The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1886-10-01

There are IN the entire College hve four-y ear
courses and a, many two-ye.r courses. In
Physiology have been taught, while geology
and astronomy also enter into the longer
courses. In three long courses and three short
courses the study Of agriculture is compulsory
for one year, while in the technical agricultural
course 1t is compulsory for two years, and agri-
cultural chemistry for one more. In most Of the
Agricultural Colleges agriculture 10 taught one
year; in the Mississippi College one year and
third. The South Caroliua College therefore
is more complete in this respect than many
others.
Since the reorganization Of the College in
1882 an average Of forty-thrss student, q year
have pursued the years course in agriculture.
What does the study 81 agriculture proper
include? During the drst year the following
topics are discussed Soils, organic and inor-
ganic manures, GRASSES and cloyers, meadows
and pastures, crops, rotation Of crops, weeds,
noxious and innocuous, improvement Of soils,
farm implements and machinery, farm roads
and buildings, domestic animals, ETC. Second
year-the students having been drilled in
theoretical chemistry are put into the labora-
tory for work. Lectures are given on the
chemical constituents Of manures, theory Of
the action Of manures and best methods of ap-
plication, classification and Improvement Of
soils, principles Of breeding stock and feeding,
laws Of plant life and growth analysis of soils,
fertilizers, etc.
The following arc specimens Of the kinds Of
practice problems that haye been given out to
the class from time to time:
i. "At the present cost per ton Of dried
blood, cotton seed meal, Etsble manure, nitrate
Of soda, etc., find which 10 cheapest in proper
tion to the amount Of nitrogen supplied.
2. "Given the market value Of nitrogen,
phosphoric acid, ETC., analyze - fertil-
izer, and determine its market price per ton."
8. Two years ago, when Furmsn's formula
was published, the class was required to calcu-
late the market value Of ton Of his compost
4. A company having offered to exchange
1000 pounds Of cotton seed meal for one ton
Of seed, tho class made comparison Of values
and found that tho offer wss advantageous.
8. Another published offer was to give tons
Of acid phosphate, tons Of cotton seed meal
aud ton of kainit for 12 tons Of cotton seed
Calculation showed that under the first table of
values used in South Carolina the offer was not
advantageous, but that under the table now
ruling in this State the farmer would gain by
the exchange.
6. "In what proportions must cotton seed
meal, pea vines and oats straw be fed together
to fattening OK to secure most economical
xesults7'
The full course Of chemistry lasts four years,
and includes quantitativs slysis Of soils, fer
tilizers, etc. A student has stepped from the
laboratory right into good position in the Of
nee of q leading chemist in Charlestas. Others
have made analyses for fertilizer companies
and received pay, for them. This 10 an evil
dence Of good work.
Botany is much neglected in the South. but
in the College il 10 made practical. During the
latter part of the course, the student il required
to analyzs and name unknown plants and
weeds. Some students have made several hun
drsd analyses each, and are good practical bot
anists.
The analysis Of seeds is also required. So
many seeds are adulterated nowadays that il is
very important to test the purity Of the sample
in order to know how much to plant to tho acre.
But 1 cannot elaborate further.
Besides class room work, President McBryds
has conducted on an average one hundred and
fifty experiments year in cotton, grains,
grasses, &c. Much material has been accumu-
lated, but In order to secure accuracy, he has
preferred to wait for the results Of three years
continued experiments in duplicate, changing
the plots each year to get rid Of any effect from
difference in soil, SO.
In cotton, for instance, every plot IL meas
ured mathematically-two plots are given to
each kind Of seed. The number Of plants are
the average is then colr ected and compared for
several years, and the general average is thus
secured.
will merely mention that Q three years &C.
ries Of experiments in cotton shows that one
well.known brand has uniformly showed . su-
perior yield of lint, averaging about forty
pounds Of lint for every fifteen hundred pounds
Of seed On crop Of six hundred thousand
bales in this State this would make . gain Of
forty-eght thousand bsles over the yield Of
other seed, which, at nine cents, would give an
increased value Of two million dollars year to
the cotton product Of the State.
The above is somo Of the work President
McBryde has been doing, although not . cent
has been given to him for experimentation. He
ha6 In exc n ANAL ann hv rsduc;o0 otha.
expenses. He has been making bricks and
supplying his own straw.
Last year, despite the drought, the farm
averaged nearly n bale to tho acre.
The Legislature, last year. refused to give
$4,000 to equip the experimental farm. Give
he will accomplish results that will attract
widespread attention, and greatly improve
farming.
Some Of the most captious critics Of the az
ricultursl department Of the College are those
who have persistently neglected or refused to
accept invitations to inspect its work.
When the farmers convention met in Columbia
in April the president Of the College extended
an invitation to the members to visit the inst-
tuition and farm and see the work. The pats
were all labeled. Persons were on hand to
answer oil questions. Yet, 80 far as can
learn, no one who denounced the College took
the trouble 10 walk half mile to satisfy him
self that bis charge was just.
I say II not in q spirit Of boasting, but as
merely n fact, that know Of no opponent Of |
The College who speaks from psrsonsl observs- |
lion, nor do know any one whs, having made |
IN examination, has failed to mention II In |
terms of commendstion. |
In few week. the College will be open. |
know that President McI3ryde will bs most |
happy TO welcome every visitor from Union, |
md more especially committee Of inspection,
Ippointed by the Farmers Association Of
Union County.
hope such committee will come and see /
whether the trustees have 80 used the "fsrm-
RS " money as 10 defeat its objects. Certainly
andid aud just men will not censure without
Very truly,
- r. MRANa DAVIS.