Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1916-01-28
Summary OF County Agents Re-
ports For 1915.
BY G. H. AFFORD. STATE AGENT, COLLEGE
PARK, ND.

| ID " H. ALtokD, OIATE AGENT, COLLEGE
PARK, ND.
CoRN.-The general character of Mary
land agriculture is indicated by the fact
that about one-half of the total value OF
the crops is contributed by cereals; about
one-sixth by potatoes and vegetables. and
more than one-eishth by hay and forage.
The reported value of corn is over half
of that of all cereals. 1t is grown on more
than four out of five farms, and about
one-ffth of all improved land is reported
in corn; 42,084 farms reported 647.012
acres of corn in 1910. and a yield of IT,
9ll, 4S6 bushels, or an average of about
27.35 bushels per acre.
The twelve demonstration agents in
Maryland did work with ia farmers as
corn demonstrators. The total acreage Of
corn grown under the improved methods
advocated by the County Agents was
l,1S1. The average yield per acre on the
1,iS1 acres was 47.91 bushels. or an increase
over the average for the State of 2O.56
bushels If every acre of corn in the State
produced as much as the average yield on
the demonstration acres, 1902. 565.72
bushels of corn would be added to the 10
year average production in this State.
ToBAcco.-Tobacco is grown as COM
mercial crop in only five of the twenty
three counties in Maryland. II is grown
on only nine per cent. of the farms of the
State. The average production per acre,
according to the last census, was 684.5
pounds and the average value per acre
was $3.50.
Only one Of the twelve County Agents
conducted tobacco demonstrations. Mr..
John H. Drury, tobacco expert, had four
tobacco demonstrations. The average yield
per acre was 1900 pounds. or an increase
of 515.5 pounds over the average produc-
ton. If the advice given by Mr.. Drury
relative to the preparation of the soil,
planting improved varieties. and the pro-
per cultivation had been carried out on
every acre devoted to tobacco. the value
Of the tobacco crop would have been in
creased by $1.559.02616.
Tobacco is recognized as a great cash
crop for Southern Maryland. The County
Agents in the tobacco counties will all
conduct tobacco demonstrations in 1915.
The average farmer will be advised to re-
duce his acreage in tobacco and practice
systematic rotation, including leeuminous
crops. The tobacco growers will be in
structed to plant fewer acres in tobacco,
lime, fertilze and cultivate better and OBJ
tain much larger yields Of better tobacco
per acre.
WHEAT.-Corn is king in Maryland. but
wheat is almost nine-tenths as valuable as
corn: 23,3l5 farmers grew total acreage
of 589,893 acres. with yield of 9.465,-
Asst bushels in 1910. About one-sixth of
all improved land is reported in wheat.
The twelve County Agents had total
of 1903 wheat demonstrations. The aver
age yield per acre on demonstration farms
was 23,85 bushels. or an increased yield
over the average for the State of 7.85
bushels per acre. If every acre of wheat
could be grown under demonstration meth
DDS. the yield would be increased nearly
! 100000 bushels annually.
WINTER 0ATS.-0ats is grown by less
than one in five farmers in the State. Only
1881 farmers reported the growing Of 49,
2l0 acres and yield of l,160.663 bushels
in 1910. The accuracy Of this report may
be questioned on account Of the fact that no
figures are available for a later date than
1910, but there has been a remarkable
stability in the number of acres devoted
to the leading crops during the past three
decades There has, of course. been fiuct-
uations. but the increase or decrease has
amounted to very little
Demonstrations in oats were conducted
on 40 farms The average yield per acre
on these farms was az bushels, or an in
creased yield over the average for the State
of 1875 bushels per acre.
Oats is a good winter cover crop for
Southern Maryland. Most of the cultivated
of the soil is washed away and there is
also great loss of plant food from the
soil by teaching. A crop of oats on the
land will reduce the great damage by sur
face washing and teaching to minimum.
1t is excellent feed for nearly all farm ami
mails and ripens when feedstuffs are scarce.
| am of the opinion that while every county
in Maryland should grow more winter or
spring oats, that especially should Southern
Maryland grow more winter oats. The oat
crop encourages the growing Of leeuminous
crops because it is harvested early enough
to permit the growing Of crop of cow
peas or soy beans after the oats are taken
off the land.
CRIMSON CLOvER-There are numerous
problems for solution, but two come very
nearly to being of supreme importance
These two problems are a cheap source Of
protein for livestock and cheap source Of
nitrogen for the soil. The growing Of Grim
son clover. cowpeas. soy beans. alfalfa.
vetch. Canada field peas. and other leeu-
minous crops largely solve these two and
other problems.
We are now compelled to till soils whose
ability TO produce satisfactory crops has
been greatly impaired. The development
Of agricultural science is going forward
with rapid strides. and while there is yet
much to learn, we now know. in q general
way, the steps necessary to obtain protein
economically to build up and maintain
soil fertility. For these reasons. the County
Agents Of this State have laid great stress
on the growing Of leeuminous crops. Sixty
seven demonstrations were conducted on
crimson clover. The average yield Of hay
per acre was Is tons. Demonstrations
were conducted to ascertain the value Of
] or;noaou .lnuar ,shau dro~oA oH ..1 ..,..