The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-01-25

stx TYNE 10 be established in the South.
The Bin for its establishment was Of
Tered by Hon. John b. Ward. OF Able
willie, and from that beginning. pfactic-
ally as an experiment. nearly two
nine splendid institutions, one for each
Congressional District No feature OF
State education In Alabama during the
last twenty years, has been watched
p moas e'o .That these schools have
borne with credit the searching scrut-
my and criticism ct people in all paths
OF life since the establishment OF the
system. is in itself an evidence o. their
value. They have accomplished re-
suits beneficial beyond question TO az
ricu1ture, Aiabama's pre-eminent ins
dustry. throughout the entire state.
They have sent forth men and women
In TO the various spheres of life, into
the industries as educated workers, as
business ana professional men and they
have wrought well for society. In poll
tics and in the religious life OF the
State. The Experiment Stations have
practically illustrated the benefits to
flow from Intelligent scientific agrf-
culture. In the various seed and fertil.
tier tests, in the rotation OF crops, In
ssaptstioS q the various types q soil
to the production Of various crops
There was q time when cotton was an
absolute monarch. Cotton Is still q
monarch, Out Win sIlfulteQ power.
was Grady. who cried out: Great IL
King Cotton, but to lie Jat tts feet
while the Insurer and the grain deal
err bind us into subsection, fs TO In
wife the reproach Of man and the con-
tempt Of God; but to rise up IN the
midst of the farms and through diver
sified agriculture, to wrest from him
the great charter OF our Independence,
is to enrich us and honor Him.,
These schools in Alabama are strong
err today as they have weathered
the storms OF opposition and criticism
that came from those who were to re-
ceive and were receiving the greatest
benefit from them. 1t has sneeringiy
been said that the word Agricultural"
Is a misnomer. Even a great Govern
or OF this Statey-in his message TO the
Legislature in 1875 said: Our agri-
cultural schools are more famous for
uate than of farmers, mechanics ano
business men," Others have claimed
that dog-fennell grows In the fields OF
the experiment stations. Inc pr. pfSss nj
down In history, as the educational
Governor of the State. protected the
schools In his inaugural address when
he call that no one has ever claimed
the graduates Of these schools. He
further said that the schools were not
a failure If the graduates did not re-
turn TO the farms, but entered the dif-
UIOA03BtUAu
as much right as any other child TO 90
where his ambition may lead him. The
ONCE of Experiment Stations OF the
United States Government, 10 summing
up the work being done In agriculture
/ in the rural schools and In the agrt-
cultural high schools says: what Is
now being done, with all its inperfec-
tions, is Tremendously important Prin-
Every successful example of the eff
fective <<eaching Of agriculture. wse-
Their In little country school or IN
the agricultural high school, Is help
ture growth Of this movement must
proceed. There ts. therefore. much
cause for congratulation that In so
many States and under such variety
OF conditions honeet and substantiai
problems and test the usefulness OF ag-
ricultural instruction as means or
Improving country life and perpetuat-
ing agricultural prosperity.
to cast keen glances Into the future
and see, whittier we are tenuing, Tne
bill establishing the high schools In
Alabama. has made great change in
my opinion. in the work that should
be done by the Agricultural schools.
There has been great demand Tor
high school academic training ohered
by these institutions. and for this rea-
son the schools are conspicuous Tor
having prepared many. who have won
distinction In the various professions.
The schools during these years have
really been high schools for farmera
sons. and while the experiment stations
have done wonderful work Tor the
state. The Alabama Schools nave
! not yet reached the point where
the students work regularly in the act
,ial feId work. Now, with the estab-
liahment of efxty-seven high schools,
the AGRICULTURAL schools must MORE and
more. practically live up to their zeal
mission in the educational world. IT
our schools fail to emDhasize more and
more the agricultural idea. then we
will have nothing more than seventy
| six high schools in the State.
The object OF the school 10 primarily:
| ssTo turn out young men grounded IN
| the underlying principles Of scientific
and practical agriculture, that they
NAV make successful planters. and adj
vance the farming interests OF the
| state" The purpose OF the schools has
| been expressed by another as follows:
| "Tos teach the principles OF Sctentinc
| Agriculture Horticulture, Horticulture
| in both theoretical and practice!
way, and to determine the best and
most profitable methods OF growing
| and cultivating the various crops n
| this section Of the State DR.. Nell
| the President Of CLEMSON CoIieRei
| made the assertion in well written
paper, that "the graduates OF an aGri-
| cultural school must be well prepared
| by theoretical and practical knowledge
| to build up the waste places In our az
rfcuItural system. They must have an
/ intelligent understanding OF farm Ire
1