Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1907-11-15
Where Farming Pays.
Mr.. Editor:

Mr.. Editor:
Having business engagement in Olney,
Montgomery county, last summer, we took
the o'clock train for Laurel, where we pro-
cured buggy to drive over. My first trip
over this route was from Olney to Laurel IN
l848, when II took us. with pair OF strong
horses, all day to make the trip. Note the
difference-wiih the present good roads we
reached our destination in two hours. All
along the route we found evidence Of intelli-
gent farming, splendid crops OF wheat, corn
and hay now replacing broom sedge and
sassafras bushes Passing Spencerville, we
overlook Mr.. Albert Stabler, who informed
US that Mr.. Mortimer Stabler expected to get
30 bushels an acre from his crop OF wheat.
From all appearances we deemed his esli-
mate none too high. This was on land
bought between so and go years ago by the
late Caleb Stabler for $2.05 an acre. En-
route we noticed the fine estates OF Messrs.
Asa M. Stabler, Robert Miller, the Misses
Miller, DR. Francis Thomas, John Thomas,
Edward p. Thomas, president OF the Mont
gomery County Fire Insurance Company
Frances Snowden, John o. Bentley, Allan
Farquhsr, Miss Mary Gilpin, Hon. Joseph
T. More, Charles Porter, Henry II. Miller,
Frank M. Hallowell and DR.. VIM. Il. Magru-
der, all beautifully kept with fine crops and
fat high grade stock. We could hardly real
ize having passed over this route when these
farms were SO barren they were the Laughing
stock of the rest OF the State.
Reaching Olney, we remembered having
attended school in 1850 at Fair Hill, nearby,
now owned by Mr.. Charles II. Kirk, one OF
the most prosperous and intelligent farmers
in the State, 80 we drove in to see the i'm
provements.
In my school days there the farm was very
poor, the yield OF corn being from three to
Hua hupr
1850 was less than 100 bushels, which !
helped "Joe" Stacks, the farmer, to thrash
by treading 1t out with horses. As entered
the lawn noticed poles some 20 feet long
taste med to the tops OF the trees, with cross
pieces, from which wires were strung asked
Mr.. Kirk why he had his clothes line 80 high
and how he got the clothes up there, when,
TO my surprise, he informed me that 1t was
a wireless telegraph. | could but stop and
wonder what Col. Richard Brooke, who built
Fair Hill in l76O, or James Brooke, of Charley
Forrest, the original grantee of The farm and
| the great uncle In the third degree Of the
| present owners most estimable wife, would
| think IL they could return from the spirit land
| and hear from Washington when II was IL
NJ. by wireless telegraph instead OF going
| out in the lawn to look at the sun dial.
| Looking around the premises | saw the old
| wooden pump from which | had 30 often
|
porch, as this enterprising farmer has INSTALL
ed gasoline engine to pump the water for
| household purposes and for his stock In the
| barn. Every thing about the house, barn and
farm showded such thrift that we were In
| quisitive enough to ask Mr.. Kirk OF his crops
| tor last year. He informed US that he raised
about 1900 bushels of wheat 800 barrels OF
corn, 100 tons of hay, his dairy products,
81, 400 cattle and hogs, 81, 900, and lambs
and wool, $780, This on farm Of $50 acres,
| 80 Of which are In wood.
To accomplish this both he and his wife
attend strictly TO every detail, and yet find
| time for frequent drives behind his sorres
Dandy and Soda, one Of the finest teams In
the county. Mr.. Kirk is president of the
Union Turnpike Company, vice president Of
the First National Bank Of Sandy Spring,
and director in the Savings Institution of
Sandy Spring.
While in Olney we met Mr.. Josiah W.
Jones and DR.. George W. Broadly, both OF
whom are most successful farmers. Mr.. Jones
owns beautiful estate adjoining Olney of
ATS acres, 90 of which are In wood. He raised
last year about 1850 bushels of wheat, 800
barrels of corn, sold so tons Of hay; cattle,
81, $50; hogs, 81, 100, and two horses We
we'll remember when this land was unculti-
waited and known as the "Briars" named for
the only crop 1t was capable Of producing.
DR.. Broadly, with his two br0thers, Messrs.
Ell and Morris, and his sister are perhaps the
largest land owners In the county, and all OF
their land ia most successfully farmed. DR..
Broadly and Mr.. Jones are directors in the
Union Turnpike Company and the First Ma
tional Bank Of Sandy Spring.
A ride from Laurel to Olney will convince
those who doubt that farming pays Of the
falsity of their views. That intelligent cul-
ture Of the soil 10 remunerative will be thor
oughly demonstrated. No more Independent
people live than the farmers of that section.
They have their clubs, which meet frequently,
and views on subjects of interest to them are
interchanged. The ladies have their societies
for the same purpose.
While these people are thoroughly progress
sive and up to date, the old-time social fsla-
tons, now almost extinct, prevail, and the
string Of the latch 10 always outside.
WASHINGTON BOWIE.