Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1889-08-23
Our Agricultural Fair.-We have of.

| ton OF the fostering and development oil
agricultural interests, added to the intelli
| gence, refinement and material and social
prosperity and standing of its people. We
do not pretend to lay claim to any origi-
nality in the expression OF this opinion.
Over thirty-six years ago congregation of
Montgomery county farmers held the same
view and gave it practical shape in the
formation of our Agricultural Society. 1t
was their idea that the formation of such an
organization would have most encourag-
ing and stimulating effect upon the entire
agricultural population of the county. That
in bringing the farmers together once a year
with samples from the products of their
fields, thus affording an opportunity OF
comparison as well as an interchange of
opinions as to modes and experiments, u
new and more advanced and more remu-
nerative method Of agriculture would be
the natural outgrowth of such movement,
at the same time demonstrating how much
of waste and drudgery attended uneducated
and unadvised labor. More than this, they
believed it would be the laying of the foun-
dation stone OF such a social intercourse as
should and ought to prevail and permeate
every section of the county. That as the
farmers became interested i'm the favorable
outgrowth of their advanced modes of labor,
placing upon exhibition with each succeed
ing year every thing in the shape of farm
produce from the smallest cereal to the most
ip,p 10 # Sfn nf i, act
that naturally the matrons and daughters
would become interested and as conse
quence it would not be long before addi-
tional interest would be created in the dairy
and the garden, and then would be placed
on exhibition butter and cheese with every
known vegetable to be followed with the
richest and rarest flowers ornamenting every
variety of artistic needle work and lending
thought and additional beauty 10 those crea-
tons of fancy which some fair and delicate
hand has chained to canvas In other
words, that as IL meritorious rivalry WAS
brought about at these exhibitions, every
department and interest at home would be
improved, heightened and lightencd
guard OF pioneers in more progressive and
aggressive system of agriculture were real
lied, there are many living who can to-day
testify The formation of that society called
into active operation the very best and
strongest element OF the county, and We
venture the assertion without fear OF CON
tradiction, to that combination of men Mont
gomery county owes its present high and
favored agricultural prosperity. 1t was the
opening ol IL new era in the agricultural out
look OF the county. 1t was the arousing of
IL new life that was to bring untold wealth
| it was the awakening of u train of thought
and enterprise that was to dash into atoms
every obstacle and barrier that prevented
Montgomery from occupying an cnvied po'
stion in the front rank of economic labor
and scientific modes of agriculture.
| Has it been success ?-listen to the whis-
tie of the pillow boy, the song Of the dairy
maid the music of the reaper-see the morn
| ing dews CLEAN from the opening hearts of
rare flowers at every homestead, the grasses
crmsoned with tulips where every NOOK
and corner is sweet with the odor of some
diicate bud-the home of some sweet little
poetic face that is eloquent with thought and
feeling.
Has it been Il success 2-turn in any direc.
ton, visit any part of the county, mark the
improvements in every section and at every
point Lands that seemingly bore the mark
of paralytc poverty and had been thrown
aside have been reclaimed and are yielding
handsome revenues The old commons and
fields where
"rhe rabbits and hares
Went together IN pairs
have become pastures where droves Of cat.
tie and sheep are ii,ttenHd for rich AMI iasti
dious markets. The little chicken coop
spring house has given way tn ommmiions
and improved dairy houses from which
quantities Of the best butter and richest
milk is daily shipped To the District %
Columbia. Visit any tarm-yard in the coun
ty-notce the improved order of dgricul
tural machinery that has come to our as
sistance, thereby enabling us to accomplish
large amount of work at Il comparatively
small expense. Observe the pride that the
farmers take in having every thing in it
place and Il place for every thing-hoW
scrupulously clean the fence corners, wha
complete arrangements for his stock ant
what careful provisions have been made fo
the protection of his crops See how ever,
thing of waste character is utilized-inad
producing-the vast amount of fertilizers il
the shape of lime, bone, &c, is yearly in
troduced into the county.
Now these are but some of the many de
yelopments as connected with progressive
agriculture within the past thirty five years
We would not he understood as saying tina
all this is due through our Agricultural SO
ciety, but we do say that this Society sowe'
the seeds of this enterprising spirit and ha
To great degree kept it alive by stimuiat
ing and aiding the farmer as to easier, NOR
advanced and remuneratve pretept. Of till
ing the soil.
In conclusion, we would state, that if til
/, statements as above set forth be correct, q
correct in part, then our Agricultural So
) ciety should he "A favored institution with th
people of the county. Every man and We
: man should join its membership and thus il
crease its financial volume, thereby enablin
the Society 10 make certain necessary and do
sirable improvements. The grounds shout
be pla ed in better condition and more s,
curely enclosed The buildings should L
oyerhanlcd and brushed up and by all mean
the track should be enlarged. This don
= we would have at every exhibition fine
:, and faster stock of trotting horses from ou
= own county-enlarged, it would afford bel
q ter and larger opportunities for the displa
T. of agricultural implements, cattle, horse
> sheep, &c. The race track in its confine
Z condition is a drawback to the success