The midland journal., 1946-11-08
CECIL COUNTY SOIL
CONSERVATION

The Office OF the technical staff Of
the Cecil County Soil Conservation
District has been moved from the
Allender Building to the second floor
in the building now owned by Joe
Sapila, or better known as the
Church Building" located on East
Main Street in Elkton. With the in
crease in perosnnel the former office
was too small to accommodate. 1t is
hoped that the farmers of the county
will stop in to discuss their erosion
problems when they are in town.
The Cecil County Soil Conservation
District is under the leadership of
five very capable supervisors WHO are
looking after the interests of the far
mers in the respective areas. Miss
Margaret England of Earlville, who
is chairwoman of the board, has that
area south of the Chesapeake and
Delaware Canal. Mr.. Ira Moore of
Elkton, looks after region adjacent to
Elkton; Mr.. Fred Martenis has the
northeastern part of the county,
while Mr.. Clarecne Brown and Mr.
Charles England, both of near CAL
vert, are taking care of the northern
and western part of the county. At
present the technical personnel is
made up of John C. johnson, Work
Unit Conservationist, who is assisted
by two aides, Mr.. Allen Neal and Mr..
Rodney Slifer. This work unit is un-
der the able supervision of Mr..
George T. Swartz, District Conserva-
zionist, whose office is in Chester
town. Until recently Mr.. Swartz was
the local Soil Conservationist and is
we'll known to many of the prominent
farmers of the county.
The Cecil Conservation District
las been making good progress and
at the present time has forty six
farms under agreement which COM
prise about $500 acres. To date con-
siderable work has been done and
several farms have been about COM
pleted while others are just geeting
started. In some localities contour
strips and some other practices are
becoming quite prominent and a
great deal of interest is being taken
in the results that are showing. New
hay and pasture type grasses are be-
ing introduced into the county
through TIE advice of the district and
seem to be proving very satisfactory.
The District Supervisors and tech
nical staff have very friendly rela-
tions with the Extension Service and
the Agricultural Conservation Asso-
citation and this will promote the ag-
ricultural interests of the county. At
the last meeting of the board of sup
ervisors, Mr.. Richard Sutton, County
Agent, was elected as Corresponding
Secretary. The supervisors are also
working in conjunction with Mr.. St.
Clair, assistant County Agent, wto is
taking care of the All work of the
county. 1t is through the young peo-
pie of the county that much know
ledge of Soil Conservation will be
spread.
Denfinite plans have been complet-
ed for two fish ponds and four more
plans are in process of being drafted
while several more requests have
been received. These ponds if proper
ly stocked and managed will afford
pleasure for swimming in the sum-
mer time and also are quite an ad-
vantage for fire protection on the
farms
The district, being slightly over a
year old, has made definite progress
and has bright outlook for the fu-
ture. At present there are about sew
enty-five applications on hand for as
sistance and the present force is en-
deavoring to take care of these as
fast as possible. Applications for as
! sistance are received by the supervis-
ors and also at the office of the coun-
ty agent.