The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1912-06-26
ONE YEAR COURSE
IN AGRICULTURE.
Clemson College Will Give In
tenSiVe Course.
WILL NorINcLUDE OTHER BRANCHES
To Begin October LIST and Close
June 1st.--EXamina-
ton July IL.

tp0 WIFI PlNC I'll nav
cultural Course to young farmers who de-
sire to learn the important yet simple fun
damental.' principles which underlie sue
cessful agriculture.
This course will begin October 1st and
close June 1st, and will be open to young
men eighteen years old and over. The
course includes none of the usual academic
branches such as Mathematics, English,
History, ETC., but is confined to a study OF
the principles O.. crop production, horticul-
ture, animal husbandry, dairying, etc.
Agricultural Arithmetic and simple farm
bookkeeping will be taught, and instead OF
the usual English branches, a simple
course in parliamentary practice and pub
lie speaking will be given, sufficient to en-
able the student when he returns to his
community to preside at a public meeting
or to hold a farmers institute.
The purpose of'the course is to take
voung men who know the practical side OF
farming and make Of them better and
more scientific farmers, and community
leaders and builders as we'll.
Clemson College has been uniustly criti-
cised because. many OF its agricultural
graduates do not return to the farm. The
College has no power to coeroe its gradu-
ates. There.are no obligations imposed
by the State laws even on the holders OF
scholarships. -Four years OF scientific
College work tend to prepare not only for
farming but for lucrative positions in
teaching and in scientific work as we'll
In fact, the demand along these lines the
country over is greater than the supply,
and In this stage OF agricultural develop
ment, it is questionable II the country can
afford to have all its agricultural gradu-
ates 90 back to their own. farms. We need
more men like Dr.. Knapp, who farm on
many acres not their own.
While South Carolina gets her full bene-
fit from the graduates Of Clemson and 9TH
er Agricultural Colleges, there Is a demand
that is not met by the regular four year
degree courses. The demand comes from
a class OF young men who have neither
the time nor the money to take the full
course, ibut who seek instruction in the
business ;of farming. Clemson College
hopes by her II year course to meet this
need, hopes to send aback to South Caro-
lima farms every session n hundred far
mers who can make better crops than
their neighbors, who will know the value
OF live stock, dairying, horticulture and all
the Other side lines too long neglected In
tho madness OF one crop system. 1t will
not be long before this annual crop OF
young farmers will make for better agri-
culture and better farm homes.
An elementary rural school education
will be required Of those who apply for
the course. Ability to read and write in
diligently, and a fair knowledge OF Arith-
metic constitute the requirements. The
intention is to preserve and even raise the
standard in the regular four year degree
courses, but to cut loose entirely from Or
binary collegiate standards in the require
ments in the one year course, which Is in
tended directly to serve a special need
than cater to any imaginary ideas
Of collegiate responsibility. The cost OF
the course, including fees, uniforms,
board, lodging, heat, light and laundry,
will be S117.55. Those who are able, will
pay $4,000 additional for tuition.
The Minis scholarship bill passed at the
1912 session Of the General Assembly pro-
vides for scholarships in the one year
course as follows, -one from each county
and seven from the State at large. Each
scholarship Is worth 800 and free tuition.
The trustees designate In each county the
most representative organization OF far
mers. The Executive Committee Of this
on or before July LIST, recon-
mends to the President OF the College
three or more young men over eighteen
years old, who have done worthy agricul-
tural work during the preceding year, or
in any previous;year. These young men
are notified Of the recommendation and go
up for competitive examination on July IA
at the county court house. They stn'.d
their examinations along with regular four
year scholarship applicants, but the ex-
animation is different and covers only the
elementary common school branches. In
any county where there Is no organization
OF farmers, the Director OF the Agriculture
al Department Of Clemson College solicits
opinions from representative farmers Of
the county, and their recommendation is
used as would be the recommendation Of
an Executive Committee.
In your county the Farmers Union has
been selected by the Board OF Trustees, as
the proper organization to make the rec
concentrations. The Executive Committee
of this organization will no doubt welcome
suggestions from farmers and others as
to worthy young men who have done
c~reditable, not necessary notable, agricul-
tural work.
The seven state-at-large scholarships
are recommended in the same way, except
by the Executive Committee of the most
representative State organization OF far
mers. The younglmenss recommended for
scholarships at large stand their examin-
atoms at their county seats.
The State Farmers Union has been des-
rs the most representative far
mers' organization in the State. The
Executive Committee Of this Union has
been requested to consult with the officers
OF the State Agricultural and Mechanical
Society of s.. G., another strong agricul-
tural organization, in making up its rec
~, concentration