Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1910-04-27
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CLEMSON EXTENSION WORK
Article Ill.
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From the date Of its establishment
Clemson College has been getting into
shape to fulfil It's primary duty of
educating the boys Of this State In
agricultural and engineering pursuits.
The fact Is recognized that there are
many boys destined to follow agricul-
ture in after life, and many men in
the State actually engaged In farm
ing who could be helped and bene-
fitted by carrying to them the scien-
tific facts Of agriculture The re-
generation of the State. from an ag-
ricultural stand point. Is too slow
when we depend only upon the agrl-
cultural graduate. In order to hasten
this process and to increase the use
fulness Of the college and to extend
its benefits to the greatest number,
the board established in the agricul-
tural department the Division of Ex-
tension Work and Farmers InSti-
| tuteS.
The men Of this division have
nothing to do with the teaching in
the college, but are to give their
, whole time to helping the farmers Of
the State.
The force Of this division consists
OF superintendent, a specialist in
dairying, a specialist in general ami
mai husbandry, and a specialist in
rural school agriculture. These form
the basis Of a permanent institute
corps, and it is planned to hold a
| number Of institutes at such times
as the farmer will be at leisure to
attend. 1t is intended that the ma
| iOrity Of these Institutes shall be
held In the rural districts, where
! they will be able to reach those most
in need Of them.
In addition to their work in insti-
| tutcs these men will select few
farmers scattered over the State, who
are interested in their special line
| Of work, whom they will visit regu-
larly and suggest to them improved
methods. They will act, as it were.
as advisory physician, causing an
accurate record to be kept of all ope-
rations and results and finally pub
fishing these in bulletin form for the
information Of others.
POSSIBLY the most important in this
force is the specialist in rural school
| agriculture. 1t will be his purpose
to encourage the teaching OF agri-
culture in our rural schools. To this
| end he will select few rural schools
and visit them regularly, giving agri-
cultural instruction to the children
In addition he will also meet the
teachers in their various Organiza-
tions, and by pointing out subjects
and methods, encourage them to
teach agriculture themselves.
But it is not intended that this ex-
tension shall be confined to the ef-
forts Of four men. Every man in
the college and especially in the ag-
ricultural department and expert
ment station will be called upon to
help in the good work
Each paper in the State will be
supplied once week with a short
article by some member of the fac
ulty giving useful information to the
farmers on some pertinent subjects,
thus, as it were, supplying a good
reading course.
The engineering department is now
preparing bulletin, giving a num-
ber of plans and specifications for
the building Of the simpler rural
school houses, and stands ready to
advise not only along these lines,
but regarding all farm buildings.
Eventually number of short
courses will be established at the
college, so that those who have time
can spend fe weeks here, thus
getting the beneht of the superior
teaching facilities. A summer wind
up institute. or congress, To last the
better part Of a week upon the COL
'ege grounds, will be the clincher to
each years work.
TO sum up, then, Clemson College
is virtually throwing her doors open
y every farmer and citizen Of the
state. She proposes doing this:
by holding one hundred or more
institutes over the State.
BY visiting in person the farms Of
the State and advising with their
owners.
BY sending her representative into
the schools and encouraging the
teaching Of agriculture to those boys
tend college.
BY editing a reading course for
farmers to be published in every pa
per in the STATE.
BY establishing short agricultural
courses for farmers
BY assisting in the bettcrment of
rural schools and farm buildings.
by holding summer farmers
congress once year, thus bringing
together for instruction and the ex-
change OF ideas the best and most
progressive farmers Of the State.
Up to the present the SuDcrintend-
ent Of the Extension Division has
been alone on this work. During the
time from last November until the
present he has. with some assist
ance. held siXty-three Institutes. at
tended by over five thousand farm
ers. Many OF these Institutes,
though conducted by but one man,
lasted from three to four hours.
ID. M. Barrow,