Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1912-03-29
The Corn Congress-.


The Corn Congress-.
Mr.. Editor The Agricultural Depart
ment of the school system in this county
in the Sandy Spring and Brookeville High
Schools is undertaking very important
work. The above schools have very good
equipment in their agricultural laboratories,
and are demanding the attention and re-
spect of its patrons. Besides the regular
subjects taught In these schools, the in
structor, Prof. S. d. Gray, B. S. in Agricul-
ture, has planned extensive demonstration
work to be conducted on the neighboring
farms. He has laid special emphasis on
the variety tests Of corn, potatoes, cOwpeas,
soy-beans, etc. Considerable work in Or
chard pruning, spraying. testing milk and
cream, is also being undertaken.
Mr.. Gray says, in fact he insists, that in
order to instruct the farmer. yes. even
the farmer s son, that you must demonstrate
to them that what he is preaching may be
profitably practiced. He says he does not
believe that elementary agriculture can be
taught in small school garden. but that
the boys should have training in handling
teams and improved machinery to expe-
dite labor. which, he says, after all Is one
ton work.
Now word about the corn congress +"
This congress is to be held some time in
November. and most likely will be held at
the Grange Hall, 0lney, Md. Here will be
exhibited by many boys in the county
10 of the best ears of corn of their own
selection and grown by them.
About three weeks ago notices were sent
to each teacher in the county asking him
to get one or more boys to enter into the
contest and stating that liberal prizes
would be offered.
The reasons for asking the boys through
out the county to enter this noble work are
as follows LIST, To afford the rural teachers
an easy method of teaching practical agri-
culture in rural schools in the way ii must
be acquired to be Of real service. End, To
prove that there is more In the soil than
the farmer has ever gotten out Of 1t; to
inspire boys with love of land by showing
them how to get wealth out of il. 3rd,
To give the boys n definite worthy purpose
and to stimulate friendly rivalry among
them.
In order that this work may be success,
II is up to the older people to encourage
the boys to take up this work and do 1t
right.
Prizes from SIS to $50 will be awarded
this coming fall, and the boy obtaining the
highest yield and best showing of profit on
investment will be given trip to Wash
ington this winter and be received by the
Secretary of Agriculture and President Of
the United States as were the prize win
ners in the corn-growing contest last year.
The rules of the contest are that, LIST, the
boys must be between the age of IL and
20; End. no boy shall contest for prize
unless he first notifies Prof S. d. Gray,
Sandy Spring; 3rd. each boy must plan his
own crop and work ii himself as near as
possible; 4th, exhibits Of 10 best ears must
be delivered to S. d. Gray, Sandy Spring,
by November is; 5th. the land in corn
must be measured by two disinterested
persons 9th. in awarding the prizes the
following basis will be used (a) greatest
yield per acre, 80 per cent. CD best ex-
hibit Of ten ears 20 per cent. (c) best
written account, showing history Of crop,
20 per cent. /. (d) best showing of profit on
investment, 80 per cent. =; total, 100 per
cent.
Readers of this article will do us a great
favor by making this known as much as
possible talk to the boys get them inter-
ested, and you will be proud Of them. in
deed, should they reap several prizes at
the corn congress in November.
| trust that the corn congress will be
largely represented in November and re-
quest again that all boys interested and
desiring information on this work will write
to me at Sandy Spring, Md.
PROF. T. D. GRAY, B. s.,
Agricultural High School.