The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1880-12-16
The Agricultural and Mechanical
College of Mississippi.
BY STEPHEN p. LEE, PRESIDENT
Planters Journal I

/ Planters Journal
1t is now but A few days over d month
since this institution opened its doors 10 che
young men of Mississippi
/ There are now two hundred and thirty
students from all parts of the State. showing
a most excellent spirit, engaged in studying
and doing such work as the farmer, at this
early date can supply The Academic and
Scientific Departments as now organized
The Sophomore Glass numbers twelve.
the Freshman, sixty and the balance are ia
the Preparatory Department, numbering
one hundred and fifty, and made up into
seven sections. The law designatcs that the
college "shall give a common school educa-
ton To the youth of the State, and, also,
scientific and practical knowledge of agri-
culture"
! Hence, the same strict rule, cannot be
applied to the Preparatory Department as
is thought ought to be applied TO other
universities and colleges The large num-
Der of students over fifteen years of age.
shows a lack of thoroughuess is To be found
in the free-school system, out Of the towns
and cities, and how much good schools aro
needed for our youth.
The morning, from 81 to / r. NJ is de-
voted to study. Half an hour, 30 l o'clock,
is given for dinner. At half-past one, q
half hour for drill, and on Saturday, one
hour. From , p. NJ. till . p. NJ. during
the week, and all day on Saturday (eX-
cepting for drill and society mecuugs) IA
devoted to labor on the farm and grounds
The labor will not be compulsory tin the
dormitory is occupied. Work, however, is
given to all who apply for it, aud during
October several students nearly earned
enough TO pay for their board. The work
ing spirit among the boys is excellent
Over one hundred can be seen every even
ing clearing up ground, ditching, fencing,
leveling ground, cleaning up around tho
buildings, hauling out cotton seed, digging
and cutting UP stumps, sweeping out the
college building, etc. Bold is the young
ster who will make sighting remark about
work His punishment and treatment, by
those engaged at it, will enforce silence for
the future. The Sons Of the wealthiest men
in the State, are yieing with the poorest
boys in work, and no class distinction can
find root here.
The military discipline is being enforced.
1t was little hard at first, but now all are
yielding gracefully. No similar body of
young men have ever shown so ready
spirit to fall into line and do their duty ion
every respect. Some few could not stand
''the racket" and left after a few days
The different departments are being rap
idly equipped. The Chemical Department.
and Laboratory will be fitted up At am
ex pense of $1,000 and will be one of the
Rest in the Southern States. Separate
desks, with chemicals, apparatus, etc, win
be at hand for student manipulation and
analysis. The Botanical Department is also
receiving its outfit and will he in good
working condition. The Farm Department
mas ample means, and is being taken i'm
land as rapidly as possible. large gar-
len, of ten acres, is now being ditched and
aid out out and enriched, by most com
Detent gentleman, who has, for years, made
his living in this line. A competent Gland
,cape engineer and architect is now MAKE
ing map, and laying off plan OF work and
Improvement for many years ahead, 20 that
Ill work done may be utilized in the right
iirection-so that there will be a fixed plan
for all to work up to in the future The
means, for the present, Will be turned in
the direction of paying crops, so far as the
poor lands and surroundings will permit.
But student labor which cannot be utilized
in this direction, will, probably, be used iu
the line of permanent Improvement.
The experiments, for the next year, will
be with cotton seed and cotton seed meal as
manures, The seed will be used freely, and
applied in various ways, to the crops mostly
planted in Mississippi.
The College desires to come In direct
and sympathetic connection with the farmers
of the State. Our laboratories aud professors
WILL at all times be ready TO DO any outside
work such as analysis Of mauures, soils, etc,
which their time and means will permit.
The College is intended "to benefit Agri-
cultural and Mechanical Arts" and will be-
in this spirit.
The College has started we'll. The people
of the State must not expect too much at
once. They must be patient. They must
bear in mind that everything cannot be
perfected at once, but that it will require
time and patient effort to establish firmly
the agricultural and Mechanical College
Of Mississippi.