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THE SOUTHERN WORLD, SEPTEMBER 15, 1882. 3 important duties with which they are charged. They must push their experimen tal work. Agriculture as a science is pre eminently experimental. The same is true of the art, in this country at least. Here, where methods and systems of culture are confessedly imperfect, where new markets are daily becoming more accessible, where new Helds are constantly being opened up, soils exhausted, where forests are disappear ing and tlie climatic conditions are chang ing, our husbandry is nothing if not experi mental. It is the part of the Agricultural Colleges to lead in this work. In my report I declared that such work would be the measure of their success. The farmer has neither the training, the time, nor the means for this work. The college in its equipments and faculty has all. Chemistry is cons'antly offering to the farmer new feeding stuffs and fertilizing materials, botany is calling his attention to foreign economic plants of great promise. Horticulture is producing improved varieties of fruits and vegetables by cross-breeding and selection. Entomology Is suggesting new means for destroying nox ious insects, and mechanics perfecting old or inventing new machinery and imple ments, and tlie colleges should be the first in the Held to test these in order to recommend them or caution the agricultural public against them. This is not ray unsupported opinion. The colleges themselves are begin ning to appreciate the importance of tills work. When, many years ago, Ohio sent Klippart, the Secretary of her Board of Agri culture, to Europe to study the agriculture of England and the Continent, in order to determine upon a plan for the organization of her own, the celebrated Liebig told him that an agricultural college without experi mental grounds was simply nonsense. These were his words: “The object of the agricul tural college is not simply to teach what is already known, but to teach a better system of farming. How will you do this? Cer tainly not by employing a practical farmer to manage a model farm for you, for he knows only what is practiced generally, and his superior ability will consist simply in his belter management over the ordinary farmers. This would be teuching financier ing and not agriculture. The only method by which you can possibly advance and de velop agriculture is by experiment; that is the only plan, for tiiere is no branch of in dustry so completely built up by experiment as agriculture. One of our ablest agricultural writers, in a recent article, says: “Tho fruitful idea of the agricultural experiment station, where questions of local or general importance are systematically and thoroughly investigated under all the lights tlmt science can give, and when reliable results are directly and promptly communicated to those interested, touches the quick of the whole problem of the agricultural colleges in the United States. Their importance and usefulness in Europe in the elaboration and investigation of de tails is thrown in tlie shade by that which they should possess in a new country, where new and untouched problems of the most vital importance confront the farmer at every turn, problems whose solution, even if covered by the general teachings of agri cultural science, lie far beyond the reach of any but tho trained investigator provided with all the means and appliances that mod ern science can furnish.” Farther on he re marks that “ the colleges will thus be per forming the most Important function within their power, under the circumstances.” I may mention, in this connection, that I sub mitted my views to the Board of Trustees of theUni versi ty of South Carol! na at their meet ing on Wednesday last, and that they met with their hearty approval. I received every assurance tlmt my department would be de veloped as rapidly as the means at the dis posal of the Board would allow. I will at once institute several series of experi ments. Some will be devoted to our great staples—taking different modes of prepara tion, planting, culture and harvesting; dif ferent varieties and amounts of seed; differ ent fertilizers, etc. There will be others with grasses, lucerne, millet, etc., and with new plants such as teosiute, Sago bean, dhurrah, etc. New processes like ensilage will be tried; Improved implements tested, etc. New kinds of vegetables and small fruits will be planted and reported upon. A green-house will be erected where experi ments in improving plants by selection, cross-breeding, etc, will be made and where specimens of valuable foreign and economic plants will be grown. Apparatus will be imported from Europe.for testing the purity and vitality of seeds, and microscopes purch ased for the study of minute formsof animal and plant life. The results of the experiments will be published and distributed among the farmers of the State. Tests of seeds, botan ical determinations of unknown plants, and microscopic examinations will be made for any farmer without charge, and correspond ence on agricultural subjects will be wel comed and receive prompt attention. And now, gentlemen, the pertinent ques tion arises, will the farmer avail himself of the opportunities offered him by the agricul tural colleges of the country ? Does he ap preciate, or can he be’made to appreciate the value of a perfect training for his calling— the most independent, and yet, the most difficult followed by man—the one which requires, for eminent success, acombination of many different qualities and many forms of knowlege—one which, if rightfully fol lowed, taxes the intellectual energies as severely as it does the physical? But, above all, can the farmer, in these days of life and enterprise and progress, when knowledge is actually power, arming its pos sessor with weaiions of offense as well as de fense—when skill goes to the front and igno rance as surely to the wall—afford to be left in the rear, isolated, immovable and defence less? He is already complaining that his interests are neglected, his burdens increas ed, that he is not represented in legislative hails. And yet his is the vote that makes and unmakes senators and governors. Grant that from 80 to 80 per