The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1885-12-03

to keep abreast of all the advances made
in the care and treatment of the insane,
and the present condition ol the Lunatic.
Asylum, in its appointments and in its
general management, entities it to rank
with the foremost institutions of lis kind
in this country.
TIE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.
The annual report Of the department
of agriculture for 1885 includes the ie.
ports of the commissioner, the chemist,
The special assistant in the phosphate
department and the superintendent Of
fisheries. These reports furnish detailed
statements of the operations for the year,
showing the varied and important duties
with which the department is charged.
The regular work Of The department
has been fully equal to that Of previous
years, and much of the time Of the COM
missioner and his assistants has been
given to the States exhibit at the Worlds
Industrial and Cotton Centennial Expo.
sition. This exhibit was made by direc-
ton of the Legislature, and represented
the natural resources and manufactured
products of the State. The commission
er makes full report, showing the sx-
tent and character of the exhibition, snd
the results likely to follow from il. He
thinks there is strong probability of
the establishment of direct trade rela.
tiops with Japan, in the exchange of
phosphate rock for ammonatng sib-
stances, so extensively used by South
Carolina manufacturers of fertilizers;
that the sales of fertilizers manufactured
Oere will be largely increased that the
agricultural advantages of the State, as
shown by the products displayed, will
sttract the better class of farmers and
!aborers; that the mineral resources, as
shown by the specimens exhibited, will
receive the attention of investors and
practical miners; that the splendid
water power and forestry of South Caro-
lima, so thoroughly advertised at the
Exposition, and now better known tkan
ever before, will interest capitalists and
that the trade of our cotton manufactures
will be extended. The japanese COM
missioner and experts in wine growing
and other industries have already visited
the State, and the favorable impressions
formed justify the expectation of good
results from their Investigations.
The statistics compiled by the depart
lnent show the steady agricultural pro-
l,ress of the State. In the. staple crops
there is a gradual increase in production,
and each year shows greater increase in
the use of labor-saving machinery, and
in the number and value Of improved
breeds Of live stock,
The board of agriculture bas encour:
eyed experiments in tobacco culture, and
will take such steps as are necessary to
Establish regular experiment stations as
soon as the funds of the department will
permit.
The department has q wcll-equipped
chemical laboratory, and is prepared to
undertake analyses of fertilizers, min
erals, &C., for farmers and others. The
building contains the Offices, the labora.
tory and large hall for agricultural
conventions. The specimens exhibited
at the Cotton Exposition were lent to the
Agricultural Society of South Carolina
for the Charleston Exposition; they will
be returned to the department building
in Columbia, and will form tho nucleus
for g. permanent museum