The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1890-06-13
The Farmer and His Duties.


grass than they do as fertilizer and
expend less read cash for manures. A
liberal outlay for fertilizers is wise bnt
there is always danger of using COM
pounds that are of no benefit to soil on
which they are used. Tens of thous-
ands Of dollars have been lost in this
way, and to avoid this constant peril to
the farmers bank account knowledge
Of the constituents deficient in the soil
is most important to economic farming.
This can only be ascertained by exper'
iment on small plats with different
compounds of fertilizing materials. and
for this service the agricultural stations
that have been established in many OF
the States have it in their power to
render agriculture an inesiimable
benefit.
The farmer has never failing friend
in grass and if he would depend more
on this source of soil renovator it would
prove great saving of expense 10 farm
ing. To get good sod on a field is to
insure permanent fertility. and to this
end fewer acres should be given to the
pillow, more cultivation of the land that
is broken up in order to produce The
best crops; and when in preparation for
grass seed nothing will serve to secure
a good stand of grass so surely as thor
ough fining of the soil Thin spots in
the grass field should be attended to
and have top dressing Of fine manure
form the yard or of some fertilizer
known to coduce to the growth Of
grass, so that all parts Of the field may
be kept we'll covered with nutritious
grasses. The production of milk and
the creamery have opened an improved
avenue to farmers to devote a part Of
their system of agriculture while con-
tinuing to pursue mixed farming.
The farmers of this part Of Maryland
are most fortunately located for mixed
farming, and can pursue this branch of
agriculture with greater advantage than
almost any other section of country.
The large markets of eastern cities are
of quick and easy access to them which
relieves them from the heavy expense
of transportation, which loads down
other parts of the country remote from
the great centres of consumption.
But above all and beyound all the
farmer will have to become more pub
lie spirited and take more intelligent
interest in political affairs, become less
the slave and bigot Of party and more
of an intelligent thinker and actor. He
has suffered himself to be the tool of
the idle, worthless politician to his own
disadvantage and that of the whole
agricultural class. 1t is utter folly in
his being a democrat, republican or any
other party man unless his acting with
this or that party is promoting the pub.
lie interest, and no interest is SO i'm.
portant as that of agriculture. When
it lauguishes all honest industry de-
clines. Any line of industry that
fourishes in the midst of agricultural
depression is to be suspected and should
be investigated. The general moye-
ment among farmers which is going on
all over the country is destined to ad-
vance the agricultural interest more
than any movement that has ever been
inaugurated since the dawn of civiliza-
ton, and every farmer who does not
join in and do his part to aid and en-
courage the movement is neglecting his
duty and his own personal welfare.
The government has been run en-
tirely in the interest Of corporation spec.
ulators, and the United States Treas.
ury has been used by bankers and
brokers as completely as though it
were branch of their own private
business. They have had one of their
own men at the head of the treasury
every since the reign Of the money and
specializing classes was inaugurated, and
they have a staunch friend filing that
position at present, who is doing all
that remains in his power to serve the
Wal! street fraternity. The manuiac-
turers, bankers, SPECTATORS and grea
corporations have had the most earnest
support and encouragement of the gov.
eminent, while their large city papers
sneerei and Knocked at the complaints
of the farmers. The methodical stand
which the agricultural class is making
against this condition of public affairs
is beginning to create alarm among
them and now the cry is that the farm.
ers and labor organization threaten