Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1917-07-13
Farm Demonstration Notes.

Farmers can do their bit toward reliey-
ing the serious car shortage. Figures for
March show that in the movement of fer
tllizers alone on one railroad only space
to the amount of 1882 cars was lost by
small loading. This tremendous waste could
have been prevented by a little foresight.
II our carelessness helps to cause a car
shortage. we ought not to complain when
the railroad is unable to deliver our orders
promptly. Let us place our orders for lime,
fertilizer and other supplies early so that
orders may be punched by the local deal
ers and only full cars shipped.
A Fourth of July picnic furnishes about
the best possible excuse for farm hand
to take day of. 1t is his legal right to
do so, If he so desires. This year the COL
ored farm hands on at least six nearby
farms between Brookeville and Brighton
worked all day July 4th in the wheat fields
in spite of the fact that pic mic was held
by their own race but few miles away.
Such loyalty to their employers and coun-
try's interests at this time Of stress is GER
tainly commendable. These are probably
not the only farm hands in the county
who worked on that day. The laborer is
not only worthy Of his hire" but he is
also worthy of appreciation and praise
when 1t is so well earned.
Word has just been received from Miss
Venia M. Keller, College Park. Acting State
Home Demonstration Agent. that she has
secured the services of Miss Erickson for
special canning demonstration and other
emergency preparedness work in Mont
gomery county during the next few weeks.
Miss Erickson has had several years prac-
tical experience. and comes direct from
some special work in Chicago University.
She will continue the canning demonstra-
tons so generously begun by Mrs. H. P.
Springer. of Garrett Park Miss Erickson
begins her work Monday, July 16.
The high price and uncertain delivery
Of lime for fall application make it more
important than ever that farmers really
know. instead Of guessing. whether. GER
tain field needs lime at this time or not.
To lime field that is not acid is an I'M
necessary waste Of money. time and labor.
To neglect to lime field that Is acid may
result in even greater loss through lowered
yields. Heavy financial loss also frequently
results from either applying too much or
too little without any reference whatever
to the actual needs Of the field. Lime is
quite different from fertilizer in this re-
spect. An excessive application of fertil-
izer may force greater yield. but when
lime is applied in excess of the amount
that is necessary to neutralize the acidity.
the excess is largely wasted. The only
exception to this rule is that in applying
the raw forms Of lime the coarser particles
become slowly available and are there to
neutralize the acids that are formed later.
The condition Of your field as regards lime
can be easily determined by
the County Agent. who is now equipped to
make the same careful tests that you would
get at the Experiment Station. Some forms
of lime are advancing in price out Of all
proportion to their relative value. Extrava-
CANT claims are often made for certain
forms Of lime as being superior to others.
Generally these claims are entirely with
out foundation, and paying higher prices
because Of them is but throwing money
away. But every farmer must decide for
himself whether he will accept the unani-
nous opinion Of the Experiment Stations
after years of careful trial. or take the
word Of some uniformed selling agent
whose profits depend upon the sales he
can make. An opinion biased by self-in-
terest can hardly be recommended as a
safe guide. Buy your lime from local
dealers. but insist on getting that form
which will give you the largest results for
the least money and labor. The dealer
should sell the form Of line the farmer
wants rather than force the farmer to buy
the form he prefers to sell.