Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1897-02-19
Farmers Convention.

The twenty fifth annual meeting of, the
Montgomery County Farmers Convention
was held Tuesday in the Sandy Spring
Lyceum. President Robert II. Miller pre-
sided. There was large attendance.
President Miller said he believed this TO be
the Oldest organization of the kind in the
%ountry, having its origin in the three
farmers clubs that have long been feature
in this community. To the influence of
these clubs and the convention Is due In a
great measure the fact that the section Of the
country radiating ten miles from Sandy
Spring has become one of the fairest sections
il the State. A" interchange OF views and
Z nerieDces, together with an intelligent cnl
avalon OF the soil and careful study of the
food requirements of the various crops, has
had an effect on the community that could
be followed with advantage by other sec
tons OF the State.
DR. Francis Thomas read q paper illustrat-
ing the fact that with all the advantages OF
scientific farming and corporation the lot
Of farmer Is not always happy one, and
there is continued struggle for an improve.
ment of conditions. DR.. Thomas discussed
three periods of farming and said in sub,
stance: "Fhe first period embraced the times
before the war, when the South and West
scarce interfered with our market; when we
could buy good land from So so to IS an
acre. when we could cut the pines ourselves
and burn them into charcoal, which wesold
to pay Tor the land when we raised 100
bushels of potatoes TO the acre and sold them
for 81 bushel; when we raised 30 bushels
of wheat per acre and So bushel was de-
lightful reality. But in those days the farmer
himself did the teaming and marketing tax.
ing his meals with him in wallet and sleep.
ing on a bar room floor with a chair or an
overcoat for pillow, and the only flour was
made from corn, which the oldest boy took
TO the nearest mill on horseback, and when
well-ied children trudged five miles 10 school.
These were the good old days we hear of
"rhe next period was during theeivil war
and twenty years aiterward. Then farmers
waxed fat and cultivated the tastes, amuse.
ments and Injuries of the rich. After the
war closed millions were without employ
ment and they went West. They built rail.
roads and soon were sending grain, beef and
dairy products to our markets cheaper than
we could haul them. Now we have over
production. Our needs have multiplied five.
fold, while our resources have diminished.
The question is, What are we going to do
about IL? Do not rely on politics for pros
perity, for parties change too often. Ii you
cannot make your resources balance your ex-
penses, go into liquidation and begin afresh.
BY the practice oil economy there is chance
for poor man with little money TO get
along on iarm. For the large and estab.
lished farmer it will be well for him to push
those specialties that he finds to pay best and
take up others which promise profit and are
less affected by distant competition. Each
man, however, must search out his own
weak points and develop his strong ones.
Farm on business principles; double your
operations without materially increasing
your expenses. Then always try TO have
something to sell when prices are fair. We
must be practical, take things as they are
and hustle"
In the discussion of the paper that fol.
lowed Mr.. Jas. b. Ager, of Prince Georges
county, said he thought dairy farming OF.
fered relief He related his own experiences
in the North west and how, on account Of
climatic and other reasons, he came TO Mary
land and bought farm near Washington
Then he began dairy farming and Is satisfied
with the results
Some one suggested that If all went into
dairy farming, there would be OVerproduc-
ton and conditions would be az bad as be-
fore.
Mr.. John 9. Bentley replied to this that it
takes years TO get together satisfactory
dairy herd and he thought there was little
danger of ovefproduction.
Mr.. Roger b. Farquhar said 81 may be a
pessimist, but think the outlook is discour-
aging Farms are rapidly passing out of the
hands of landlords into the care Of tenants.
Another thing is, the most successful farm
ers no longer attend these meetings and take
no part in these discussions"
Other papers were read by A. NJ. Stabler
on "How does the condition and permanent
improvement of the hay and grain farms
compare with dairy farms In this commu-
nifty pp by Chas II. Kirk on "What is the
best material for and style of farm fence2"
Mr.. Kirk advocated the use Of the plain,
double-twist wire fence for farm purposes,
and the adjustment of the barbed wire.
BY Prof IL j. Patterson, OF the Agricultural
Experiment Station, on 1.-THE Dairy"
A report on the farmers market at WASH
ington was made by Mr. Roger b. Farquhar.
He said efforts have been made for some
time to have Congress set aside q tract Of
ground near the Washington market for
farmers market. The prospects, he added,
are not encouraging AT first the committee
on the District of Columbia was disposed TO
report lavorably on the bill, but later Sen.
ate member of the committee learned that
his colleague was interested In the Wash
ington Market Company and he opposed the
bill on account OF Senatorial courtesy. Mr..
Farquhar said that Mr.. Wellington had re-
peatedly disappointed the committee Of the
convention, promising to go before the con-
gressional committee with them, but when
the appointed time arrived he could not be
found.
A resolution was adopted urging the Coun-
ty Commissioners TO use half the money APP
propriated for roads to the permanent i'm
provements thereof, and the farmers were
asked 10 lend their CO operation in making
good stone roads.
A resolution was adopted requesting the
Maryland Senators TO use their influence 10
have franchise granted to the Washington
and Gettysburg Electric Railway.
The question of damages 10 the growing
timber by the heavy stoam that passed over
parts OF this county last summer was dis
cussed, and the coDcensus of opinion was
that the damage was not less than 20 per
cent. and that several years must elapse be-
fore the forests will regain their normal con
diton. 1t was recommended that all in
jured trees be removed in order that the
Yeung trees may have q chance W grow.
Some amusement was created by reso-
luton asking for the appointment OF com
mittee TO take steps 10 have dogs extermin
ated. The resolution was seconded by a
fox-hunting member, and discussion iol
lowed which led TO the appointment of
committee to urge the next Legislature TO
tax dogs.