The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1910-05-04
Clemson Extension Work-ArticIe III.

From the date Of its establishment Glenn
son College has been getting into shape to
fulfill it's primary duty OF educating the
boys of this state in Agricultural and En-
cheering pursuits. The fact is recognized
that there are many boys destined to fol-
low agriculture in after life, and many
men in the state actually engaged In farm
ing who could be helped and benefited by
carrying to them the scientific facts OF
from an agricultural stand point, Is too
slow when we depend only upon the agri-
cultural graduate. In order to hasten this
process and to increase the usefulness OF
the college and to extend its benefits to the
greatest number, the Board established In
the Agricultural Department the Division
of Extension Work and farmers Institutes.
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 a
Superintendent, q Specialist in Dairying, q
Specialist in General Animal Husbandry,
and a Specialist in Rnral School Agricul-
ture. These form the basis Of a permanent
institute corps and it Is planned to hold q
number of institutes at such times as the
farmer will be at leisure to attend. 1t Is
llIeuueu ClidU CnO uuaJoiiGy VI ouSSc ihot
tutes 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 institutes
these men will select q few farmers scat
tered oyer the state, who are interested In
their special line Of work, whom they will
visit regularly and suggest to them i'm
proved methods. They will act, as it were
advisory physician, causing an accurate
record to be kept Of all operations and re-
suits and finally publishing these in bulle-
tin form for the information of others.
Possibly the most important man In this
force il the Specialist in Rural School gri-
culture. 1t will be his purpose to encour-
age the teaching OF agriculture In U ru.
raj schools. To this end he will select q
few rural schools and visit regularly, CIV
ing agricultural instruction to the children
In addition he will also meet the teachers
in their various organizations and by
pointing out subjects and methods. en-
courage them to teach agriculture them.
But it is notIntended that this extension
shall be confined to the efforts Of four
men. Every man in the college and es-
pecially in the Agricultural Department
and Experiment Station will be called up
on to help in the good work: :,
Each paper in the state will be supplied
once a week with a short article by some
member of the faculty, giving useful In
formation to the farmers on some per-
tinent subjects, thus, as 1t were, supply
ing O good reading curse
The Engineering Department is now
preparing q bulletin giving a number 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 O. number OF short courses
will be established at the college so that
those who have time can spend q few weeks
here, thus getting the benefit Of the super
ior teaching facilities. A summer wind-up
institute, or congress, to last the better
part OF a week upon the college, will be
the clincher to each years work.
To sum up then Clemson College is vlr-
tually throwing her doors open to every
farmer and citizen OF the state. She pro-
poses doing this:
By holding M hundred or more insti-
tutes 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 agriculture TO
to those boys and girls who may not be
able to attend college.
By editing a reading course for farmers
to be published in every paper in the state;
By establishing short Agricultural
Courses for farmers. ,
BY assisting in the betterment OF rural
schools and farm buildings.
By holding a summer farmers congress
once a year, thus bringing together for in
~structiOn and the exchange OF ideas the
best and most progressive farmers OF the
state. ,
Up to the present the Superintendent OF
the Extension Division has been alone In
this work. During the time from last
November until the present he has, with
some assistance, held sixty=three institutes
attended by over five thousand farmers.
Many Of these institutes, though oopduc-
ted by but one man, lasted from three to
four hours.
D. NJ. Barrow
Superlntendent Extension Work