The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1901-11-29
Farmers Institutes.

My DEAR SIR: I am informed that
you are, by birth, Il Southern Marylander
and vet loyal to the land. | never knew
Southern Marylander that was not, and
doubtless will gladly aid in our work t'
help your kinsman.
Mr. William l.. Amoss, Director OF
Farmers Institutes, has addressed the
following letter to citizens of this sec
ton:
In 1896 the Maryland Legislature made
an appropriation to defray expenses OF
the Farmers Institute, whose purpose is
to bring to the farmers of the State such
information as will help them increase
their returns from the practice of agrl-
culture Our work for the past five years
has been strongly endorsed, as letters
from all counties will testify.
The conditions we meet with in South
ern Maryland are peculiar, the change in
the labor system, the effect of this change
on the anGgemcnt Of large estates, the
disappointments resulting from depend
ing on the one crop, the depreciation of
value and of incomes are some of the
causes that have prevented farmers from
travelling, where they can observe and
study the needs and demands of markets.
from meeting successful farmers in Sec
lions where business methods are such as
place the producer of farm products on
the same plane AS men in other pursuits;
from knowing men, and for that reason
from having confidence in them from
approaching the great service the State
and National Government is doing for
all who live upon the farm, by coming
to them with the latest knowledge on
everything that promises to help those
who are prepared and are willing to
accept it.
Our thought is this, we know that many
bright minds have left Southern Mary
land, and have had all the opportunities
that those who remained at home have
not, and have doubtless in mind valuable
they would be glad to have
brought to those who now reside in the
land of their birth.
Our plan, probably the first, offers the
for which you have wished.
At our last meetings in the counties OF
Southern Maryland, committee was
appointed in each county to select one
farmer to report at the
next Farmers Institute, in his county, on
markets and methods with suggestions,
as what can e done, to improve present
conditions; for the service these repre-
will render oui department.. by
making and reading report, we will pay
all expenses incident to visit by them in
a body, guided by the director Of this
to Washington and Baltimore
and farms where products are grown that
can be produced in Southern Maryland.
Our program in part, will be to meet in
each city, where most convenient, those
in the welfare of the southern
counties, where communications will be
read and discussed
We will be grateful to anyone, who has
an opinion, the result of experience, years
of observation and thought, if he will re-
duce his views to writing and mail them
to our department. Such communications
will be carefully grouped and a selection
from each read to our representatives and
by them reported to the people, when
at the next Institute. While a
preference will be given to communica
tons bearing the name of the writer,
where it is desired for obvious reasons,
the name ill be withheld, or the writer
may omit it.
Our methods of work have been to
employ two successful farmers and two
from the department of agriculture, as
an entomologist, horticulturist, veterina-
rian and others, who have not met
farmers annually in all the counties,
in a convenient hall, and there relate
experiences and methods, whereby the
speaker has been successful in growing
and marketing farm produce. The
specialists answering questions as to how
plants and animals may be cured of dis
ease or protected from parasites.
The attendance has ranged from so to
500
If you are willing to cooperate with US
kindly reply, and we will lie grateful for
the name and address of others to whom
we should mail a copy of this letter.