The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1888-08-29
THE FARMERS OF THE STATE.
WHAT ORGANIZATION AND LEGlsLA-
TIoN HAVE DONE FOR THEM.

Spartan burg, General Johnson AHSoo>
delivered the. following address:
We are to-day assembled to conduc
the first State Farmers Institute held II
South CaroIna by direct provision O.
law. Before entering upon the duty, Il
may not be amiss to recall briefly what
has heretofore been done in our State
for the advancement of the knowledge
and practice ossgrieulture, as well as tc
consider the means to the same END now
provided by existing legislation. Oul
present State laws provide:
For State Agricultural Society.
For an Agricultural College.
For three Experimental Stations.
And for State and Local, Farmers In
stitutes. :
TEE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.
It is over one hundred years since the
first agricultural society was formed ID
this State. That. society was the first
agricultural society in America, and Is
still in siourishing existence at Charles
ton; but circumstances have given 1t
more local, than general usefulness.
Seventy years ago society embracing
in its scope the entire State was orgau-
lied st Columbis. It was short-llved.
In the next thirty years two other efforts
were made in the same dlreotlon without
permanent success. Good, however,
was accomplished. Some valuable papers
were published, notably Chancellor
Harper's memoir on slavery, Hammond
onemarl, and Sesbrook s, memoirs on the
cotton plant. The establishment Of
more than one agricultural journal was
induced, and the Influence exercised
upon the Legislature caused geological
and agricultural survey Of the State to
be made.
On the Sti ofSAugust, 1855, an agri-
cultural convention met IN Columbia
and resulted in the organization OF the
society of which the present State Agrl-
cultural and Mechanical Society Is the
successor. It was handsomely endowed
by the city OF Cotumbis with grounds
and buildings; considerable endow-
ment fund was raised by the saie OF life
memberships, and for. the first time
Stste aid WAS extended. The Legisla-
ture annually appropriated TO the society
five thousand dollars. When IN the
full tide of its usefulness the civil war
suspended its operations. It's buildings
were destroyed in the conhsgratlon OF
Columbia, and its investments became
worthless from the results of the con-
Aics. The reorganization of this society
in April, 1859, was the first expression
of hope that found utterance after the
war for the industrial interests Of the
State, and when the gates were thrown
open for its first fair there was seen the
first assemblsge OF the native white men
OF South Carolina since the evil days OF
Reconstruction had befsllen. asserting
their right to mould her destiuies.
The touch of the elbow Was once
more felt, and the bugle call was
sounded for the political revolution of
1876. Until that event the society re-
ceiyed no Ssate aid; since then an. ap-
ssropriationsof 81, 500 is sInnally made
In its behalf: Ehe exhibitions st Its
fairs, more especially IN the department
of live stock, have steadily grown IN in
Serest and importance. The attendance
is larger than upon any other occasion
in theState, and the reunion hers OF the
farmers has become the social event OF
the year.
Early IN its history this society deter
mined TO cop6ne the object Of its winter
meetings to the holding. of its fairs and
the rsarirements'of necessary business,
while at q summer meeting annually the
chief object should be the discussion OF
agricultural and mechanical subjects. a
carefully prepared syllabus of subjects
was reported and adopted for discussion
at successive meetings. It was directed
that individuals should be appointed to
open the. discussions, and that a
stenogrspher should report the debate,
all of which should be published IN
compendions form in the transactions
of the society. This was "farmers'
institute, precisely what we, under that
name, are insugurating to-day. At frst
these summer meetings were successful; ;
later they have languished, and it Is
Question whether, in the concentration
of effort desirable for success, they may
not be advantageously merged in the
State Farmers Institute, for which pro-
vision has now been made.
THE AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE.
The Federal donation for the estsb-
hshment in each State of an agricultural
and mechanical college was with us at
first appropriated exclusively to the
benefit OF the colored people at the
Clsain College. Subsequently the in
terest of the fund was divided and q
part used for an agricultural annex to
the college for the white people at Co.
lumhia. At the Last session Of the Leg
islature, in the reorganization of the
University, this annex was raised to the
dignity and dimensions of a full college
coeoua in all respects with the other
colleges composing that institution; and
the members of the board of agriculture
consisting by law exclusively of agricul-
turists, we1e made ex-of6cio members of
the board of trustees of the University.
At the first meeting for organization OF
the latter board the members Of the
board of agriculture IS such were made
standing committee with powers OF 8
board of control in special charge OF
the agricultural and mechanical college.
The further Federal donation known
as the Hatch fund has been accepted by
the Legislature and appropriated to an
governmental station in connection with
and under the direction of this college.
The college thus organized will COM
nsnce operation in October next.
Elaborate provisions have been made