The Republican., 1925-06-18
By MAY IRENE COPINGER.

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ia and known as Maryland grows on
its farms nearly one-half of the to-
matoes canned in the United States.
Nor is there a general realization of
the fact that, while the West and
Middle West is known as the great
corn country, when Maryland corn is
exhibited beside the product of these
Western regions it carries off the ma
jority of the prizes given for excel
lence.
Perhaps the farmer, wrestling year
after year with the earth in the Strug-
gle for the country's food, knows
these and other interesting facts
anent the State of Maryland.
But it is a pretty safe wager that
the city dweller knows little more
than the season when the Maryland
tomatoes" the "Maryland corn" the
Maryland peaches" the maryland
Strawberries" and other delicacies
are due in the local markets.
Of the vast industry in which Ma
ryland farmers are engaged compara-
lively little is known.
The automobile, providing the city
man with the means Of getting far
into the country, has made him aware
of the beauty of Maryland farms
Riding along the highways he sees
beautifully cared-for fields, pictur-
esque orchards, rolling pasture lands
and is proud of the mere beauty Of
the scenes presented.
Sometimes he sees the man ''be-
hind" the farm working in the fields
He thinks Of him as farmer" as a
rule submerging in this title the more
comprehensive one of business man.
For farming in Maryland is bus
mess, and-with certain qualifications
"a good business. These qualifica-
tions have, Of course, to do with
weather and climatic conditions and
with successful suppression of the
various pests and pegtilence that at
tack the materials of both the animal
the vegetable kingdom with which
the farmer works.
Sometimes, when the conditions
are right, the crops good, the live
stock healthy, the farmer is of a mind
with those who joyfully carol "Ain't
nature grand" But on other occa-
sions, when the pests get in their
deadly work, he isn't so sure that the
life of an agriculturalist is a happy
one.
However, the Maryland farmer
starts with much in his favor, The
soil and climate of the State are such
as to encourage the growth of wide
variety Of fruit and vegetables. Even
pecans, q nut associated with the
more tropical climates, are being sue
cessfully cultivated on farm in
Prince Georges county.
In addition to these natural advan-
5ages, Maryland is within 200 miles of
100000 people, and with this mar
ket it is connected by many lines of
steamships and railways, to say moth
ing Of the motor trucks that have
opened up markets to the farmer.
AS successful farming depends up
on being able to sell the stuff grown,
Maryland is particularly fortunate in
this respect.
However, as has been said, the
farming industry is subject to certain
vicissitudes.
In beginning his report for last
year DR.. Thomas B. Symons, director
of the extension service of the Uni
versity Of Maryland, comments upon
the improvement in the prices of most
farm crops and, continuing, says:
"The year, however, has not been
without its discOuragements. To these
the weather has contributed in no
small degree. Excessive rainfall in
the early spring interrupted opera
tions and seriously dc aged the nor
NAL planting time for many crops.
There followed during the summer
months protracted spells of dry
weather and frosts in the early fall
brought on a premature end an al
ready much shortened growing sea-
son.
"The handicaps imposed by the
weather in many cases entirely wiped
out any possible advantage that Ma
ryland farmers might have secured