The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1897-07-31
THE MARYLAND AGRICUL-
TURAL COLLEGE.
Its Work During the Past Year-The
Labors of the Several Departments
Briefly Reviewed, etc., etc.
Correspondence CECIL WING.

ton an outline history or tue Maryland
Agricultural College for the past year.
Many of your constituency have evinced
an interest in its work by personal visits to
the College, and by correspondence on the
many topics which affect the material sue
cess of the agricuturist's life.
First. rs usual we have had year in
which much of advancement has been
made. The Department of Farmers lnsti-
tutes has reached every county in the State
with gratifying results. In each county
one institute has been held and in several
of them two. Much favorable comment
has been made upon the work, and in many
instances much good has been done. With
the first year over d the garnered exper-
fences resulting therefrom, there can be
little doubt that the next year will be in
advance of the last. The need OF "well
done" is due w. L. Amoss, the director of
this department. of the College.
The Department OF State Entomology
has attracted much attention under its able
chief, Prof. w. G.. Johnson. The past
year was his first year amongst us, and by
his energy, zeal and ability he has gained
conversency with the State and its
interest along the line of his work which
he emphasizes in a marked degree his pecu-
liar fitness for his position. He has the
| State now well in hand, so far as his
knowledge of its needs is concerned, and
ALREADY the farmers are beginning to reap
the result Of his labor amongst us. His
services are at the command Of all needing
h lp in warming against the many insect
dcprrdutes which at present are sapping the
result of the best directed efforts of our
most progressive farmers.
The Department of Experiment Station
work, under director Robert ii. Miller,
claims much attention, and the farmers of
the. State of Maryland are fully realizing
that an Experiment Station in their midst
is an instrument Of great good to them.
Professor Patterson in the line of his
hairy Department, from the plant bed to
the packed product, his work in plant and
animal nutrition, his demonstration that
the waste products on the average farm in
Mary gland can well account for the differ
ence between profit and loss These and
many other lines of work, claim the closest
attention OF those who feel the pinch of
necessity, for taking advantage of every
means at hand to tide over these troublous
times to the beginning OF an era of intelli
gent and progressi e agriculture. The
,!avning Of this era is upon us. It's effect
j, fully teio in die Wet and >otth. Tie
East and South are Just beginning to zeal
We what it means to them.
In the Department OF Chemistry progress
is evident. Much appreciation is shown of
that feature Of the same which is known as
the state Fertilizer Control" Eight
hundred samples are nov collected,
an&lyled and published in the form of two
bulletins, July and February. The farmer
who buys his plant food now without the
use o. these bulletins is certainly neglect
ing an aid which he should avail himself
Of They are his loy the asking. The new
chemical laboratory will greatly facilitate
the work deyoiyinS upon this department.
Its construction is want long felt and the
State is to be congratulated upon this addi-
ton to its plaut
Provision has been at last made for the
construction of barn to suitably accom-
MEDIATE the agricultural interests here
centred. Plans have been drawn and an
early beginning will be made upon its con-
structi0n. 1t is to he circular in form and
will be tittei up with appliances for the
proper care of stock 1t will be two stories
with central slo for furnishing silage of
different kinds. There can no longer be
that department of farming known as stock
raising or feeding. There are many prob
lens connected with the subject which need
the closest attention Qf sGeutic men.
There is point i'll the ,,ix~th OF every
green crop when it presents to tEe husband
man its maximum OF value for the results
he wants to accomplish. The corn crop is
claimed by some as the prince of plants for
this purpose. To my nina this is a ques-
tionable proposition. One that will be
much examination and close study. We
all know that it will produce more Vi
weight per acre than anything we can
plant. This is not the day Of quantity but
CT quality, and when fill my silo l want
it to contain a nicely adjusted ration for
the stock l am feeding, with the due con-
consideration for the ends have in view.
This is a perfectly possible condition of
Things. This problem "iA have attention
and something definite will be eventually
obtained.
During the past year we have had as
many students as we could well accommo-
date. The college is growing in public
favor more and more each year. We regret
to find that so few farmers sons are pre-
pairing themselves for an iRssSSuent prac-
tice of the profession to witch they expect
to devote their lives. In whatever COM