The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-02-28
FARM SCHOOL work.
COUNTY DEMON NSTRATION AGENT
j. FRANK WILLIAMS VISITS
GEORGETOWN COUNTY.
MIR. Williams, Who Was the Pioneer
I'm This Line of Work in South Car
oiina. Writes interestingly OF the
School Work That is Being Done In
Georgetown County.

Dear Mr.. Editor:
Being snowbound. or situated so
that II amounts to the same thing, |
shall write you something about my
visit to this county. Mr.. c. A. Nc
Fadden, from Clarendon County, and
l are down here for the purpose Of
visiting schools that have put on these
three acre demonstrations OF soil
building. in cooperation with Glenn
son College and the Department of
Agriculture. There are two of them
In Georgetown County. One, with the
Unions schools at Rome almost on the
line between Williamsburg and
Georgetown counties and the other is
with the Good Hope school near Car
Ner's Bay. The county superintendent
Of Education. Mr.. j. w. Doar Mr.. j.
"A. Riley, the local farm demonstra-
uon agent, Mr.. McFadden and l, visit
ed the Union schools yesterday, and
addressed the pupils and patrons on
the subject OF Teaching Practical Ag-
riculture, in connection with Rural
Schools. This union school is q con-
solidated school OF about a hundred
and fifty pupils. There were fifteen
buggies on the school yard, driven by
the pupils. anG Prof. Mitchell, super
intendent OF the school. told me that
in good weather he had seen as many
as twenty buggics there.
a church, parsonage, teachers
home, and the two handsome build
inSs in which the teaching is done,
are all grouped SO as to give an i'm
posing effect. A large auditorium on
the first floor OF one Of the buildings,
is seated with chairs, and has beau
tiful stage curtained off at one end.
This auditorium is used for lectures.
entertainments and meetings for the
common good, like the one held yes
terday. The school grounds are laid
out, with hedges separating the front
and back yards. Rose bushes and
flower beds here and there attract the
eye. In the back yard was Il sani-
tary dairy and barn. The milk from
two COWS kept in connection with the
school Ia tested for butter fat. separat-
ed and treated in an ideal way. Here
the boys and girls are taught to keep
records of cows and to make butter
that Is better worth forty-iive cents
per pound thar q great deal Of but
ter produced in The country, is worth
hfteen cents per pound. The next
meeting in our rounds that attracted
our attention was the school gar
grades has On individual plot, planted
in Vegetables, Strawberries, raspber-
rics and many kinds Of small fruits
are being propagated was told
that the patrons of the school were
supplied with many plants from the
school garden. A vineyard Is being
planted. and an orchard OF peach and
apple trees. has been set out. and
which will be pruned and sprayed by
the pupils. under the supervision OF
an expert. This is going to mean 80
much for the future farm homes OF
the community. Model sanitary
closets with waterworks have been
built, and everything Is so arranged
that the pupils attending this school
will absorb practical knowledge that
will enable them to build sanitary
homes. and produce the luxurics of
the farm. that will indeed make life
worth living in the country. and will
keep the boys and girls contented on
the farm.
Today at 10 o'clock the snow has
covered the ground and il is still
showing some. We intended to max ;
the trip TO Good Hope. distance Of
% miles in an automobile, but we
have decided to abandon the trip. MI.
McFadden and l go to BerkleJ
County tomorrow and to Dorchester
Friday. Yours truly,
j. Frank Williams.