Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1899-04-20
GOOD WORK At CLEMSON.
DR.. A. c. TRUE, A GOVERNMENT EXPERT,
HAS lust VISITED THAT PLACE.
He Talks Interestingly OF the College, and
WHAT'S Being Done There.

J
Charleston, the guesl of Mr.. j. Q.
Hemphill. DIR. True is connected
with the Office of experiment STA
tions, of the United States depart
ment of agriculture, and is now on q
tour of examination and inspection
through the Southern and South
western States. The itinerary of
the present trip will not only cause
him to visit every State in the South,
but will take him as far West rs
Arizona. The exact business of tho
gentleman is to visit all the expert
ment stations, take notice of the
progress of the work, advise with the
staff of experimentaiists at each sta
ton and make general report of
the same to the agricultural depart
ment. In pursuance OF this mission
DR.. True has just visited Clemson
College, and, being a thoroughly
practical scientist, as well as a keen
observor'' he talks entertainingly and
instructivcly of what hs saw and of
what he thinks should be done. at
this State College, where the United
States experiment station is located.
In speaking on the subject DR.. True
said
81 found that the experiment work
at Clemson had improved a great
deal during the last year. Better
arrangements have been made to
successfully carry on tn. work and
additional improvements arc boing
added to the system as rapidly as
conditions will permit. One of the
very best moves at Clemson during
the past year has been to concen-
trato the work. Heretofore there
has not been sufficient distinction
between the general farming for
commercial purposes and the expert
mental station. I was glad to see
that this disadvantage, under which
the station labored in former years,
has been ia a great measure reme-
died. The experiments for the next
twelve months will be entirely scpa-
rate and distinct from the commer-
cial farming. Another change which
will cause the experiments to pro-
gress is the fact that two of tho de-
partments heretofore maintained will
be abandoned. A geologist and a
dairyman %ere on the staff of the
station, with results insufficient to
warrant the expense of keeping them.
They have been dropped from the
faculty and the saving in the ex-
pcnses by doing away with those
two departments will give addi-
tlonal funds for the other work.
"rhe principal work at present is
in the nature of field experiments.
Under this head also comes tho fer
tilizcr practical tests. Cotton, for
age plants, potatoes and other vege-
tables are receiving great deal of
attention, with good results. Fruits,
apples, pears and some peaches are
being experimental with in differ
cnt ways. Poultry is also the sub
lect OF much care and study. Breed
ing and feeding are the principal
subjects of investigation under this
head. Anotho" investigation is
goin., on that should interest the
people of this part of the State not q
little; it concerns rice. Of late
years disease called smut has de-
veloped in the rice of some parts of
South Carolina. The Clemson sta
ton has arrived at the conclusion
that this disease is an importation
from Japan and it took it's stand in
this State by mixing the seed of the
two countries in some manner. The
Clemson cxperimentalis3s took up
the case right away and arc now OF
the opinion that smut in rice can be
treated just the same as it is treated
in the seed of other cereal grains. A
bulletin on this subject will shortly
be issued and all grain planters
should secure u copy of it. BY the
way, it might be important to men,
ton that arrangements have been
completed at Clemson TO publish
moro bulletins than heretofore, con-
tanning full reports of the results in
all important experiments. The far
mcrs' Institutes arc being encouraged
by the staff at the Clemson station
"The national department advises
all stations, as well as Clemson, to
adopt permanent lines for expert
mcnts and stick to them. A few
important subjects, well studied, are
worth q great deal more to the agri-
culturists of tho country than mea.
gre information concerning q number
of subjects. The funds by which
tho stations arc supported warrant
thorough Investigations along q few
l'ncs, haI arc not sufficiently large
for experiments in ,srany branches at
one time. The best thing the Cleru-
son ar any other beard of trustees
can do is to select a few very impor.
tant lines of experiment, get good
men on the station staff, keep poll
tics and everything else but business
out of the work. Then results will
follow, results that will be beneficial
- tho people of the country and well
worth the money paid for them"
DR.. True left Charleston last night