The Anderson daily intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson, S.C.) 1914-1915, 1914-06-09

successful Clemson College has ever
experienced Clemson IS truly the
farmers college. More than so per
cent OF her 500 students are taking
the agricultural course. This past
session 416 men studied agriculture at
this. the greatest agricultural college
in the South. When these agricultural
colleges were first established they
were criticised by people in general
because their students. especially their
graduates. did not engage in farming.
This criticism at the time was unjust
because the country was demanding
the services of these graduates in 9TH
er and mere important work. These
demands came from the u. S. Depart
mcnt of Agriculture. the agricultural
colleges, the state experiment stations
and other scientific institutions While
only small percentage Of the gradu-
atcs of these college in the early days
engaged In farming. II is a fact that
the great majority Of them have made
excellent and substantial citizens and
their Influence has always been for
good.
In tl..' early '90's when most OF the
Institutions we're first established.
agriculture over the entire country
was greatly depressed on account of
ovcr-production. When cotton was
selling for five and six cents a pound
and the price OF all agricultural pro-
ducts was cOrrespOndingly low. there
was little inducement offered to the
graduate Of these institutions to en-
ter the profession of farming The
ovcr-production of farm products IL
Few decades ago was due largely to the
cheap lands OF the west which at that
time could produce crops with very
little outlay Of money. The conse-
qucnce of this filling up of the west
with farmers was production and
over-production has always meant de-
preston and farming at more or less
OF a loss. The boys of a generation
ago could not see any advantages in
farming for there were few. COnse
quently the majority of them that
graduated at our agricultural colleges
sought, employment In other profess
sions, especially in college and expert
ment station work.
Now that the country is filling up SO
rapidly with people. the demand for
agricultural products is 1uch that a
young man we'll trained along agricul-
tural lines can find valuable employ
ment on the farm. In this age unless
a man is highly trained to produce
agricultural products economically. he
is doomed to more or less failure. The
time has passed when mediocrity
meets with success on the farm. Keen
competition means the banishment of
ignorance for only the we'll informed
T10 To- n In
trained men who are capable of pro-
ducing farm prc1ucts economically.
With our increase in population, it
is doubtful II we will ever have low
prices for farm products again for
many years. The young men who are
trained at Clemson college are we'll
fitted to go hack to the farm and en-
ter into this competition. Their train
ing gives them an advantage In the
struggle and they are being imbued
with the idea while at Clemson that 1t
is their duty to spread the gospel OF
good farming In their communities.
Mauny of the agricultural students
that are leaving Clemson are going
back to the farm enthused with their
calling and with the determination to
hel pbuild up the agricultural ire
sources OF SOutn CErOllna.
Clemson college is now the best
equipped institution in the south along
agricultural lines. and the great move
ment for agricultural development
that Is sweeping our stete can be in
directly traced to Clemson college.
While Clemson encourages most Of
her students to go back to the farm;
many, however. are advised to take
postgraduate work at other institu
tions and to seek positions with the
government and various experiment
stations. There is a big and growing
demand for we'll trained men in the
various lines of scientific agriculture.
Students taking the agricultural
coures at Clemson are not only given
instruction in the art Of agriculture.
but are we'll trained In the fundamen-
tai sciences related thereto. Clemson
offers four year course in genral
agriculture which embraces agronomy,
animal husbandry. dairyinG, entomolo-
gy, zoo1og.'. botany. bacteriology. hor-
culture, veterinary science, geology,
mineralogy, chemistry aid forestry.
This course is of course supplemented
by work In mathematics, history and
political economy. In the senior year
students may elect major subjects.
Two years ago there was inaugu-
rated at Clemson one year course
in agriculture for the benefit OF young
men who are not in position to take
the four year course and set are de-
sirious Q. receiving the training at
Clemson necessary to make them bet
ter farmers. This course has proven
a success from the beginning and Is
supplying long felt necessity. More
than so boys took this course during
the past session.. Many Of them were
young men of maturity and their work
was exceptionally good.
This one year course Is not intend