The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1882-08-25
AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT OF THE
STATE UNIVERSITY.
COLUMBIA, 5. Z. Aug

At the meeting of The board of trustees
Of the State University on "Wednesday
night, Prof. McBryde submitted his views
with regard to the proper administration OF
his important deplrtm.nt, which met with
hearty concurrence. The plan proposed by
him for the organization ofhis departmsu
WAS adopted, aul h, WIS althpriz.l 10 b..
gin operations at once. He viii! proceed to
the equipment of his chair for thorough
scientific aud practical work His lecture
ROOM will bc supplied with charts and all
The models aud samples agricultural seeds
plInt,, implements, Nc. necessary TO illus
trate h course of instruction.. His hbura
tory will be furnished with microscope rs
for tha use Of stul.nts aud for tn, study "i
those minute organisms sn fatal to plaut aud
animal life. Apparatus for testing the pu-
r;ty aud vitality of farm seeds will be impor.
tel directly from Europe. The profess n
informs me that the adultcration of farm
seeds has been almost reduced to Il science
that clover seed is manufactured from quarty
grain old turnip seed roasted aul cnlorcd
and sold as new. Such a1ulttratons are
far more danger than those found in fer,
tilizcr>, and call loudly for State interference
aud control. Selves, scales, acids, 81 i,r
the mechanical analysis of soils aud other
scientific Investigations will b. purchased
The lands belonging to the University
will be devoted to experimental purposcs.-
Agriculture rs 4 scicucc can only be devci>
opcd, and Is an art perfected by experiment.
The experiments conducted on the iarul
will be made as practical AS possible Only
such series will be entered upon rs pr,mi,o
to be of immediate value t, tn: firm II, OF
the State y well devised and conducted ~
pertinent is valuabl" even when it gives neg
ativc results. 1t may cxpl,de the prctcn-
si"ns of Il hly-advcrtisrh seed, lrrtil,z +
or implement. Such an experiment $
therefore buoy that warns the farmer ,!
dangers ahead.
Among the experiments prnpn,ed are the
following series: lst. With cereals testing
tdrc. &c. ID Similar experiments with
grasses Sd. Similar ones with cotton. 4tn.
Others with new crops, such as dhnrra, new
varieties of sorghum. millct, to Sintc. luccrn
s"ja hispida, &c. 9Th With new fam pro
cc>ScS. such us cn5iic-r. &c Grn Wnh
new varieties of vegetables. (Uudcr this
head will fall the testing nf second crop
potatoes, &c } 7th With new varieties oi
small fruits. Sth Experiments in cattle
feeding. (Tcsts of diff rent nr,ritivc r.
tion> &c)
The trustees have ord red the erection Of
ag:rcnhousc This will bc filled with chn &C
specimens Of fpreign aud u,tivc plants OF
economic or scientific importance. Suc:i a
house will aifnrd opportunities for cxp.,i
m"nts ID cross br;cding and hybridiz n4
plants, for the production of new varieties
Of seeds for the testing Of seeds. &c
The results of the experiments will bc
freely published aud distributed yratutou>ly
among the farmers Of the State.
As the department is developed more
land will be acquired and experimental
nurseries, vineyards aud orchards planted -
This will allow Of the testing Of II W varic-
ties of fruits, &c. Ornamental grounds
will also be lad off around the greenhouse.
An arbnrctum will he added IN time. The
department will chccriully determine its
species, Ne. of any unknown plant, make
analyses Of seeds, &c and do any other
similar work for the farmers Of the State
without charge CnrreSp p'ndcncc on ayri
cultural subjects is invited.