The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1897-12-07


9 when first entering the College. Th
d course of study pursued in all of ou
I preparatory schools leads rather ava
: from industrial education than to il
Q For this reason, where the agriculture
and mechanical colleges are connecte
with literary universities, the student
1 are Inclined to pursue their studies OF
the lines of their previous preparation
rather than take new departure int,
agriculture or mechanics.
AT the beginning of the sopi omort
year the students elect either the agri
culture or the mechanical course. The
course in mechanics leads up to me
chanical engineering, civil engineering
or electrical engineering, or to special
) proficiency in somo one OF these divis
ions.
The course in agriculture leads to q
! broad and comprehensive knowledge
which entities one to the title OF agri
culturist; or the student may, besides
acquiring knowledge OF the theory
and practice in tho different divisions
select some one or more of the divis-
ions In which to become specialist
He may make chemistry, botany, hor.
ticulture, dairying, entomology or
veterinary science his specially, or he
may select agriculture as his vocation
to which the knowledge Of all of those
branches contribute to make a we'll
rounded agriculturist.
In the sophomore class the students
receive thorough training in theor etic-
al class work in general chemistry, H.
iustrated by laboratory practices, and
In totany in class and field and field.
They are taught how PLANTS grow, how
they feed and how they reproduce
They gather plants from the field and
| classify, name and mount them in the
herbarium.
The veterinarian instructs them in
the physiology and anatomy of dom as
tic animals. The dairyman teaches
them how to feed ",d manage milch
cows and their calves-how 10 draw
the milk from the udder, separate the
cream, ripen it, churn it and prepare
the butter for market; how to make
delicious, honest cheese from whole
milk. They are taught also to test the
milk FOR butter fat, to sterilize it from
Injurious germs, and in fact to do
everything that is necessary for the
successful conduct OF q dairy or cream
cry.
The chief Of the division OF live stock
takes the students into the presence of
the different species Of domestic ami
mails, and each, provided with score
cards is instructed how to Judge, &C
So'uihS W ohS SJduudTu SCdle Oh points,
ol the merits of each animal as re-
preventative of its cass-.in cattle
whether adapted to milk, butter, beef
or work, and so with horses, swine,
sheep and poultry according to the
standard of excellence recognized by
the best breeders of each species. They
are also taught how to compound
rations of standard feed stuifs to pro-
duce given results. such. as milk and
butter production, growth, fat, or
force, and practically trained in con-
Quoting experiments looking to the
determination of the feeding value of
the various products of the Southern
farm
In the agricultural class room the
principles involved in the treatmet of
soils and plants-how to bring the for
mer into the best condition physically
ana chemically for the production of
the latter how to compound and COM
post fertilizers and manures to produce
maximum results with the greatest
economy how to study needs Of differ
ent soils; what plants are useful as soil
tmprovers and how to use them what
rotation Will yield most profitable re-
turns with the least exhaustion of
the soil how to protect and improve
worn soils the species and varieties of
plants adapted to the different soils OF
the State, and the best methods of
cultivating them. These and many
other questions are discussed. The
tools and implements adapted to the
preparation and cultivation of differ
ent soils and crops are not only de-
sscrlbod to the students, but they assist
in their use.
The experiment work in agriculture,
stock and horticulture affords most
instructive laboratory for training the
students in accuracy OF observation,
methods Of study OF the needs of soils,
plants and animals, and familiarity
with the most advanced practice in
preparation, cultivation and the i'm
provement ofplants by superior culti-
vation and selection. Every subject
taught in the lecture room Is illus
trated by practical training in the iabo-
ratory OF the farm, the garden, orchard,
vineyard, dairy or stock yards. The
veterinarian takes his classes for three
hours weekly to assist in clinics at his
animal infrmary. They are thus pre-
pared to care for the animals which
may need surgical or medical atten-
tion, and when our graduates tecome
citizens they will each prove not only
useful as examples in their neig bor-
hood, but will each become teacher
to lessen the lump of agricultural igno-
rance in this section. While all of this Is
being taught the cadets In mechanics
civil, mechanical and electrical en-.
gineering and the various branches OF
agricultural science and art, the liter
ary training of the students Is not ne
elected. They are taught In the school
OF history what distinguished men Of
all ages have accomplished, especial
stress being placed upon the history Of
South Carolina and the United States.
They are required to study in compari-
son different systems OF governme ent,
and drilled in the science of political
economy. All students are trained in
the school Of English and English
literature by eminent teachers from
freshman to graduation. There are
three literary societies in which the
boys practice In debate and oratorical
contests, and the Y. M. G. A. has a
chapter, which is well attended by the
cadets. The discipline Ia military, the
students being In this department
taught not only the science and art OF
war, but habits OF punctuality, subor.
dination low to obey and how co com.
mand.
The training in mathematics and sur.
veying Is thorough, and as far as pos
sible accompanied with the application
OF the principles to practical uses. In
the school OF civil engineering espe
cial attention is given TO instruction IN