The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1903-12-11
Maryland State Grange.

The thirty-first annual meeting of the
Maryland State Grange. Patrons Of Hus-
bandry, was held on Tuesday and We'd
nesday in Baltimore. On Tuesday Mas
ter J. B. Ager, of Hyattsville, made his
report, which was received with great in
terest. Mr.. Ager discussed the farming
conditions in Maryland. On the subject
of good roads, he said:
"There seems to be great interest at
this time all over the State in regard to
good roads. 1t is said that the Govern
ment has expended $500, 600, 900 in i'm,
proving the rivers and harbors and pro-
poses to spend $500, 00O, 900 in building
the isthmian canal. Therefore, We believe
that they should appropriate something
to assist in building permanent highways.
1--WE believe that the Government
should aid the farmers in the building of
roads. According to Secretary Wilson's
report, the farmers have aided the Govern
ment very materially. Discussing the bal
ance of trade, the Secretary says that the
favorable balance of trade to the credit of
this country is due entirely to the farmers.
The balance of trade in the farm products
during the last IA years. no year excepted,
aggregated 81, SOC, 0OO, 900 in products. 9th
er thar the farm products during the same
period the balance of trade was adverse
to this country to the extent of 1856, 000,-
900. Our farmers not only cancelled this
immense Obligation, but placed $780,
600, 900 to the credit Of the nation, when
the books of the international exchanges
were balanced. He concludes that it is
the farmers that nave paid the foreign
bondholders. Now, why should not the
Government aid the farmers in the con-
struction Of roads? 1t is shown by care.
full estim ates that it cost 5000, 0OO, 900 to
haul the products of the farm to railway
stations, rivers and canals, which is vastly
more than it costs to maintain 200, 900
miles of railway, and by careful estimates
the cost. could be reduced one half. 1
nave no doubt that on some roads it could
be reduced much more.
II was lately reading that in South
Carolina the roads were in such condition
that a span Of mules could only haul two
bales of cotton at a load. But when they
had built macadamized roads a span of
mules could haul 10 bales. In that case
the cost would be reduced four-ffths, be-
sides the wear and tear of wagons and
harness. There are several road leagues
in this State. Some are at work to secure
a State law and others to secure lcca! or
county laws"
Mr.. Ager is a believer in diversified
farming. He said in his report, referring
to the scarcity of farm labor:
"The only remedy l know of is to carry
our declaration of purposes to diver
sify our crops, and crop no more thar we
can cultivate. We believe the tendency
of many farmers is to cultivate large acres,
when, if they would f%ertilize more heavily
and cultivate more thoroughly, they would
get better results and larger profits. l
think a great mistake with many farmers
is that they do not carry stock enough to
keep up the fertility of the farm, for I do
not believe that it can be done with com-
mercial fertilizers alone"
At the morning session on Wednesday
the election of officers resulted as follows:
Master, J. B. Ager, Hyattsville; Over
seer, l.. NJ. Bushey, Sykesville; Lecturer,
R. W. Sylvester, College Park; Steward,
W. E. Brown, Brighton; Assistant Stew
ard, W. K. Eckert, ~Taneytown; Chaplain,
J. S. Hartman, Silver Run; Treasurer, W.
G. Reeder, Rising Sun; Secretary, H. B.
Mcdonnell, College Park; Gatekeeper, j.
R. lilies, F~rizzleburg; Pomona, Mrs. R.
Slayer, Union Bridge; Flora, Miss Ger
trude Ray, Chillum; Ceres, Mrs. ]. B.
Ager, Hyattsville: Lady Assistant Secre-
tary, Mrs. L. NJ. Corey, Fairlee. They
serve for two years.
The executive committee elected con
sists of Richard Vincent, Jr., W~hitemarsh,
Chairman; H. ]. Patterson, College Park,
Secretary; S. W. Beall, Beltsville; Alex
ander Mccormick, Fullerton; ]. S. Hart
man, Silver Run; Bentley Thomas, Ednor.
At the evening session a resolution of
congratulation was passed for Mr.. and
Mrs. j. B. Ager, who recently celebrated
their golden wedding. It was decided to
secure additional appropriation for the
the college, experiment station and insti-
tute work; to assist in the good roads
movement; to urge the proposed oyster
legislation, and to secure sufficient appro-
priation to enable the commission to make
full exhibits at the st. Louis Fair in 1904.
Nineteen of the 81 oranges in. the State
were repres ented at the meeting. The
next annual meeting will be held in Balti-
more mex December.
The Rev. Irl Il.
Hicks 1904 Almanac.
The Rev Irl R. Hicks Almanac for
1904 is now ready. 1t will be mailed to
any address for 80 cents. 1t is surpris-
ing how such an elegant. costly book can
be sent prepaid so cheaply. No family
or person is prepared to study the heavens
or the storms and Weather in 1QOl with.