Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1899-07-07
Maryland Agricultural College.

upon the educational work OF the Mary
land Agricultural College. AS has been
the custom in the past two wears, it is de-
sired, through your columns, local the at.
tention of our rural communities TO the re.
cord OF the year, in order that they may 0e
kept informed OF the work of our institu
tion,-devoted TO the development of their
interests
The educational departments of the col
lege have advanced their standard decidedly.
Its graduates in the department of mechan-
ical engineering, all secured positions upon
graduation. In the department of chemis
try, two are provided for in professional
work. Among its recent graduates, one
has been elected to the position of com.
mandant of cadets and professor OF natural
science in a Maryland school; one, upon
completing his course at Johns Hopkins
University, has been assigned to duty In
this institution; another has been elected
professor OF chemistry in Columbia college,
N. Y; another advanced in Clemson col
lege, S. G.. These facts bespeak the sound
ness OF the course OF study in the college,
and the spirit Of work nculcated In the
earnest student under its guidance.
During the past year facilities and build
ings have been added TO the extent OF $22,.
600, The new Morrill, buildings accommo-
date the departments OF agriculture, hort.
culture, biology, physics, entomology and
pathology. Each with its lecture room,
laboratory and office, all fairly equipped
The institution in the past seven years has
added ST. 900 to its equipment, and is TO
day fitted TO do a high order of work in
all departments OF science, and especially
those related TO agriculture aud mechanical
engineering. The courses of study equip
for llie's work the young man graduating
has his profession. If zeal has character
lied his course, he has little difficulty in Sc
curing something 10 do to demonstrate his
woTthlness oil advancement and increased
emolument.
The department oil agriculture in our
college offers unusual advantages TO the
boy who is to work the farm. 1t is well
known today that brains must direct Drawn
il success is To follow. In no department OF
human activity Is this more true than upon
the iarm; more complex conditions con-
front the successful tller of the soil than in
any other division OF human labor. We
must meet these, aud training is necessary
for the Tray, THIS college gives that train
ing.
The State departments connected with
the institution are growing more into the
confidence III the people OF the State each
year. The heads OF these departments have
by their energy convinced the people OF
the State that the work which has been
done is OF great value to them.
The three years OF Farmers Institute
work ended with a most gratifying record.
George T. Powell, oil the State OF New
York, an expert in the work says OF its
present management:
Through the very competent director,
the most important needs OF Mary land agr
culture are inteligenty studied. The able
instructors Of the college and station, TO.
gether with instructors IRON other states OF
OF wide, practical experience, and OF State
and national reputation, give direct to the
farmers, lruit-growers and gardeners, the 10
structon most needed in their special lines
of work.
Another unique condition in Maryland Is
the centrallZing OF all agencies, in care OF the
agricultural interest, IN tue lands of the
Board OF Trustees of The Maryland Agri
cultural College. This avoids much iric
ton, saves expense and In every way ad
vances the interest in business like man
ner The CO operation Of the Johns Hop
kins University, and the influential Arun
del Club oil public spirited women OF BaIu
more city, shows the estimation IN which
the work is held at home"
The Department of State Fertilizer Con
troll still maintains its high standard of use
iulness, and the demands for It's publica-
tons besi eak the appreciation in which il
is held. We regret to find that 50 few of
our farmers purchase their fertilizers by
the unit system which would save them
much money and greatly improve the qud.
ity OF the material purchased. Upon every
bag of fertilizer sold in the State, the per
Ccntage of "plant food" is required to be
stamped. 1t should 90 further and state
the source OF II. One per cent is unit
THIS stands ior twenty pounds. The avail
able potash, the available pbOsphorlc acid,
the available nitrogen are the only things
To be considered and to which farmers
should give any attention. All else is con
iusing and tends to deceive. IL a bag is
marked available potash, 6 per cent, phos
phoric acid, 8 per cent, ammonia, per cent,
the calculation of the value per ton is plain.
One per cent is twenty pounds; 9, 8 and 5
per cent would mean a number of pounds
easily determined from the figures given
above.
The value of these articles, based upon
their sources, is given in our quarterly per
pound. THIS publication can be had for
the asking by addressing the undersigned
or the chemical department, College Park
Nd. Let the farmers adopt this system of
purchase, and they will soon see the differ.
ence in results No manufacturer would
think OF purchasing in any other manner.
Then, why should we buy by the ton with
little regard for the value as based upon the
plant food II containsp We are in posses.
ion every week, through the daily press, of
the market value OF these ingredients and
should, as business men, keep posted This
information must be ours II we are 10 deal
intelligently and on business principles In
our profession.
The State horticultural work, under able
heads has made its impress upon the peo-
pie whose interest IL serves. Ii is In close
touch with the same. and pronounced good
has followed its work throughout the State.
The numerous inquiries tax the powers OF
the energetic officials to the utmost extent;
the work claims State and national atten-
ton.
The experiment station continues Its good
work under the able director. Some ex
periments upon insoluble plant food in the
soil seems nearing solution, and, II con.
firmed by future experiments, will certainly
revolulionize agriculture 10 the east To
this station is due the iniliatory steps 10 the
demonstration Of the value of our corr pro
duct rs a whole, and hundreds OF our best
farmers are today awaiting themselves Of the
value of It's teachings
We cannot rest with what we have. Pro.
gress must be our watchword. Every in
terest is advancing its claims aud seeking
points of advantage. To rest upon our oars
means TO he caught 10 the backward drift
Of life. The farmers in the State OF Mary
land today, need badly the protection which
law would give requiring guarantee OF
the purity OF feeding material for animals
guarantee as to purity and terminating
power OF seeds, ana lastly, Tor the present,
an incorporation in our school law OF a
requirement that instruction In our public
schools be given in the principles OF agricul-
ture. This requirement can be carried out
without material interference with the pres.
ent curriculum, The Agricultural College
will issue, from time TO time leaflets OF in.
struction on this important work.
In conclusion, MIR. Editor, permit me to
add that as one directly interested largely
in agriculture, and as one who has studied