The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1894-10-26
A VISIT TO THE AGRICULTURAL COL
LEGE.

The Deer Creek Farmers Club and the Falls
ston Farmers Club visited the Maryland Agri-
cultural College on Thursday of last week.
Those present were John Moores, y. NJ. Lee,
James w. Hanna, John s. Webster, Robert F.
Hanna, X. Harris Archer, w. Beatty Harlan
and James F. Kenly, of the Deer Creek Club,
and W. L. Amoss, &. Cover Street, and Wal
ter P. Reckord, of the Fallston Club.
The visitors were met at the college station
by Professors Robinson and Taliaferro, and
conveyed in carriages to the Experiment
Station. Here they were greeted by Prof.
Robert II. Miller, Director, and Mr.. Harry j.
Patterson, Chemist in charge. The station
was originally the old Rossburg Inn, famed in
history as the last stopping place before reach
ing Washington. and a familiar hosiery to
many of our former statesmen before the day
of railroads. Modern progress has converted
the ancient baI-room where the distinguished
statesmen of the day of Clay aud Webster
drank to each others health and downfall to
chemical laboratory, where the different vari-
ties of fertilizers are tested and many other
useful experiments made in the interests OF
agriculturalists
The object and duty of the station Is to test
crops, seeds, Insecticides, fungicides, modes
of culture, make analysis of commercial
fertilizers and soils and note the effect
of different feeds on stock. The visi-
tors were driven about the farm and shown
many practical illustrations of the different
tests. One was the sowing Of grass on fallow
land, without wheat and the crop yielded 81
tons of hay to the acre. The practical effect
of lime was also shown. On adjoining strips
lined lands produced IS per cent. more
wheat and an excellent set of clover. The
lime was spread unslacked, although Director
Miller said that there is no appreciate differ
ence between that and Stacked. The tests of
feeding hogs on different grain showed the
greatest gain on rye Itwould be well to state
that all the hogs of the station are from the
stock of Mr.. A. NJ. Fulford of this county.
At the college, the clubs were received by
President Sylvester, and taken over the farm,
where many interesting facts were explained.
The location Of the college is an excellent
one in many particulars, especially with re-
gard to ease of access, but it is to be deplored
that soil more naturally fertile was not
chosen. The natural drainage is also very
bad but has been much improved by the scien-
tific methods employed.
President Sylvester reports the building
taxed to its utmost capacity and efforts will
be made to get an additional appropriation
from the next Legislature to build wing to
accommodate the growth of the college,
which has been the outcome Of the present
administration.
Too much praise cannot be accorded to the
present management. The average attend
ance, which in 1891 was only 40, has been in
creased to 100 in 1893, showing how steadily
the school has grown in popular favor.
The visitors were dined in true college
style from table sumptiously spread with
products from the farm, aud, after bidding all
the faculty farewell, left on the afternoon
train for home.
We were very anxious to have given many of
the.different experiments of the station and col
legc for the benefit of our county agricultur
alists, but were unable to do so, owing to the
serious illness of Director Miller and Professor
TaiiaferrO.