The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1889-01-10
The Hope Of Mississippi.

The Avalanche presents in this issue
full and interesting description of the
Agricultural and Mechanical College at
starkville, Miss. It is an institution
without example in the South, and the
North can not show its superior in any
practical element of instruction. 1t is
not a school where farmers boys may
learn to be lawyers and doctors, but is
designed to make farming so interesting
and profitable that the students will not
wish to engage in other occupations when
their studies are finished. Atpresent the
agricultural and collegiate courses are
alone provided. As Gen. s. d. Lee, the
distinguished head of the institution,
aptly puts it: 1.-THE board Of trustees
have kept before them mainly the fact
that Mississippi is largely dependent
upon agriculture for its prosperity, and
have first made provision for the wants
and necessities of her largest class of
citizens, and have spent the means at
their disposal principally in developing
the agricultural bias of the college. We
are prepared to add the mechanical fea-
ture whenever the Legislature provides
the necessary means to put up shops for
wood and iron work, and supplies the
necessary machinery. The government
is ready to supply an engineer officer
from the navy to give the necessary in.
struction."
The pupils are well grounded in agri.
cultural chemistry and geology, IS we'll
as the branches of good English educa.
ton. They are carefully instructed in
Che composition Of soils and their
requirements and practical illustration Of
the lessons is given on the experimental
farm attached to the college. This farm
is amodel of its kind and is more than
self-sustaining. All the work on it is
done by the pupils, and step by step they
are taught the scientific principles of
farming BY methods entirely consistent
with hard, everyday common sense.
Instead of lectures in the abstract they
are given object lessons which cannot be
forgotten. The main idea is to demon
strate the advantages of diversified farm.
ing over the old ruinous one.crop system.
There is nothing to be done on farm
that the students are not taught to do
from analyzing soil to milking the COWS,
and they are required to practice what
they learn. The Avalanche commission.
or found the honor man Of the senior
class cleaning the stables. Every one
must do his part. The students realize
that they have no time to waste in idle.
ness, and as they are paid for their labor
on the farm, many of them make enough
to materially reduce the burden of their
expenses. The military feature is main.
tained for the sake of discipline alone,
and the drills are not permitted to inter.
fere with the duties of the students.
These ZIG young men and boys come
of as good stock as any in the country.
They proye their earnestness by close
application tostudy, and show themselves
gentlemen by their conduct. They are
the hope of the State. If Mississippi is
ever raised to the plane of wealth and
Importance to which her natnral resour.
ces entitle her, it will be done by this
body of skilled and enthusiastic farmers
and others who may follow their example.
she has politicians aglore and profession.
al men far ia excess of the demand.
She can never have too many strong.
armed, intelligent and well.principled
farmers, suchaas the Agricultural and
Mechanical colleges turn out.-M Memphis,
Tenn, Avazanche.