Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-25
CONVENTION OF FARMERS.
Matters Of Moment to Agriculturists
Considered-Legisla Endorsed.
i Correspondence of The Evening Star.

Special Correspondence OF The Evening star
ROCKVILLE. Md. February "a; 1904.
The thirty first annual convention of the
farmers of Montgomery county was held
yesterday at Sandy Spring. The attend
ance was large, including representative
tllers of the soil from all sections of the
county. President E. p. Thomas occupied
the chair and Messrs. John E. Muncaster
and John Bonifant acted as secretaries.
President Thomas annual address con-
sisted Of a short resume of the work of the
convention during it's thirtyone years of
existence, showing how opinions have
changed in regard TO matters affecting the
farming community. He appealed to the
farmers to lend Mr. William IL. Ampss,
state institute director every assistance as
recognition of the valuable work he is
doing In concluding his remarks Mr..
Thomas stated that what the Sandy Spring
section needs as much as anything else at
this time Is a good solid double-track
steam railway. and declared that it must
be had. so that trucking and fruit raising
can be more largely engaged ill.,
William E. Muncaster, William w. Moore
and Tarlton B. Stabler, composing the com
mittee railroad crossings. reported that
the crossings of the county appear to be
we'll attended, and that no cases OF neglect
were reported during the year.
Mr.. John Thomas of the committee on
township system reported that he did not
think the township system good thing for
this sparsely settled section. He stated
that the similar system of New Jersey
could not be held as an example. because
that state receives millions of dollars from
trust franchises. Benjamin II. Miller stated
that twenty-five years ago the system had
been characterized by prominent lawyer
as "a fool idea" and he did not think much
progress has since been made. Mr.. Allan
Farquhar favored the township system be-
cause he believes in local administration of
local affairs.
He also read a history of the disap-
pointments in regard to railroad building in
this county and stated that within the past
fifty years there have been ten or twelve
projected roads through the Sandy Spring
section. butnone built as yet
''Seed Corn" was the subject of a decided
ly interesting talk by MIR. Tarlton B. Sta
bier He advised the planting of special
patch for seed and suggested the cutting
of tasseis from all stalks which do not
make an ear-then gathering early in the
fall and drying thoroughly to prevent freeZ-
ing. Prof. Tolliver of the Maryland Agri-
cultural College told of an experimental
plot of forty rows planted with 100 grains
each from forty different ears. He stated
that the highest yield to acre was sixteen
barrels and lowest three barrels. The diff
ference In yield. he explained. was due to
the termination of seed and the difference
in the quality of the individual ears of corn
Ideal growing he described being
of strong, stocky stalk. of medium height
with one good ear, fodder enough for en-
SilaEe, and to stand both wet and dry
weather. Prof. Patterson OF the Agricul-
tural College also spoke on this subject, as
did DIR. William e. Magruder. DIR. Augustus
Stabler and others.
The question of friction matches was con-
sidered, and the text of a bill requiring
license of $40 by the vender of the parlor
match and none for the safety match was
read and Endorsed by a vote of the gather
ing.
The local option question was also dis
cussed, and the following resolution was
adopted: 1.-THE annual convention of u
farmers of Montgomery county respectfully
requests our senator and members of the
house of delegates to secure the prompt
passage of the measure prepared by the
Montgomery County Anti-Saloon League
strengthening the local option law of this
county
The question. .sDoes our county need a
new road law, and what should be its main
featuresg" was discussed at considerable
length. Mr.. A. n. Johnson of the state
highway commission read an interesting
paper on this subject. 1t was followed by
a general discussion, and Mr.. Johnson was
subjected to a running fire of questions.
would 1t Pay Us to Go Into Fruit Gull
ture Commercially" was the subject of
paper by Mr.. s. Harold Hopkins. Mr.. Hop
kins held that 1t would IL a large enough
number of farmers would engage in 1t TO
make it worth while for fruit buyers 10
visit this section
The convention Endorsed the Hannah oyster