Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1910-09-09
AGRICULTURAL METHODS

A lot of nonsense is being talked and
written by the Republican newspapers
about better agricultural methods" Self
interest, of course, prompts every farmer
TO do everything that he can to get the
best crops possible, and no incentive Is
stronger than self-interest There are many
things that farmers would like to do that
events prevent them from doing, and there
are things which they do that they wish
they had left undone. II is so in every
business and with everyone. If the hay
had not been cut this morning, the rain
would not have spoiled it but who is wise
enough to tell what the tickle weather will
beH If it had not rained for weeks in the
spring the cotton and corn would not have
been SO weedy; it would have been posi-
BILE to work it in season, instead of having
to wait until other crops needed attention.
If it had not been for the drought the crops
would have been better but the farmer is
not a rain-maker and has to accept the
weather that nature provides.
When the people get sick of Republican
policies and corrupt misrule. some smart
Aleck blames it on the farmers, and the
organs" begin to pipe in the same tune
and demand better agricultural methods. "
When Insurgents insurge, the same "Or-
gans" blame it on the farmers and insist
that they have prospered through Repub-
lican legislation. although they admit the
tariff should have been more scientific"
Some railroad magnate has mode
farm where everything that he raises costs
twice what it is worth, and even the eggs
cost one dollar per dozen, and he think:
that the farmers should follow his example
of intensive farming" The Agriculture
Department experts advise the farmer,
how to improve their soil and stock. but i
their advice were followed the farmer
would need the Treasury of the Unitet
States to draw upon and then require al
urgent deficiency appropriation. as tn
experts" often do to make both end
meet.
If the farmers critics would try thei
hand at farming, with the present lack @
labor. and not very efficient at that. the
would not carp so much. II is dollars /
doughnuts they would admit failure, blam
it on the land or weather, and then resum
their old occupation of scribbling abor
what they don't know about farming.
The Agricultural Department has ju.
discovered that the farmers ought to rails
more potatoes TO the acre, and has sci
experts to Europe TO find out how TO do
What they will learn will be that Il
climate there is better than here for tn
sort of crop, and any Pennsylvania Dutc
man could have told them so much wit
out it costing a dollar. when they W
spend thousands.
Other countries are sending experts he
to discover how we grow cotton, and WI
il can't be grown as well or better in
RIGA. Asia or South America. II is pro
ably a question of climate, for the dark
and the old mule can surely be duplcat
in some fashion and there is no Ore
secret in their meanderings
II you have tried farming you will KIN,
that it is no picnic. and that through :
publican policies all that you have to b
is at trust prices, and for all that you ha
to sell you must take what some comb
will pay. Yes, it is not all fun beinS
farmer nor do they all ride in automobiI
though the Republican metropolitan oreG
and the funny supplements would try a
make us believe that the farmers are b
ger fools than are other mortals.