The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1905-12-15
t,i;,.sisNiaG NJ AsIl N y TO-

1 al SiSSy ~ IVA ~ a. - AA> -
The 70, ecco crop IF Maryland IS
s,-,..,,,,i,te IF i:rye improvement IN
quality. q ,ant'ty and price, says the
.R.,,,mc,e Sun" Tuis is the en-
courasing lesson taught by lecturers
from the Department OF Agriculture
in Prince GEORGES and Charles coun-
ties, as reported in Wednesday, 's'Sun.'
In the course of four days tour ar
ranged by Mr.. Amoss, of the Mary
land Agricultural COLLEGE, the Gov
ernm.nt's tobacco experts explained
10 the farmers why they have failed
to make money with tobacco IN 'he
past and how they may improve their
record in the future. Intelligent
breeding OF plants, it was shown Is the
secret of success. The best SEED OF
the best plants should be planted ana
no other. For years Maryland plant
ers have used "any old seed, gather
ing It. as a rule, with no principle oi
selection, from the first plant they en-
countered. The custom las been, 1t
was stated, TO save the seed OF the
plants nearest the barn. The result
is that too often Maryland tobacco IS
degenerate and can be sold only with
some difficulty and much abatement
of price, whereas Maryland planters
ought to be able to produce Leaf tina;
would be in demand in any market
The soil is right and the climate is
right, but the SET for many years has
averaged bad.
The lecturers taught that planters
should save only the seed OF plants
which attract attention by their tne
leaves. suckerless stems and other
good points. By covering the SEED
tops OF such selected plants with paper
bags, to prevent fertilization from in
ferior plants near by, the quality OF
the next crop can be vastly improved
1t was Ivy sueh process OF selection
that the excellent varieties of other
States we're developed from Maryland
seed. BY crossing good Mary land
. C,,,o,ro vrannpr nIant
leaves are produced, it was stated
that sell at 81 a pound. Connecticut
g,,wers have paid attention to selec
ton and to crossing, With the result
that, using a Maryland stock, they
have evolved plant that outsells the
Maryland product in every market
Figures are eloquent. Maryland to
bacco, it was stated, averages but 62l
hounds to the acre, while in Connect'-
the crop runs as high as 800 pounds
to the acre and sells at higher price
Connecticut tobacco, unlike ours If
not restricted, when in quest OF buy
ers, TO France or Belgium. but is want
ed everywhere. Mechanical appliances
exist for separating good seeds from
bad by means Of blast OF air. At
tention va. called to these by the lee
turers, whose discourses we're plain >
practical and to the point. 1t is reas
surfing to learn that the hearers were
interested. Negroes and boys, as
we'll as white farmers and their wives,
it is stated, listened and took note OF
the points made by the experts. 1t Is
to be hoped that the good work OF in
s,ruction-thanks to the practical
spirit of the Agricultural Department
will continue. Seconded by the Or
ganization OF Maryland tobacco grow
ers, recently formed to save a perish
ing industry, the advocates OF more IN
tslligent and progressive planting
ought within a few years TO be able t"
place Maryland tobacco in a ne"
class