The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1903-03-06
Science In Agriculture.

The Baltimore Sun correspondent from
College Park writes as follows:
Operations have been begun on the con
struction of the annex to the Maryland
Agricultural College, authorized by the
Legislature of 1902 The building to be
first constructed will be 50 by GO feet, four
stories high, of uniform style with the
main structure, and contain some IS rooms
devoted to the purposes Of administration
offices on the first floor and sleeping rooms
for students in the upper stories. There
are now 200 students in the college. The
annex will provide accommodations for
so more, and it will also include an assem-
bly, hall with seating capacity Of 900, and
a drill hall in addition
Under the administr alton Of President
R. w. Sylvester, aided by an efficient staff
of instructors and the encouragement of
the board Of trustees. the Agricultural
College has taken very decided steps for
ward. The State Government, too, has
come to its aid in very decided manner,
and in a way to meet the wishes Of the
agricultural interests. The sum Of So, 600
was appropriated last winter for the dor
mitory and administration building, the
sum of $4,000 was appropriated for heat
ing, $4,000 to enlarge the mechanical
building and an additional $4,000 to pro-
vide investigations for tobacco crop, meat
crop and irrigation. Nearly $4,000 was
thus devoted by the State, and this sum,
in conjunction with revenues derived from
Federal Government sources, very salts
factorily finances the institution for the
present 1t is believed that this substan-
tial aid will go great way toward maxim g
the college all that is desired by its friends,
and open the doors Of the institution to
many more students who want to take ad-
vantage of its practical teachings.
The work Of the experiment station,
forming really part of the college course,
so far as stu1ents are concerned, is widely
known throughout the State. Professor
Patterson is one Of the lecturers of the
Farmers Institutes directed by Professor
Amoss. The report here is that the insti-
tutes are more largely attended this winter
in all the counties than ever before, and
the whole farming community is lookin 6
more and more to the scientific instruc-
ton of the rising generation. This, with
good roads everywhere through the means
of scientific. instead of political agencies,
will speedily put the landed and farming
interests on a career Of prosperity not
known in Maryland in recent years.
The experiment station is continually
at work providing object lessons for stu
dents. 1t is also engaged in distributing
bulletins and other guides to farmers in
their homes. The equipment is not all
that might be, but perhaps sufficient for
present demands. The time, however, is
not far distant when the propa eating gar
dens, hot houses and other agencies for
experimentation must be enlarged. A
few years ago the college surroundings
were anything but indicative of the pres
ence of model farming. Now it is very
different The stubborn soil has been
mastered by science. The fields devoted
to the raising of grass show thick and
beautiful sod, which is the admiration of
all farmers From these fields the model
barn was stored with hay, upon which
many head of cattle subsisted during the
winter, leaving a-large surplus yet on
hand. In the breeding of cattle expert
ments have been confined wholly to i'm
proving the native stock of kline.
Native cattle are thoroughly acclimated
and not liable to the diseases which often
appear among imported stock. Careful
breeding improves them wonderfully.
There are examples in the college herd
which practical farmers never tire of adj
miring, and the improvement is going on
from year to year.
There are dairy and butter making
facilities, where a corps of apprentices
get practical training, enabling them
when they leave the institution to secure
ready employment in private establish
ments at advanced wages. The college
has many students in its scientific courses
who go forth we'll equipped mechanical
engineers and craftsmen, as well as up
to date farmers Professor Sylvester says
there are some students in the college
from South America, who are among the
most industrious and enthusiastic pupils
of the institution. They are eager for
scientific instruction and laborious in
perfecting themselves. They set good
example to their North American fellow
Students