance.
While | was there an inspection
of the farm and buildings took place
by the members Of the Board of Ag-
ricuIture.
There at present eight or ten
acres Of oats, twenty of millet, six
teen of corn, three of potatoes, one
of fodder corn, one of turnips, two Of
garden vegetables, and five of sugar
bcets, under cultivation on the farm.
Much attention is being paid to
the raising of beets, from the fact
that manufacturing sugar from them
is SO extensively and successfully
done in Europe.
A report on this subject was made
to the Legislature last winter by thu
Trustees and it is proposed to cree
a refinery soon, 50 that very careful
experiments can be made in this neY
branch of American industry.
There has been during the yea
one hundred and fifty-seven student
in college, divided into four regula
classes, and one class Of specis
course men. Students have bee
subject to military drill under a Uni
ted States military officer. Expert
ments and improvements are bein
constantly made.
A fine collection of stock is ker
on the farm, which it is hoped wi
do much to improve the neighborin
cattle. This includes Shorthorns
Devens, Aryshires, Jerseys. South
down Sheep, Suffolk, and Cheste
swine.
Now, the question is, will thes
students become practical farmers
After four years O:6y will : the
be willing to g9to work in good ear
/ nest This 4 .,,os4;o,, ,,h;ol