Evening star., 1949-07-18
Arundel Farms
Ready TO Show
SoilPractices
Southern Maryland
Conservation Tours
To Open Tomorrow

Southern Maryland farm own
ers tomorrow morning will begin
to display soil conservation meas
ures featured on their land as the
State opens its Soil Conservation
Week.
Ten farms have been selected
for tours in five counties which
will end Saturday. The week will
afford the tobacco-productine
portion of the State-once known
for its one-crop productivity-to
boast.
The well-balanced acres, COM
plete with drainage bitches, con-
tour strip crop layouts, diversion
terraces, wildlife borders and farm
ponds, will be on display to the
more sceptical Maryland farmers
who want proof of profit"
First-day activities will begin
at 10 am. on the farm of Oscar
Grimes, a fourth Of a mile south
of Davidsonville, in Anne Arundel
County.
Lane to Give Address.
Gov. Lane will give the opening
address before the inspection of
contour strip cropping. hay and
pasture development and diversion
terraces.
At noon the progressive pro-
gram will move to the farm of
F. E. Gardiner, a half mile west
of Davidsonville. The spectators
then will watch bird dog field
trials before the afternoon con-
servation speeches.
Mrs. Rosa M. Townshend will
lead the walk through her land,
q mile northwest of Davidsonville,
at pm. She has been outstand-
ing in the area for her use of
terraces, contour roadways, farm
ponds, contour planted tobacco
and multifiora rose fences. The
tour will end at 4 pm.
In the Anne Arundel Soil Con-
servation District, established in
1916, there are 1860 farms and
219 of them have been planned
according to modern soil conser-
vation methods.
Other speakers tomorrow in
clude: DR.. T. B. Symons. director
of extension service at the Uni
versity of Maryland: w. Mitchell
Digges, chairman of the Conser-
vation Week. and DR.. D. Austin
Patrick. regional conservator of
the Soil Conservation Service.
To Touch Off Blast.
James c. Morton. States At
torney Of the county will act as
master of ceremonies.
Gov. Lane will touch of q
charge of dynamite to open a pas
ture- drainage ditch on the Grimes
farm, This action will permit q
wide narshy area to drain into a
nearby stream.
Each day will be divided into
three parts. The morning Will be
spent visiting a farm where mod
ern farming practices are en-
ployed. Visitors will be enter
tanned at lunch, with riding ex-
hibitions. bird dog field trials and
other events. The afternoon will
be spent at another farm where
different crops are. grown or diff
ferert methods are being en-
ployed.
DR.. Symons says arrangements
have been made for crowds Of any
size. Invitations have been ex-
tended to all the States farmers
and city folk are welcome, too.
Maryland celebrated soil con-
servation week last year by max
ing over Mrs. Nellie Thrasher's
farm near Frederick. Some 10000
persons were on hand for the
event.
That showed how modern farm
ing is started. This weeks dem
onstration will show the benefits
that come from practicing con-
servation over the years.
Tobacco Still Crop King.
In addition to displaying the
most modern ideas in farming
this weeks demonstration will EN-.
phasize the trend toward diversif1.
cation in Southern Maryland.
Tobacco is still the crop king ir
the five counties-Anne Arundel
Prince Georges, Calvert, st. Marys
and Charles. It brings in from
$16,00O,000 to $2o,o00,oo0 a year
or about three-fourths of the cash
farm returns.
But many farmers. urged by
the Soil Conservation Service. are
swinging to other crops, particu-
larly dairy cattle, beef cattle and
vegetable raising.
The 107-acre Grimes farm,
where the tours will start tomor-
row. is considered a typical gen.
eral farm in Southern Maryland,
with beef cattle, dairy cattle, hogs
and poultry, as well as tobacco,
the main crop.
Tour program:
Temmorre1-Anne Arundel.
10 a.m.-Oscar Grimes Farm. one
fourth mile south of Davidsonville.
Address, Gov. Lane.
Blasting of drainage ditch.
Inspection Of three soil conservation
practices: Contour strip cropping. hay
and pasture development, diversion ter
race.
1e-F E.. Gardiner. Farm, half mile
vest of Davidsonville. lunch.
Bird dog field trials
pm.-Address. DR.. D. Austin Pat.
rick, regional conservator, Soil Conserva.
ton Service
? p.m.-Mrs. Rosa M. Townhend Farm
mile northwest of Davidsonville
Inspection of conservs tion methods ano
practlces: Contour strip cropping, pas.
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