cent, of Congressmen are lawyers, with whom lies the fault ? Does his vote not send them to the capital, and more, do they not deserve, generally, to be there? Are they not fitted by education and training to lead in legislation? Does the farmer not admit this by selecting them for his orators even at Agricultural Fairs and assemblies, and do not their broad and liberal culture and trained intellectual pow ers enable them to play their parts well? The farmer is a citizen too, and yet, when sent to Congress his want of training and of parliamentary knowledge too often de prives him of all influence save his vote, and in the perplexities and usages of amend ments to amendments, and reconsiderations, even this is sometimes thrown away. Let him then recognize the duties of his citizenship, and qualify himself by eduation and culture to perform them. If he wishes his intersts protected he must protect them himself. Let him aspire to the highest posi tion in the State, not because he is a farmer, but because he has fitted himself to adorn them. In a late convention of manufactur ers, machinists, engineers and men engaged in otiier technical pursuits, the subject of tlie best education for young men qualifying themselves for the various callings was care fully debated, and it was somewhat remark able that all the speaker^, by different lines of argument, finally arrived at the same con clusion, that for the highest degree of suc cess a thoroughly liberal education should precede the technical—that the foundation should be laid broad and deep so that the superstructure should not be top-heavy. They all held that an exclusively technical training tended to dwarf and narrow and cramp the faculties, and to make superior excellence impossible. Hence, experience tells the farmer to secure first the culture that will make him worthy of the highest posts in the State, and that this will but fit him the better for the technical training that will insure success in his special pursuit. I know that many farmers cannot afford to give their sons such advantages as these, but they can at least send them to the colleges where they can get a short course in the natural sciences which will enable them to enjoy and profit by the teeming agricultural literature of the day—the result of our mar velous agricultural activity. For there has been a great awakening. The hundreds of agricultural schools and experiment stations in this country and Europe, are boldly attacking the most recondite problems in husbandry, and by patient and systematic work, laying broad the foundations of agri cultural science. The merest acquaintance with the rudiments of the physical sciences will, however, protect the farmer from im position and fraud. The veriest smattering of chemistry would tell him that a fertilizer guaranteed to contain nearly 90 per cent, of 8ilicar-and such a compound was boldly put upon the New England market not to many years ago, as an insult to his intelligence, and what is more, sold—was simply worth less sand. And so with the other sciences. I have exceeded my limit and multiply examples. Knowledge, I repeat, is not only power but protection. Let the farmer but give the agricultural colleges his patronage, and they will soon send out into the field a body of trained and intelligent observers and workers who will in time build up a science that will realise the dreams of Liebig and indeed revolutionise agriculture. JUgrignltajial §gw*rimetiL Crops in Hlaslsslppl. Editor Southern World—This portion of the cotton belt has been visited by an ex cessive rainfall, commencing July 0th and extending to the 13th of August. Cotton, it is needless to say, suffered severely from this cause, and a considerable reduction in estimated yield must be made. Rust has prevailed to an alarm! ng extent—whole fields being in some instances ruined by this plague. Many and vai ious are the causes as signed for the appearance of rust, but the secret is simple of solution and lies in the lack of proper drainage. Rust never appears upon well .drained soils; if farmers don't believe it, let them apply practical tests and be convinced, and knowing the cause, let the remedy be applied before another crop, and avoid future loss. Drainage is half the work in making a crop of cotton, or any thing else, except, perhaps, certain species of rice; surface water or extreme dampness will ruin any crop; then why not commence at the beginning and do the work thoroughly and have done with it. No perfect, or even half satisfactory yearly yields, will be at tended with any reasonable certainty until more perfect drainage of our farms is had. Failure of crops once in every three years is now a pretty well established fact, and the cause lies in the want of proper drain age. Our farmers as a class, rely too much upon the seasons for crops, fiever for once making the attempt to assist nature in her efforts in their behalf. With good drain age, the land or soil properly is always in fair condition to reward the farmer, and with ordinary seasons, good crops are almost certain on drained lands, while that which is wanting in this respect, will be a com plete failure. I am one of those (theorists perhaps) who believe that fair crops can be made every year, notwithstanding the season may be not at all favorable from our stand point. Many farmers who cultivate their crops perfectly, frequently are disappointed at the result and unable to account for fail ure ; he has it in this fact, lands improperly or not at all drained. I have studied this subject closely, and the observations made are convincing. The South, at least the greater portion of it, never practicedraining their farms. I know of no planter in this valley, who has made the attempt to drain his plantation since the war, and as a nat ural consequence, after each heavy rain, the water stands on the land until absorbed by the earth or evaporated, and during this process the crop is scalded badly at the sur face and its growth checked; this occurring several times during the growing season, so damage the crop, that it cannot possibly give fair rewards for the labor bestowed. Drain your lands, and my word for it, the cost will be returned the first crop made