Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1917-04-13
Farm Demonstration Notes.


pity is that it should have required dec
laratlon OF war to arouse us from our aeri-
cultural letharey and inspire us to make the
most OF our splendid agricultural opportuni-
ties. But at last we are about to be awak-
ened to an appreciation of fundamental
principles, to the necessity Of stopping
wasteful leaks. and to the value of sound
business methods in every phase of farm
management.
The sound of the fife and drum and bu-
gle is closely associated with the flood tide
of patriotic feeling, The click of the corn
planter, the whirr of the wheat harvester,
the creak of the market wagon have never
before been so closely associated with
martial endeavor. But today the man be-
hind the hoe stands shoulder to shoulder
with the man behind the gun. The hun
cry soldier, regiment or army division is
already defeated. Hunger saps the cour-
age as well as the strength. Those at
home must eat as well as those in the
field. In this titanic struggle the soldier s
food and clothing come largely from the
farms, and from now on must come more
and more largely from American farms
irrespective of the soldiers nationality
The American farmer should be proud OF
the fact that he has such a splendid oppor-
tunity to prove his loyalty. his patriotism
and hia daunfinn % he IF has
liberty and worldwide justice. 1t may
take even a higher order of courage tC
enlist in the agricultural reserve than in
the submarine chaser or aviation corps
The agricultural reservist will lack the ex.
element and inspiration Of the active cam.
paign. but he will also avoid its dangers
and will be better paid for duty well per.
formed.
The Department Of Agriculture and the
Extension Service are Fastening the worn
of mobilizing our agricultural forces. II il
up to every farmer to take stock of his
resources and opportunities. Few have
been doing their utmost toward raising
maximum crops on every available acre Of
everything their farms will produce. Now
is the time for some real exertion. A little
more care in studying commercial fertilizer
values before purchasing. more careful
conservation and use of manures, greater
care in selecting and testing seed. more
thoroughness in preparing the seed bed
and in cultivating the crop. more careful
and economical feeding of farm stock. a
better garden for providing for both the
summer and the winter table-a score OF
ways are open to Montgomery county 8
good farmers to do little better farming
still. and thus do their bit" with patriotic
zeal and credit to themselves. Watch
your step" is as much the duty of the
Montgomery county farmer during 1917 as
it is Of the awkward squad on parade.
Nor is the agitation for agricultural pre-
paredness simply war measure" We
are not agriculturally efficient. and never
have been. Agricultural efficiency has not
kept pace with industrial and commercial
efficiency. We have long needed jolt.
We are now getting it good and hard.
When peace really comes we will find that
we are living in different and a larger
world than ever before. We will then
awake to the fact that every farm is but a
bin in the great eranary of the world, and
that every man who can successfully trans
form seed and soil and sunshine into food
for his brother man is truly citizen Of
the world, and worthy Of his noble calling
Never have the oft-quoted words OF
Washington had such striking Significance
as they do today: Il know no pursuit in
which more real and important service can
be rendered to any country than improving
its agriculture. May Duty open the door
of Opportunity
What COW peas will do for soil improve
ment and the crop which follows them is
well demonstrated in a field of wheat on
the farm of Mr., p. L. Snyder. near Travilah.
Last year COW peas were sown on a steep
slope in one corner OF the field and har-
vested for hay. By the time the wheat on
the balance of the field was first begin
ming to show signs Of growth. that on the
cow-pea stubble was fully five inches high.
Eight tons of manure to the acre could
scarcely have made greater difference.
And soy beans are an even better soil i'm
proven than COW peas. These crops GER
tainly are worth considering. especially
when they make hay which is almost
equal to alfalfa in feeding value.
Mr.. W. E. Brown. Brighton, reports that
his actual cash outlay for the services Of
a forester in making a survey and esti-
mate Of merchantable timber on forty
acre tract was but $3.50. and required
less than two days time. The estimate
showed $4,000 board feet. tabulated by
the diameters and the species Of the trees.
There is no excuse for guessing at values
and thereby taking the risk Of heavy loss
when careful estimates can be had so
cheaply.
Have you ever given the self-feeder a
fair trial in your hog lott 1t is one Of the
little things which will help in solving the
labor problem on the farm. and the rapid
growth obtained by this method is greatly
in its favor. Mr.. Sam Janney, Of Brighton.
is getting excellent results by using it for
feeding tankaee to shoats following fatten-
ing steers. tits also excellent for feeding
grain to hogs on pasture. With pork at
record prices, II might be good time to
give the self-feeder a trial.
MIR. W. X Moffett. official tester for the
Germantown and Gaithersbure Cow Test
ing Association. spent Easter at his home.
East Landsdowne, Pa.
Church Elections.
The annual elections at Cropley and
Hermon Presbyterian Churches were held
on April 9th. when the following officers
we're chosen for the year:
4 II Ill