Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1917-01-26
Farm Demonstration Notes,

The short courses at the Agricultural
College next week, January 29th to Feb
ruary Srd, will be devoted to vegetables and
small fruits Special emphasis will be
given to methods of production. marketing
and disease control from the standpoint of
both the home garden and the small truck
farm. These courses are proving of great
value to those who would get the largest
returns from the labor and capital invested.
A farmers meeting for the purpose of
discussing seasonal farm topics and other
matters Of interest to the community will
be held in the grange hall at Brighton on
Wednesday, January 81. at 2 P. NJ. The
speakers and topics are as follows: DR.. S.
S. Buckley. of the Maryland State College,
Profitable Pork Production; F. J. Van
Hoesen, Cutting Corn Costs; Mrs. Ethel
G. Van Hoesen, THE New Maryland School
Law" These addresses will be followed
by open discussions. plenty of time being
given for questions. Refreshments will be
served at the close of the meeting The
public is cordially invited. Following the
refreshments, the grange will hold an open
meeting for the installation of officers for
1917, at which County Deputy, DR.. A. A.
Brigham, will speak on grange work. AS
many as possible should plan to remain
for the evening meeting.
The old idea that tractor blowing is prac-
teal only on the prairie farms Of the West
is gradually being outgrown. The slopes
and rocks OF Montgomerys fertile fields
are proving no bar to progress in the use
Of internal combustion motors as a sub
stitute for horse power. The labor problem
is turning the attention of our farmers
toward the farm tractor. At least nine
will be in operation in the county this
spring In preparing for the 1917 corn crop
AS result we hope to be able to get some
reliable figures as to the practical value Of
the farm tractor under local conditions.
A strong argument in favor of wider
use of parcel post for marketing the smaller
products of the farm was shown at the
Postoffice exhibit at the poultry show in
carrier was shown which had made So
round-trips from Clarksbure, this county,
to Washington, delivering $40 dozen eggs.
with but seven eggs cracked, and but two
total loss. The right kind Of package
and proper care in packing seem to be the
solution of the safety problem in parcel
post marketing.
The Montgomery County Pomona Grange.
which meets at Burtonsville the 25th, will
be the last tri-county Pomona meeting.
Prince Georges county now having enough
oranges to organize Pomona of her own.
A report of the meeting will appear next
week.
County Agent Van Hoesen, assisted by
Prof. S. b. Shaw. will hold pruning and top
working demonstration in the orchard Of
Samuel p. Thomas, Ashton. Saturday, Feb |
ruary 3. at 10 A. M. On the same day at
2 P. M. a pruning demonstration will be
held in the orchard of II. W. Blunt, Jr.,
near Goshen. All nearby farmers who are
interested in improving their home orchards
are invited 10 De present.
At meeting at the Court House Tues
day afternoon Of representative milk pro-
ducers from the several shipping points in
the county. Montgomery County Dairy
mems Association was organized Officers
were elected as follows: J. b. Diamond.
Jr, Gaithersburg, president; VIM. j. Thorn
as, Ednor. vice-president Walter II. Ma
eruder. Gaithersburg, secretary treasurer.
These, with County Agent Van Hoesen.
were appointed committee to draft
constitution and bylaws. and arrange for
a series Of meetings and canvass to en-
roll every one Of the 2l5 shippers in the |
county. This puts Montgomery In line
with Frederick and other leading dairy
counties. and will enables the shippers. |
by acting as unit. to secure square |
deal at the market end Of their business.