Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1873-03-07
AGRICULTURAL.
For the Sentinel
Practical Talk with Farmers Of Mont
gomery County.

ms well rs in politics. Automatic principles
MS laid down in the books and as sustained
and enforced BY science, are very goodin their
places but what do they amount 10 in the alb
sence Of a praetical test2 This Is the one thing
necdful and that practical test must be brought
10 bear upon the uneducated agricultural
mind It should now be the policy Of every
farmer to consider, not only how much land
he can cultivate, but how much produce he
can make on given quantity Of land.
A change must come if onr people desire n
permanent prosperity. Our young men must
devote their time to useful industry. Agri-
culture offers an Independence and certainty
of success which neither speculation nor legti-
mate mercantile pursuits can assure The in
terests of this section are the center and the
source of the wel-being Of those portions
which surround her Her development is their
growth her prosperity is their wealth; and
when the hand of industry touches into life
any dormant element of power which nature
has hidden in her fields and rivers they grow
by her activity and move under her impusion
The agriculture of this county al the present
time depends very much on the intelligent and
liberal use Of manures. There are but few
soils so favorably situated as to endure con-
slant cropping without ultimate exhaustion
The delta Of the Nile, being renovated annu-
ally by sediment from inundation, may pro-
duce successive crops without diminution for
centuries but, under ordinary circumstances,
with the moot careful farming, the soil will
demand a supply of substance from beyond its
own surface in order TO maintain its fertility
Farmers do not always consider that in the
growth of a crop nothing is created. The ton
of grain, and straw, and stalk which their
fields produce, are only transformations of ma
terials which existed in other forms, either in
the air or earth |: is true that the great
bulk of both straw and grain is derived from
which the supply may be considered inexhaus-
tible but other substances, though entering
into the crop in much smaller quantities, are
yet absolutely indispensable. On the farm
nothing can justify the neglect or waste of
stable manure. If the waste of manure on the
farms and about the villages were collected by
a proper economy, the necessity for expanding
money for guano and fertilizers might be post
pcned for years. The exposure of the manure
pile or compost heap to the drenching rains of
spring, wastes the soluble salts OF potash and
ammonia, as well as the available phosphate
leaving the residue with little Of value beyond
the ahsorpent power of the carbonaceous mat
ter
The want of a system o. agricultural educa-
ton OF greater breadth and depth is beginning
to be keenly felt in this section; it is finding
prominent expression in the endeavor to re-
duce more clearly the dmly seen truths of
natural science, and to apply those already at
TUNED, 10 the work of everyday life II is
the duty of every parent TO see to it that his
son is taught some useful trade or branch of
agriculture. The tendency now is to avoid
them but this should be steadfasty resisted
1t may not be necessary that the young men
of the rising generation should devote them
selves exclusively to productive industry yet
they should be able, in case of business calam-
ity, or some unexpected emergency, TO engage
in some pursuit that will afford them the
means of an independent living. A place is
always open to the ski HE'D workman, and the
soil is productive TO the industrious husband
man. Failures in business will come. The
most sagacious cannot provide against the
misfortunes or dishonesty of others But the
cunning hand of the artisan, and the patient
toll Of the farmer a sa saldo,,, nba,tol Of ,ho;r
honest dues. There are enough to promote
eommerce-too many 10 serve the ranks Of the
proiessions-but too few TO devote themselves
TO that which enriches with contentment and
independence. That is the nobest labor which
performs the best aud most useful science.
That which docs not benefit is not noble what
ever be its name. If The spirit of manly in
dependence be instilled into the minds of our
youth, they will avoid the doubtful chances Of
trade and speculation, and enter upon pursuits
which are worthy Of the land where honest
labor is ennobled, and where wealth not hon
estly earned. is. Justly dcspised.
In all improvements, in all enterprises, the
great truth must not be forgotten, that success
is not TO be attained without diligence and in
dustry. Tc must SOW in spring and cultivate
well in summer, il we would reap an album
dant harvest in autumn. When | see Young
farmers commence in life without strict at
tention to business, which they neglect for
pleasure, well may you see in Imagination, fu-
ture crops los, by careless tilage broken fen
ces, and fields filled with weeds, property
wasted by reckessaess, and disorder and con-
fusion triumphant, and unpaid debts and exc
cntions hanging over the premises. But, on
handed industry, directed by reason and in
tellgence, and order, energy and economy
guiding the operations of the farm, with
smooth, clean fields, aud neat, trim fences,
rich, verdant pastures, and fine cattle enjoying
them, and broad, waving meadows, and gold
en- haryesjs, and waste and extravaganza driv-
en- into exile, we need not fear for the success
of such farmer 1t is such enterprise as this
which must place our country on substau-
tial basis. Agriculture in highly improved
state must be the means which, next to the
righteousness which truly exats a nation,
will contribute to its enduring prosperity -
All trade and commerce depend on this great
art as their foundation The cultivation of the
soil and of plants was the earliest occupation
of man. 1t has in all ages been his chief means
of subsistence--it still continues to furnish
employment to the great majority of the hu-
man race. For its calm and TRANQUIL pleas
ures-for iis peaceful and healthful Lahore