The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1897-12-11
FARMERS INSTITUTES.
SESSIONS AT ELKT0N AND RIS-
ING SUN.
Good Attendance and Excellent Addresses
Made by the Staff of Agricul-
tural Experts.


tural Experts.
Director W. L. Amoss, who, under the
authority of the Legislature, has been organ
izing so zealously and intelligently the Farm
ers' Institutes in the counties of this State,
has every reason to congratulate himself
ur,on the success OF the Institute held in Elk
ton on Wednesday and at the Rising Sun on
Thursday, in the quality and character of the
lectures which constitute the chief features
of these meetings Of farmers. Out Of long
list of available men, educated experts and
practically experienced in the branches Of
agriculture and farm work upon which they
speak, he has on both occasions selected the
best men on his staff for the work in this
county. This fact is made evident In the
value of the addresses delivered at both
Institutes held in this county. That larger
numbers Of farmers have not attended the
Institutes at Elkton is, therefore, no fault Of
the management Of the Institutes but rather
the general lack of knowledge upon the part
OF our farmers as to the benefits and useful
ness of such meetings. This knowledge,
however, will come as the result of personal
education which necessarily requires time.
Just as soon as the farming classes of Cecil
find out that it is to their pecuniary interest
to attend these Institutes, and learn what can
be done, and is being better and more profit
ably done than they are doing, Institutes will
not lack in attendance upon the part of those
whom they are intended to benefit.
Owing to detention at Newark by the
wreck near this town on Wednesday, Director
Amoss and his company of lecturers did not
reach Odd Fellows Hall until IL O'Clock, an
hour after the advertised hour Of the morn
ing session of the Institute. The audience
that met him was not large, but it was inteli-
gent and earnest in the purpose for which it
had met-the acquisition of knowledge as to
how to do better farming and increase the
profits of the business Of agriculture in Cecil.
Usually the largest attendance at Elkton at
such meetings is from the upper sections of
county. The fact that the Institute was to be
held at Rising Sun oa.Thursday necessarily
reduced the attendance from that section at
Ekton but few of the familiar faces of Sixth
district farmers being seen on Wednesday.
Among those present We're: Mr.. John p. Will
son, of Sylmar, president of the Cecil Farm
ers Club; Mr.. Z. Porter Lusby, Mr. T. c.
Crookshanks, Mr.. John j. williams, ex-
County Commissioner; Wesley Clayton. DR..
G. NJ. Ellis. W. Arthur Mitchell, VIM. J. Lake.
James McCauley. John Harlan Jos. S. Scar
borough, j. II. Lake, Mr.. j. Able, George
Biddle, II. NJ. Mccullough, John Glpin and
Mr.. Mackie.
After short opening address by Director
Amoss, he presented as the first lecturer OF
the day Prof. II. j. Patterson, of the Mary
land Agricultural College and Experiment
Station, who spoke on Fertilizers.
Professor Patterson talked with the free
dom suggesting familiarity with his subject
He explained clearly and concisely to his
audience the difference between indirect and
direct fertilizers and put especial stress upon
his appreciation Of the value of barn yard
manure. Too many Maryland barns, particu-
larly those located on hill sides, still illustrate
the carelessness Of Maryland farmers in hus-
banding the valuable products of their stalls
and yards, and the apparent indifference OF
their owners to the economic value of the
Huuld Iuunuic "hltu loo frequently cdu Dc
seen draining into the public roads and going
to loss. The trouble even with the most care
full farmers always has been to get enough
barn yard manure. Hence they are COM
PEELED, from necessity and economy to use
artificial manures.
Mr.. Patterson spoke at some length upon
the value as fertilizers of the legumenous
plants, the COW pea, crimson clover, etc. He
stated concisely the chemical constituents
that contain the fertilzing principles in arti-
fetal mauures, and while considering bone
richest in these ingredients -phosphoric
potash, and nitrogen or ammonia-he con-
ceded to dissolved phosphate rock high
place in connection with other ingredients
necessary to make complete manure. He
thought farmers could most economically use
the most concentrated forms of manure and
with view 70 guard against aduteration of
fertilizers now SO frequently practiced in
order to reduce its cost to the farmer.
In reply to a question as to tn" hest ferti-
lizer for wheat put by one in the audience,
Mr.. Patterson said that Of course the success
full use OF any artificial fertilizer must he
based upon some knowledge by the farmer of
the chemical constituents of his soil, but as a
general formula he gave the following:
Lbs. Cost
Dissolved 3. G. Rock. k......... 100 $5 80