and you will be so pleased with results that you will continue the practice. Cotton suffers more from damp weather and rain, than almost any crop we grow, in fact you cannot make cotton on low lands in even moderately wet seasons without drainage. We have the explanation of two- thirds of the failures in this crop, in this simple fact alone. Drains are a little expen sive, but will more than pay the cost the first year in increased yield and the saving in ex pense of cultivation. Drained lands are easier tilled than undrained, consequently can be done for less cost. The cotton plant with us this season has attained to an immense height, owing to so much rain; my cotton will average seven feet, frequently stalks occur that are nine feet, and when not affected by rust, they are loaded down with bolls. One would suppose we planted the “tree” variety from the size, but cotton ordinarily attains to six feet on this soil, and frequently has from 150 to 300 boUs. This soil is certainly the finest cotton soil in the world, and if cotton was made the surplus crop, this would soon become tbe wealthiest community of individual farmers in the world—but alas! we have im bibed freely of that ruling passion, a love for cotton that exceeds our love for the true profession of the farmer; in other words, we grow cotton as a speculation—we cast our all upon the throw of the die as in all games of chance, and like our brother speculators, “now we see it and now we don't.” Too much chance work. If, however, we could bring ourselves down to legitimate farming, our independence would be assured, for we are blessed with a soil and climate that will grow in profitable quantities almost any crop, and should be par excellence, the Far mers' Paradise. The country is healthy, very few fatal cases of sickness occur; consumption, Bright’s disease, and the many other chron- io and fatal diseases are almost unknown here. Fever and ague constitute our plague, and while not fatal unless long neglected, they are very annoying; a little attention to home comforts, good cistern, water, and or dinary care of the person, will keep this away. We have almost every advantage in market facilities: steamers on tbe Mississippi river passing every hour, freights are cheap, markets for every thing a farmer can grow are good, and I don't see the necessity for any one to fail to make money, who has en ergy and enterprise. Bermuda grass affords the finest pasturage for stock and makes the finest hay in the world, yielding one ton per acre at each cut ting, and is usually mowed three times in the year, and often four. This grass is a treasure unless you wish to grow cotton, in that event it becomes a first-class nuisance. It grows two feet high, cures easily, and as a pasture, it will subsist more stock to the acre than any grass in the world—I make no exceptiont. It can be thoroughly eradicated when desirable. This rambling letter has spun out to a greater length than intended, so au revoir. “Stxzlx’s Bayou.” Mayertville, Miu. “America’s New Industry.” Ed. Southern World—Thanking you for your kind letter, I beg your acceptance of a box mailed to you with this, containing specimens of cocoons raised by me, and sam ple of silk also, of my work. I am glad to find that you take an interest in an industry so valuable to the country and so peculiarly adapted to women and girls. The most del icate and sensitive females need not shrink from this work; there is nothing repulsive or in any way disagreeable connected with the silk worm. The work is light, pleasant, remunerative and Intensely interesting; it takes but six short weeks to raise a crop of silk ; it is very easily learned, the instruc tions contained in my "Silk and the Silk Worm,” being all that is necessary to insure success. It takes but a small amount of money to start it, and though it is necessary to use great care and to pay strict attention to feeding, cleanliness, etc., it is not labori ous, nor does it take all the time'of the raiser to attend to them.* The mother and daugh ters of a family engaged in raising silk worms, need not devote their whole time to this work, nor neglect their household du ties. The South is better adapted to the indus try perhaps, than any other section of the country; two, and even three crops of silk can be raised in almost any of the Southern States, climate and soil unite in being adapted to raising both the silk worm and its food—the mulberry and the Osage orange, the best silk producing foods known are easily cultivated and will grow anywhere. We have nearly, if not over three hundred silk mills now in operation in the country. 1 Markets are open for the purchase of co coons, reeled silk, silk worm eggs, etc., and now we want the raisers; it only needs en couragement to start the waiting thousands; let them know that it costs but a trifle to start with; that “failure” is almost an im possibility ; that it is a most pleasant and agreeable occupation, and "thatitwlll pay,’’ and we will soon be able to retain at home, some of the millions of dollars now sent abroad by our silk manufacturers—not be cause the silk raised in this country is infe rior to that Imported, for it is well known that our native silk fully equals, and in many cases excels that raised in foreign countries, but because we have not raisers enough at home to supply the demand. Now is the time to gain the needed instruction; now the time to secure the eggs or seed for the next spring crop. I will do all in my power in the way of giving information to all those interested, while my little book at 25 cents per copy can be reached by all. I give information free at any time, requiring only a stamp for reply. I am prepared to fill orders for my book and for reliable silk worm eggs of the best breeds at the lowest market prices, and I so licit correspondence from all peirts of the Southin connection with the “new indus try.” In conclusion, I would again thank you for your kind letter, and hoping that the co coons and silk will prove an attraction and excite an interest among the lovers of na ture and her works who may visit you, I beg to remain your sincere friend and well- wisher, Nellie Lincoln Rossitrr, Philadelphia, Pa. Silk Cnlturist