Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1912-02-16
Agricultural High Schools.
The AGRICULTURAL HIGH SCHOOLS AT SANDY
SPRING AND BRooKEvILLE, MONTGOMERY
COUNTY, MD.

Sandy Spring, Md, February 1. 1912.
To the SENTINEL.
Should appreciate having you publish
the following article:
Brother farmers and all others interested
in rural education, listen Do you hear the
school bell tolling? Yes. Where is the
bell you hear, my friend, is the one we've
so longed for that is the toll of the bell at
the Agricultural High School.
My friends seemed surprised to know
there was such an institution as an Agri-
cultural High School, Why, they said, we
farmers don't need any of you book farm
ers (they call them) to teach our boys agri
culture. Why, it's absurd, one of these
friends of ours said, to try to teach our
boys agriculture we can do that ourselves.
Mark me, the gentleman who made such a
remark was one who had no boys to edu-
cate, which accounts for such q statement.
Surely every Marylander is interested in
the progress of Maryland; and without
question every citizen of Montgomery coun-
ty is interestedin the progress of his county.
If he be otherwise, he is not deserving of
home in the county
From the very earliest history of this
country agriculture has been the chief in
dustry here; and fear not that it will ever
become anything else. Agriculture is the
backbone of the country, it is that industry
which is the foundation of all other in
dustries. While il is ture that our systems
of farming have from the first been very
crude and disastrous to the fertility of our
soils, yet there seems to be an ever-increas-
ing interest in agricultural work.
Up until about forty years ago practically
nothing was done to help the farmers
but, due to the rapid increase of our popu-
lation and the positive necessity of pro-
viding food for this population, something
had to be done. Our farms were becoming
poorer every year, and had not the United
States Department of Agriculture, the State
Experiment Stations, and the farm press
done something to arrest such state of
affairs there is no telling what would have
become of our people and our country; in
short, we would have gone out Of existence.
The Secretary of Agriculture made the
statement few days ago that if better
systems of agriculture were not practiced
and something done to help educate the
young farmers to better understanding
of their profession, that the United States
would be unable to support its people in
less than ten years.
AS | said before, the United States De-
partment of Agriculture, the Experiment
Stations and the farm press are doing
wonderful work. They are placing right
before the farmers in black and white the
right kind of dope" They are empha-
sizing and teaching the simple practical
methods, with demonstrations, as how to
raise the largest crops at the lowest cost,
and by methods that increase the fertility
of the soil rather than robbing it. Their
works are supplemented by valuable bulle-
tins which may he had for the asking. But
how many farmers avail themselves of the
opportunities offered by these valuable in
situations They are few indeed, might
say less than half.
To increase the efficiency of these insti-
tutiOns for the dissemination of agricultu-
raj knowledge something must be done.
The demand for improvement in agriculture
came not so much from the farmer as it
did from the far-seeing public men, who,
from broader viewpoint than the farmer,
have seen the absolute necessity Of pro-
viding food for our people.
We have all heard the cry, What
makes the boys leave the farmY The
answer is. They were not properly trained.
What they needed was early education
along the lines Of agriculture of such
character as would turn their emotions and
intellects in the direction Of the farm
would reveal to them its beauties and real
intellectual interests as well as its mere
utility. In order to secure such an educa-
ton and fit the younger generation for the
farm, the establishment of agricultural
courses in the county high schools should
be urged.
The importance of this work cannot be
too greatly agitated. Tis true the Agri-
cultural High School is yet in its infancy,
but enough has already been learned to
make us fully appreciate its importance.
1t should be made an integral part of our
rural education. Only for few years has
the Agricultural High School been seriously
considered, and ii is making rapid strides,
Baltimore county and Montgomery county
being pioneers along this line. They have
established one or more schools in each of
these counties and equipped them. At both
of these schools very valuable work is being
conducted. They are meeting with I'M
usual success, and encouraging as results
seem at present we hope to make them
models for other counties throughout the
United States.
At the abOve-named schools, besides the
theoretical or classroom work. the boys
are required to conduct certain experiments,
such as testing farm seed, milk and cream
analysis of soils. agricultural chemistry, in
the laboratory. Part Of the time is devoted
to observation Of crops in their different
STAGES of growth, right in the fields. Such
work as pruning and grating, besides being |
discussed in the classroom, are demon
started on the neighbOring farms. Dairy |
herds are tested and accurate records kept. |
Fertilizers are studied in every phase In |
fact. nearly every problem relating to farm |
life is discussed and worked out by the |
students. The most important, and, think,
interesting, problem in connection with this !
work is the experiments conducted by the |
boys on their home farms during vacation |
under the supervision Of their principal. II |
is great to see the boys working in their ex-
perimental plots, taking notes, asking ques- !
tons. all the time. They are showing great |
interest in the work, indeed, and more
money should be spent by the county to |
make the work more complete. The work |
done by the boys covers the testing Of varie- !
ties of corn. potatoes, etc, different methods |
of cultivation and influence Of fertilizers.
This is a live proposition, brother farm
ers, and one which promises to do more |
for the rural community than any other
one thing. and it will be a success just TO |
the extent the county school board and |
citizens lend their assistance. We cant |
stand still in this work; we will either 90 |
forward or backward. Why not let us 90 |
forward friends, and be public benefac-
tor, q service to our county, TO our State. |
country and last but not least, to ourselves |
(Signed) S. d. GRAY,
Professor of Agriculture Sandy Spring
and BrOokeville High Schools.
Anniversary CeIebration