The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1897-10-23

SCHOOLS ana .cOmpleleu III Iuhduclplli
Immediately after leaving school he began
farming and is one of the most successful
in the Sandy Spring section, so justly eel
ebrated for good farming. His hobby, as
he calls it, has been the improvement of
worn out lands, an art so needed in Mary
land. and his three fine farms, now in a
high state of profitable cultivation attest
his skill as a soil renovator On his own
farms his speciality has been sheep husband
ry, particularly the fattening of cattle,
sheep and swine. In the organization OF
local improvement he has always taken a
prominent part, holding or having held
membership in the directory of the Turn
pike Company, local Savings Institutions,
County Fair Association, &c. Of the Fair
Association he was one time President and
is now President of the Montgomery Coun-
tv Farmers Convention, an organization
which has been in existence twenty-five
wears. He is also a member of the Mont
gomery County Farmers Club. 1t is
matter of pride with him that when he was
made Director of the Station he was en-
dorsed for the position by the joint action
of every farmers organization in Mont
gomery county, the best organized in the
State if not in the entire country.
As Director, Mr.. Miller has put into
practice at the Station the same energetic
methods which have brought him success
in his private life, and is there teaching
lessons of practical agriculture which are
at once an example and stimulus to the
farmers of Maryland. As lecturer he is
plain but forcible, dealing in facts rather
than figures of speech.
James S. Robinson, Professor of Botany
and Horticulture at the Maryland Agricul-
tural College and Experiment Station, is "a
native of Maryland, the family homestead
which he now possesses near the Severn
River in Anne Arundle county, having
clustered about it the traditions of six gen
erations Of his ancestors.
Passing from the public schools Of his
native county he finished his education at
Dickinson College, in Pennsylvania, and
Immediately engaged in farming He is
one of the pioneer fruit and truck farmers
of Anne Arundle and no man is better
versed in the details of that intricate bust
ness, from the preparation Of the soil to the
marketing of the crops The disposal of
perishable produce has been made spe
cialty by him and some Of the results of
his experimental marketing from the Sta
ton as reported in its bulletins and told by
him in his lectures have been 4 revelation
to the most experienced. He is an enthu-
siastic advocate of farmers organizations as
an instrumentality for the advancement Of
agricultural interests. When the Grange
movement started in 1868 he at once be-
came member and has held the position
of State Lecturer almost continuously ever
since In this relation he has addressed
farmers meetings in every county of the
State and is perhaps the best informed man
in Maryland as to the condition and needs
Of its farmers in every section.
The Professor is fluent talker and is
never so happy as when he is telling farmers
how to grow crops and to market them.
President Sylvester was born in 1857 in
Norfolk, Virginia Was educated at the
Virginia Military Institute at Lexington,
Virginia He graduated in 1877 in the
department of Theoretical and Practical
Science. He was elected to the position
of assistant in Mathematics and the Natural
Science in Charlotte Hall Academy in Sep
TENDER, 1877, was made full professor in
charge of these Departments in 1884,
was advanced to the position OF
Principal in 1886, was elected Pres
ident of the Maryland Agricultural
College in 1892 The improvement
in this Institution has been marked
during the past five years of his admins
tration President Sylvester by birth and
natural inclination has well defined agri-
cultural tastes His ancestors have been
among the largest land owners in Virginia.
He has been close student of agricultu-
raj methods for years. He Is large land
owner in Southern Maryland and his faith
in the soil is emphasized by his investments
in the same The constant improvement
of his land bespeaks an intelligence and
Judgment which may well be emulated.
He has more than once in public addresses
stated that had he to be deprived of the
information coming from the Agricultural
Department in Washington and that from
the Agricultural College and Experiment
Station of the country he would feel him
self seriously handicapped in the pursuit
of the profession He realizes that a
much if not more training is required il
the practice of this profession than in that
Of any other.
S. II. Todd was born i'll Ohio. His
parents left their native state of Connect
cut while young and settled in the wilder
ness of Ohio a country without roads
schoolhouses or churches. They com
menced bravely the struggle with poverty
Under such circumstances he was born anC
was introduced at once into practical, every
day life. His father trained his children
to work and he was connected with all the
business on the farm, especially with the
stock which his father kept. When bu
eight years old he was left with the entire
charge of the farm and stock while hi
parents visited their old home. He always
manifested an intense interest in the sheer
and hogs and early learned their charac
teristics and habits He received some
what limited education at Oberlin College
and was soon pressed into public life. HI
was forty years trustee Of a vigorous coun
try church, thirty years superintendent
of the Sunday school, fifteen years presi
dent of the American Chester Whit,
Record Association, and is now presiden
of the Wakeman Banking Company.
He has always been a practical farmer
and stock breeder His own breed Of
hogs is well-known as The Todd Improved
Chesters. His hogs won $217O at thu
Worlds Fair. This itself is sufficient
guarantee of his success as breeder
His sheep breeding has been equally sue
cessful
His farm has increased in fertility, du,
to careful management, and his children
will have no occasion to call him a robbie
of the soil after he is gone.
As to Institute work he refers witt
pleasure to his work in that state as wei
as in Indiana He has been in the worl