Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1909-01-15
THE FARMERS INSTITUTE
Maryland Agricultural College,
Department Farmers Institutes.
COLLEGE Park. MARYLAND.

Montgomery county, met in the highway
each on his way to the others home Ia
! propose that periodical meetings of neigh
bOrs be held, which was the beginning OF
THE Farmers Club of Sandy Spring,
March 9th 1914, William Henry Farquhar,
Secretary. From the minutes of the first
meeting we have the following. I'VE pro-
pose forming an association for improve
ment in agriculture upon the sociable prin-
ciple of a mutual interchanging of visits.
We adopt for our government no rules or
regulations other than those which should
always prevail in good society" The min
utes of THE Farmers Club" show that on
ly six meetings failed to assemble at their
appointed time in the period from 1914 to
this date. December l847. a bill passed
the General Assembly making provisions
for State laboratory One of the duties
of the chemist was to deliver one public
lecture in each election district in each
county town, and at some central place in
Baltimore city. 1t is disputed question
which particular club or grange is entitled
to the honor of first suggesting a system
of farmers institutes. Brighton Grange, in
Montgomery county. has on record Farm
ers Institute held in its hall March 18th,
1891, under the auspices of the Committee
on Farmers Institutes of the State Grange.
January 18th, 1896, under the auspices
of the Evansville Farmers Club. Farmers
Institute was held in Annapolis. Through
the efforts of this club bill was passed
March 9th, 1896, creating Department
of Farmers Institutes to the Maryland Az
ricultural College.
Its Purpose. The bill creating the De-
partment of Farmers Institutes has the
following words: THE purpose of these
Institutes shall be to bring before the farm
ers of the State such information as will eff
fectually remedy many Of the existing
evils now prevalent in every department of
agriculture, as now pursued in Maryland,
and that at said Institutes men competent
to instruct shall be present, and such topics
shall be discussed as pertain to the prin-
cipal agricultural interests of the several
sections"
The folder which is issued to all who
have registered on the departments mail
ing list by handing in their names at the
Institutes will contain this season besides
the program of each county, pictures and
biographical sketches of each of the
workers, the Departments offer for this
winters Meetings. season when farm
ers can best afford to let their work lay
while they meet with others for delibera-
ton and discussion of the topics that are
many other problems that the farmer must
himself solve under conditions peculiar to
his individual self and with the resources
at his command within and without him
self
One twO-day Institute or two Institutes
of one day each will be conducted in each
county. The Department will send two or
more men to the place of meeting, who
will be the only speakers when arrange
ments have not been made with the Direc-
tor of the Department by local commit
tee on program to admit local talent.
The Institute offers an opportunity to
have subject introduced by man of ex-
perience, and one who has given much
thought to his bringing out the important
points that others, after the opening adj
dress, may take them up and discuss each
agreeing or disagreeing with the speaker,
at the same time giving reasons, thereby
bringing before those assembled many
opinions based on practice, observation
and thought The patron of the Institutes
will 90 home and think out for himself
ways of doing things, fitting his environ
ment, that may be new to him or. he may
return better satisfied with his own way,
and, being convinced, will get better results
than before. He will, after hearing an in
telligent discussion of farm topics, be
close observer and will improve on his own
methods. The father, becoming more in
teresteti In his work because he will see
why he gets results or fails to get them.
will talk them over with the boys and girls,
who will soon want to know more about
the why of things, and read with more in
terest the club and grange reports in the
newspapers and the agricultural papers
and the bulletins of the Experiment Sta
~ fa-s ,.fin hsa
a drudge but pleasure and delight. as
it is to the professor who enjoys his daily
work in laboratory where he succeeds or
fails but, whatever the result, it is to him
vet pleasure revealing new and undis-
covered fields. When the farmer pursues
his profession as the scientist does his,
then the farmer will be the better because
his workshop is larger and so will be his
mind.
The Department believes it is now equip
ned to do better work than is done in any
other State. railroad superintendents
private car was bought at a bargain last
year and used one month in last seasons
work. 1t has been rem0deled to board and
lodge four Institute workers, the Director
and n cook One half of the car is equip
ped as first-class lecture Matchmaking an
Institute possible at any railroad station
when enough farmers will assemble to JUS
tify the Department to stop the car. The
Director has planned one months work,
using the car as base for operations
two weeks on the Maryland and Pennsyl-
vania Railroad and two on the Western
MARYLAND Railroad, period that cannot be
extended to take up the work on other
roads as il would do after that term, If the
money appropriated would permit.
The management would have the sta
tions where the car will stop decided by
petitions from those who are looking to the
| Institute Department for instruction. After
a stop has been decided upon. two men
will accept invitations. by petition. to at
tend meetings Of farmers at places that
can be visited in an hours or two hours
drive from the car, the only requirement
being that livery hall and dinner shall be
provided by the petitioners.
A course of four lectures will be given at
| the car BY a third man on orcharding, be-
Ginning by selecting nursery stock, plant
| IND. cultivation, pruning and other practice
| To marketing fruit. This is bringing the
opportunity Of a college short course with
| in driving distance Of the farm and nearly
every farm of the State.
The fourth Institute worker is veteri-
marian of thirty years experience, VINO Is
registered by the New York State Breeders
Association as an expert judge. He will
accept invitations from owners Of breed
| ine animals to pass judgment on horses,
sheep or dairy breeds. In some States
stations are required to be examined by
competent board and a veterinarian, who
issue a license to the owner. which is a
guarantee to the public that he horse is
sound and is qualified specimen Of one
of the breeds.
A course Of four lectures is offered to
women by Miss Anna Barrows. OF the
Teachers College Of Columbia University
| who will come from New York City every
Thursday night and to the car Friday morn
ines. Miss Barrows is one who has had
a training and experience in country
life and at the leading institutions Of the
| East to qualify her to give q course in do