The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1911-01-27

The Farmers Institute began yes
terday and finished today, the Court
House being crowded on both days
with the most representative farmers
and their families In the county. 1t
was under the charge Of DR.. Richard
Hill of the Maryland Agricultural Col
lege, the director of Farmers Insti-
tutes. In the morning Professor
Thomas B. Symons, State Etomologist,
spoke on the "Reclaiming of Orch
ards" He dWelt upon the absolute
necessity of spraying for profit in
apple growing and recommended that
an orchard be sprayed two or three
times year. Attention was called by
him to the great profit which could be
made from the reclaiming OF old or
chards through trimming and spray
ing and working them thoroughly, and
stated that IL these methods were
followed, instead of 40 carload of ap-
pies being shipped from Carroll coun-
ty a year, there would be forty train
loads He also urged spraying of
peach trees giving the formula of the
different processes, all of which can
be obtained from the bulletin on
spraying issued by the Agriculture
College.
The education Of the farmers son,
was the subject of the address of Cap
tain r. wv. Sylvester, president OF the
Maryland Agriculture College. He
urged that the public schools take up
teaching Agriculture in the county,
in connection with their other courses,
and called attention to the fact that
in addition to the regular courses at
the Maryland Agriculture College,
covering a period of four and two
years, there il also ten weeks course
for farmers and their families which
is the boiled down regular course.
This ten weeks course includes, two
weeks on poultry raising and a two
weeks course of horticulture, and said
that during the present year, one hun
dred men and women have taken por-
tions of it.
In the afternoon Hon. w. Oscar Col
lier, Of Talbot county, member OF
the present Legislature, made an ad-
dress on the fertility of corn. The
necessity Of a proper selection OF
seed was emphasized by him, and the
necessity of seeing that it was fertile.
Methods of selection we're told of
and he cited incidents to show the
need of some method being followed,
stating that he knew of many un-
scrupulous dealers who had sold corn
for seed, which upon being tested
showed that only from forty-two to
sixty-eight per cent of it would germ
mate.
Mr. Collier in illustrating his re
marks used ears Of corn and advised
that in its selection good deep grain
with a broad neck should b. picked
out. The reason of this is that there
would be plenty of strength and stam-
ina in it, making 1t both good for feed
with a strong stock, amply well able
to resist drought.
MIR. George O. Brown, Of Baltimore
county, also spoke in the afternoon
on the subject of poultry raising. He
has had much practical experience
in it and his remarks were listened
to with evident interest He laid
stress upon the Importance of clean
and dry houses and stated that the
only enemies and diseases of chickens,
arise from dirt and dampness. He
cleaning the houses fre-
qnently and spraying them with a
white wash solution in which should
be carbolic acid, and OF painting the
roosts and nests with coal oil and
carbolic acid to prevent vermin. The
giving OF bad or decayed food to
chickens was condemned, as many Of
the diseases from which they suffered
arose from 1T.
On Friday Governor Crothers came
up on the ten o'clock train and re-
turned in the afternoon, accompanied
by Mr.. Tucker, chairman of the Good
Roads Commission, and Col. W. S.
Powell
The address Of Governor Crothers
was received with deep interest and
much pleasure by the large audience.
He spoke OF economy In State affairs
and urged its exercise. He dwelt
upon the necessity OF organization
among the farmers, stating how saw
ings could be made in the purchase
of articles they need on the farm and
the sale OF those they produce.
The necessity of a good common
school education was uregd, and he
advised that more attention be paid to
advanced methods in agriculture.
The Governor did not let the oppor-
tunity pass to speak OF good roads and
called attention to the fact that Mary
land was i'm the forefront in this great
On Friday morning Mr.. H. j. Pat
terson, director of the Maryland Ag-
riculture Experiment Station, lectured
on Dairy Husbandry," dealing prin-
cipally with the selection OF the herd,
and It, management and the care OF
milk He advised that care be exer-
cised in selecting a good standard
breed and not crossing 1t afterward;
that the heifer calves turned out
should be from the cows and bulls of
good records, always bearing in mind
that the bull is one-half OF the herd
when breeding up.
He is opposed to the closed stable
and advised the use OF the open stable
now being used at the Experiment
Station. IT. it the sides are open, R
wall about four feet nigh from the
ground being built with good roof
over it This is proven to be- OF great
aid To the cows health, they dC better
give more milk, are healthier and
take no more feed than when shut up.
The stable ig ONE the same theory uf
the open air treatment for tubercolsis.
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