The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1903-08-24
AGRICULTURE IN
SOUTH CAROLINA

/ do not recall, In my experience,
more pleasant and profitable ofthe
state visit than one Of three days dura-
ton to Clemson College. South Carolina.
A long standing invitation at last ma
terialized in actual fact and this editor
was permitted to meet. not only several
longtime friends and co-workers in agri-
cultural college and experiment station
work. but more than thousand of the
yeoman farmers of the little Palmetto
State the first to go out and the last to
get back into the restored political fam
lily. OF course, ! felt at home when |
realized that l was in the hands of per
sonal friends, and particularly when
greeted at every hand by subscribers to
The Weekly Constitution. Many times
repeated was the greeting, Il feel as If
I had known you all the time. ! am
subscriber to The Weekly Constitution,
etc ! had the pleasure to lecture at
three several hours to from 800 to 1000
of the farmers
The occasion furnished more than ono
delightful surprise. Clemson college Is
strictly an agricultural and mechanical
college. 1t was established by legis-
lature composed Of farmers or represent
tatives elected by the farmers Of the
state. Although not richly endowed III
comparison with the colleges of the far
richer and more pcpulous states of the
north and west, yet its income and It's
corresponding facilities and equipment
are far ahead OF anything I had before
seen in the south. The campus alone COW
ers an area Of 100 acres Of undulating
and picturesque forest park. we'll laid
out in walks and drives. supplied with
electric lights and abundant water and
dotted here and there with commodious
| brick residences for the members OF the
numerous faculty Of the institution,
! Clemson college enjoys the receipts
| from the Inspection and analysis OF com
mercial fertilizers. something like 800 600;
| the Hatch fund for experiment station
! purposes the land scrip fund.- OF about
| s12 900; the Morrell fund OF $4,000, amount
| ing to about sl37, 900. In addition consid-
| cradle amount comes from legacy LETT
| in the will Of the late Mr. Clemson, son
| in law of the great statesman and patriot,
| John C. Calhoun.
| The college farm comprises an area
of 1900 acres OF hill and DALE including
! a body of very fertile bottom lana, along
t the banks OF the Saluda river, which
bounds the property on the west. The
| immense brick and stone structures Tor
/ the various uses of this college filled with
surprise one VINO was accustomed to
much more modest and tar inferior Struc-
| lures
The occasion which called the great
crowd together was the annual summer
"round-up'' OF the State Farmers instl
tute. Several of the college professors,
each with corps of effective and trained
lecturers on farming topics. had been en-
gagged for month or more in conducting
district farmers Institutes throughout
the state At the appointed TINT Mon
gay. August 10 (aud continuing four
days., these workers came together at
Clemson college for q general meeting,
or annual roundup. Lecturers and
speakers from abroad had been previously
! enga ged. The farmers throughout the
state were invited; the railroads granted
q liberal rate. the college boarded aud
lodged all farmers tand many of their
wives a 50 cents per day. utilizing for the
purpose the commodious mess halls,
| kitchens and dormitories ordinarily In
service for the 500 to 600 students now on
vacation.
In addition to perhaps 1880 from a dis
! lance hundreds came from their near
by homes every morning, in wagons, car
riages, buggies and even OK wagons. re-
turning to their homes at night. The au-
.litorium in which were held the general
meetings-from 10 to Y, to and s to
i0-furnshed comfortable seatings for
! something over 1000 persons, and these
seats were frequently "all taken and oc-
| cupied.
To say that 7 was surprised and de-
| lighted would be putting 1t very mildly
| South Carolina Is doing great things for
! her farmers: or, perhaps, / would better
saw, the farmers of South Carolina are
| doing great things" for themselves, for
| they control legislation, and what they
say goes with The saying. This IS as 1t
should be, In every agricultural state.
Producers of wealth should control in
| the dispensation and distribution of that
which they contribute in taxes to the rev.
enues of the state.
70 Professor j. Stanley Newman, ag-
riculturist and director of the station. and
Or. p. H Nell. president of the college,
ard to their much better halves" am
| indebted for many courtesies and gen.
erous hospitality, and to others. in only a
less degree, for attention and favors
| shown r. J. REDDlNG.
IKDM n0DDECD0NnE