The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-02-25
MEMPHIS APPEAL.
THE SOUTH SURPRISING THE
NORTH.

THE SOUTH SURPRISING THE
NORTH.
II becomes evident more and more
every season, prominently 20 in tnat
Of 1886, that the system Of "all
cotton" is indeiensible, and must
either by the good sense Of the people
or by irresistible and often distressing
force Of circumstances discon-
tinued. To extend the number OF
crops cultivated demands more ex-
tended knowledge Of general farming
than Is required where q particular
product Is the only object Of thought
and experience. To meet the want OF
a more general knowledge agricultural
colleges have been instituted. Such
colleges are found to BIO desirable even
where the lone crop" system does not
prevail, hut the need for them where
it does is obviously imperative. In
this connection an article that recent
ly appeared in the st. Paul Mimi
Farmers AduOcdte Is of interest 10
Southern farmers. That paper ex-
presses extreme surprise at discover
ng, while investigating the workings
of the several agricultural colleges of
the country, "that In spite Of the
boosted superiority Of the Northern
States in all educational mat
ters, one OF the most hourishing,
successful, and eminently praiseworthy
institutions OF this class Is located in
the State OF Mississippi" Gen. s. d.
Lee, the president Of the college, was
mt once communicated with by the
Advocate, and he informed that paper
that in the present session OF lSS5-S6
the college has $50 students, and that
the key to the success OF the institu-
ton Is in Its loyalty In carrying out
the spirit OF the Federal law organiz-
ing those institutions ito benefit agri-
culture and the mechanic arts" in
other words, TO teach farmers sons
how to be farmers. The mischief the
Advocate finds in the other agricultural
colleges is that they are disloyal to
this principle. In them "brain-devel-
opment and culture" by means Of lit.
erary pursuits, are held up as the great
points TO be aimed at. This fact shows
a discreditable degree Of ignorance
on the part Of the managers
OF such colleges. The brain
can be developed and the mind
cultured, and the intelligence fostered
as much by the study Of plant life,
plant physiology, plant cultivation,
knowledge Of the nature OF soils, their
chemical characteristics and fitness for
this and that production, and the kim
dred subjects growing out of this field
Of study, as by attention to classic
tongues and literary themes. 1t lie
Disappointing to think that when a
young man enters one OF these insti-
buttons, resolved to attain knowledge
OF the soil he is to cultivate, the inn
plements he is TO use and the vegeta-
ton he is to produce, that he finds
himself laughed at rs attached to in.
ferior pursuits beneath the dignity OF
colleglans. The land-script fund was
intended to serve practical agricultural
aims, aud farmers everywhere, Ten
nessee included, should insist that
the fund be 80 employed. The
technical training OF an agri-
cultural college should make
farmer as West Point makes a SOL
der aud medical college makes
physician. Under the wise and con-
scientious care Of Gen. Lee, the Mis-
sissippi college does this, and there
fore II obtains this splendid acknowl-
edgment from Minnesota, an acknowl-
edgment highly complimentary to the
college, its president, and to the
State in which II is situated. Indeed.
it is something for the whole South
to be proud Of that Southern insti-
tuition should be esteemed for its
superior excellence and for ito faith
fulness to the objects for which II was
instituted, as beyond "all the boosted
superiority Of the Northern States in
all educational matters" The fact is,
the South has many other surprises
destined to arouse the attention of its
Northern brethren.