Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-06
FIRST COUNTY SCHOOL
ORGANIZED TO TEACH AGRICULT.
URE IN MARYLAND.
ecial Correspondence of The Star.

Special Correspondence OF The star.
CALVERT. Md. November 6. 1909.
Yesterday was opened in Calvert the first
county agricultural high school OF Mary
land, under the personal direction of Mr..
H. o. Sampson of the office OF experiment
stations Of Washington. d. c. The people
Of Cecil county have long felt the need
OF such q school for the boys and girls of
this rich agricultural district, but this
was only made possible after many con-
ferences with various educational officials
Of Maryland and the Department of Agri-
culture.
The institution has opened ausplciously
with a comprehensive and practical course
which will extend over four years The
class room exercises and the field work
are so combined as to give the student q
clear knowledge of agriculture in its va
rious branches. Plant physiology, cultural
methods, crop diseases, dairying and gem
eral farm management will be given spe-
cial attention.; while history. English, math-
ematics and drawing will also become
part Of the students work. Domestic econ
omy will be made especially attractive for
the girls. Mr.. Sampson and Mr.. Crosby
have with much thought compiled this
course. and feel confident II will be sue.
cessful in the school in Cecil county.
The building to be used Is one formerly
occupied by private school of the Friends
Church. Through the efforts of the citi-
Rod of years. and by this means it was
possible to organize the present school with
only the teachers salary and the neces-
sary equipments to provide for. Everything
has been made commodious for the pupils
comforts and the running of the school for
the present year.
This is the first county agricultural high
school In Maryland despite the fact that
the state is close to the National De-
partment of Agriculture. Other states have
gone in advance, especially Wisconsin,
which boasts of three such schools, all sue
cessful, with good attendaLces. Pennsyl-
vania claims one, an institute at Water
ford, which was organized by Mr.. Samp-
son himself a few years ago.
The establishment of the Cecil county
school was first proposed by Mr.. George
Carey, Mr.. George Blake and DIR. J. II.
Jenness. members of the county school
board who soon interested the state super
intendent of public instruct don, Mr.. NJ.
Bates Stevens. The aid of Capt. Sylvester,
director of the Maryland Agricultural Coll
lege. was also called In, and ne, knowing
the interest that Secretary Wilson has al
ways taken in agricultural education, came
directly to Washington and requested that
some one be appointed from the Agriculture
al Department for the director of this In
stitute. Assistant Secretary Hayes, DR.. A.
c. True, director of the office of expert
ment stations, and Prof Milton whitney
were likewise solicited to assist in this mat
ter, and after several conferences Mr.. ii.
o. Sampson was designated to organize and
direct the Cecil County Agricultural School
The officials of Maryland realize their
good fortune in securing Mr.. Sampson for
this position. AS graduate of the Iowa
Agricultural College and for several years
teacher of agriculture he is particularly fit
ted for the task before him. His eNpe-
rience in practical education for the farmer
has been extensive, and during the past
summer he delivered series of lectures at
the teachers institutes in various states,
which gained for him the high esteem OF
officials connected with state colleges. Mr..
Sampson will be assisted in this work by
Mrs Margaret johnson, a normal graduate
of the vicinity.
The organizing of the Cecil county school
is a great undertaking, involving many
problems not presented elsewhere, but MI.
Sampson feels confident OF overcoming and
meeting every difficulty. He is man OF
determination and one to whom there Is
no such word as fail.