The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-12-20
ALL HAIL CLEMSON.
FIRST COMMENCEMENT OF THE
FARMERS COLLEGE.

FARMERS COLLEGE.
A Session of Unprecedented success-Prac-
tical Application of Theories to Make
Scientific Farmers--Closlns Exercises
Orat,ons and Debates.
CLEMSON Col LEaE, Dec. G.-The
first session OF Clemson college has
closed with a record more successful
than it's most saugulne friends predicted.
instruction has been given to AL young
men. This number tad entered by the
10th of August, when it will be remem-
b.red, the doors had 10 be closed for lack
of room. Of this pumber, after reduc'
ton from the usual causes, $50 remain
enrolled as cadets and fully 300 OF these
will return in February. The new ap'
plicants for admission in February are
now nearly 600, of whom probably only
about 200 can be received. These will
be selected by competitive examination.
All the departments Of the college
have been fully organized. The aErl
cultural department is today the prom
nencs its importance deserves. Pro.
fessor Newman with an abe corps of
assistants, is developing it's various fea-
lures and conducting interesting aud
valuable Investigations in connection
with the experiment station. The lee
lures Ill agriculture are LARGELY attended.
The department of mechanics Is un-
der the efficient management OF FRO
fessor TompSins. The demand tor
space in this department has been 30
great that the original capacity OF the
hall Is to be doubled. Work ls already
progressing on this addition, and It'll, tx
pected that it will be flushed by the lime
next term opens. All the latest aud
best machinery was selected by PROBES.
sor Tompklns While n CHI ;ago, acting
one OF the judges in the department OF
electricity at the WORLDS fair.
The literae humanixres are represented
at Clemson Nv a liberal course in Fog
lish aud history. In histo.y that III the
State and the United States are empha-
sized and the students are made to teel
that history is something near TO them
and alive. not dead and distant: The
teaching in Euellsh goes through the
whole tour years OF the course, lts i'm
portance is fully realized at Clemson.
The instruction ls three. told; instruction
IN the language, in the literature and in
the art of expression. Thess three are
begun together and continued together
during all the course.
The manual labor feature is one OF
the most interesting at Clemson owing
to the newness of the experiment. So
far it has proved pronounced success.
The young men have been engaged on
the farm, IN the gardens, at The barns,
and in the mechanical department. As
carpenters they have assisted in putting
up several houses on the place end IN
making iurpilure for the barracks. Many
of them will remain here during the 1oli
days and work on the addition to the
mechanical hall. A large part of their
labor has been utilized in improving the
college grounds. Much has been done
to enhance the beauty Of tho grounds
and if this work continues, Clemson col
lege will have a model farm-as indeed
ID AOW lS-duO LuOSb UC2utiiuA Puo-
lie grounds in the State.
The indispensable auxiliary to agri-
culture, the basis in fact of scientific
agriculture, chemistry, is taught in one
of the best equipped laboratories in the
South. The laboratory building is a
work of art; it is the handsomest OF the
handsome group of structures that con.
stitute Clemson college. The chiet of
the department is Col. M. B. Hardin
not one of the least Of whose qualidca'
tions to teach the youth of South Caro-
lima is that be was gallant solder I'M
der Stonewall Jackson. For twenty
five years the professor of chemistry at
the Virginia Military institute, Colonel
Hardin is an accomplished teacher in
his department. He is ably assisted 10
bis work both in the academic and in
the experimental divisions. 1t is
valuable adjunct to this department thai
che State experimental work in fertili
rrs, soils, minerals and waters is ca
led on here. Young men receiv
through this meaus practical instruction
that is not to be obtained in an ordinary
college laboratory, and that is absolute
ly demandedin order to become scientific
agriculturists.
As chemistry stands to agriculture,
so physics stands to mechanics and en-
gineering, and in less degree to agrl'
culture also. Work in physics is in
charge of Professor e.. w. Welch. A
laboratory fitted out with the latest and
haof fine tho of,1Iant bora.
all machines to illustrate the laws OF
powers are collected in the ample
laboratory. The old days of studying
science from taxt book are happily past,
and the lessons are now taught in a
practical way frcm the exhibitions be
fore the eyes Of the student.
Drawing is an important department
of an Observation-Disclosures College.
In agriculture free-haui drawing is
needed in representing varieties OF fruits
vegetables, crops of all kinds, and in
furious worms. 1t is thus seen that the
modern practical, scientific agricultur-
ist must be an accomplished man; he
puts to practical use arts that were for
merly thought 10 be the pastime of lad
les. Mechanical drawing is al essential
for the second great department OF
Clemson college; and it is piyer too in
minor degree to all students. The far
Iner needs to build houses. and to draw
plan of house with accurate dimensions
is absolutely necessary to make II an
assured success. Mr.. Williams We!ch,
an accomplished young South Carolina
artist, is in charge Of This department.
The agricultural department IS sup
,,1apoaptad bp tho dawn u, uort