Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1911-12-29
Would Benefit The Farmers.


to the Legislature, says:
There has been nothing during my ad-
ministration more gratifying than the
awakening of great interest in the basic
industry of our people in agriculture.
There is no State in the Union with a
greater variety of soil adapted to the pro-
duction of agricultural and horticultural
crops, and this seems to be more and more
appreciated by our farmers as the years
roll by.
Il appointed farmers commission for
the whole State, made up of representa-
tive farmers from each section of Maryland.
They organized and held three monster
farm meetings, at which every phase of
this important question was discussed. One
of these meetings was held in Southern
Maryland. one on the Eastern Shore and
one in Western Maryland.
THE interest shown by this commission
was such that it succeeded in bringing
greater interest and putting new life into
this subject in Maryland and impressed
/ the farmer and everybody else that farm
ing nowadays demands combination of
mind and muscle, and the necessity of the
farmer to avail himself of every oppOrtu-
nifty to study the question from a scien-
tific standpoint, famiiarize himself with
the work and experiments of our own Ag-
ricultural College and Experimental Station
"A nil fha rtu nf
riculture and the other great schools on
the same subjects Of the other States of
the Union.
THE idea which once prevailed that the
boy who was unfit for anything else should
be farmer was dreadful mistake. Expe-
rience has shown that the same applica-
ton, the same industry and the same in
quiry into the scientific side of this EN-
ployment is as sure to produce good results
as when applied to any other vocation.
When it is more fully recognized that in
this calling there is more necessity for the
engaging of the mental powers and the
fascination the subject has for the human
mind, together with good roads, the tele-
phone. rural free delivery. the automobile
and the public health country life affords,
it will be very much less difficult in the
future to keep the boy on the Maryland
farm.
THE closeness between supply and de-
mand in agricultural products has unques-
tionably stimulated this industry. raised
the price of land and the prices of products
and is making and will make this question
of more moment in the future than it has
ever been in the history of this country.
1t will unquestionably lead to more thought
being given to the adaptability of soil for
the production of particular crops, about
which comparatively little is known today.
It will result in the division of the large
farms into a smaller number of acres and
an increase in the products of each acre
titled and of increasing the number en-
Gagged in that occupation.
in Maryland, because of its climate and
geographical location and the quality of
its soil, increased attention should unques-
tOhdDiy NC given u iiuil' NCBCtdDlc anu
truck raising, as we are in easy reach of
the markets of probably ten millions of
people. Apples can be produced of the
finest quality in every section of Maryland.
The recent exhibition of the Horticultural
Society of Maryland Zone of the most use
full and enterprising societies we have in
this State), together with other affiliated
organizations, held at the Fifth Regiment
Armory in Baltimore during Maryland
Week. gives a clear indication of the posi-
bilities of Maryland in the raising of apples
and other fruit.
II observed growing fields of alfalfa in
almost every section of the State, and its
production is increasing as the knowledge
of how to raise it is becoming more general
with the farmers. | saw evidences every
where of the effect of the work of our great
Agricultural College. The work of the ex-
pertinent station and also of the college
proper seems to be impressing itself upon
the agriculturists of the State as never be-
fore. 1t is getting closer to the farmers,
and the close relationship now existing is
sure to augment its benelicent results in
the future.
II would recommend that an effort be
made not so much to increase the acres
titled as to increase the quality of the
products on the acre, and the reduction of
the size of the larger farms. Increased
attention to fruit, included in this the
smaller fruits, vegetables and truck pro-
ducts, because believe. as is shown by the
experiments in some Of the Southern Mary
land and Eastern Shore counties where
transportation facilities are sufficient. that
greater profits will result than in the pro-
duction of the ordinary cereals.
Il recommend the use Of more lime than
is now used for the land more barnyard
manure and less of certain kinds Of COM
mercial fertilizer; more poultry raising.
The average price of eggs and the price
of chickens the last few years would war
rant an increase in the pOultry-raising
business Of the State. Cooperation should
be effected and efforts made to reduce the
cost Of agricultural implements. and lower
the tariff on same in order to reduce trust
prices.
Il have recommended from time to time
placing at the agricultural college some
person conversant with newspaper work,
who would prepare in a concise and con-
densed form the results Of the experiment
tai work going on under the Agricultural
Departments of the National Government
as well as Of the different States Of the
Union, and send the same TO the city and
county newspapers, who would be glad to
publish it free Of cost. and thereby supply
to all the farmers of the State promptly
and fresh the information that was OBJ
I tanned from the thought and experiments