Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1850-03-06

growing districts. If it should be found
that we'll managed tobacco land, yields such
a net rent, in MARYLAND, think it is as much
as can be claimed in any other State.
have travelled some, and inquired much of
persons who ought to be we'll informed on
the subject, and think tha, shall be sus-
tanned by those best informed, who are the
producers, that there is not State which
gives such net profit, except Mary land. l.
will compare it with Ohio there the crop
is much better managed, as any person may
see by comparing the crops in market;
there il is very common to strip the leaves
from the stalks in the uncured state and
sor. them, split or skewer them, and arrange
them carefully in the house, and fire them,
and then select them again, and prepare
them for market in the best manner, as their
samples show in market, and after all this
labor, thirty dollars per acre is considered
a high price on the farm. am persuaded
that one could not get a Maryland planter
to expend so much particular labor for for
ty dollars. 1t is not my purpose here to
show that Agriculture is more profitable in
Maryland than Ohio, but ! have deemed II
no, foreign 10 the subject to show where
tobacco culture is most profitable, and in
this connection, shall take occasion TO re-
mark, tha. while would advocate the cul-
ture of tobacco in Mary land, | should not
deem it prudent for Maryland 10 forget all
her other resources, of wealth for the cul-
tnle of tobacco. which has nearly proved
her ruin. That Maryland and Virginia, II
not other States, have not studied their IN
leres,, in being so exclusively engaged in
! its culture, think is evident; but think
past experience and the development of
other sources of profit, will guard her in fu-
ture from that error, system which has
seldom proved advantageous to any State.
That mixed crops are more profitable than
any single one, think is generally admit
ted and there is no section Of our country,
where il is more true, than in the tobacco
growing districts of the United States and
none more SO, than in Maryland, where
every man has market at his door, for all
his surplus products, and that for cash.
The question may be asked, what crops
should the tobacco growing part of Mary
land connect with it? Blu. think the
question might with equal proprie,y be ask
ed, what product which is suited 10 our soil
and climate, should we no, produce? for
there is but one kind of product which we
export TO any amount, and that is bread
stuff; but in return we are getting hay, po-
,a,oes, butter, cheese, fruit, and many other
articles. which we ought 10 send TO our
northern neghbors, who supply US with
several agricultural productions. S,iIl, the
question may be pressed by each individual,
what ought to produce in connection with
tobacco In reply to such an inquiry,
can only add, that my answer mus, be gene
raj, and each individual will have to deter
mine in what relation they are placed to
these remarks. The first thing is to deler-
mine who ought to cultivate tobacco,-and
as general rule, | would not advise any
person to do so, that cannot safely expect
TO produce near the amount and quality
have stated, with proper care and industry
for all who have the rgh, soil and situation,
if they use the proper manure and manage
ment will do so,-and where tobacco IS
part Of the crop, it should not be more
than one-lhird, or al most, one-halG the crop,
in value, and every thing should be raised
for the use Of the farm tina: can be produc-
ed for near what it would cost 10 buy il in
the market; and select such crops that are
best calculated to improve the soil and z i've
the best net profit :; and the improvement Of
The soil should be the first object-for the
farmer that keeps on, of debt and makes his
farm rich is rich himself, for he has the
means to live independent and make still
further improvement, or enlargement, of his
estate. And before | close shall Try to
meet one old and universal objection to the
culture Of tobacco, to which has been attr-
buled the exhausted state Of the old lands
of Maryland and Virginia. Tha, the tobac-
co growing districts OF both States have
been impoverished by imprudent cultivation,
no intelligent man will question, and that
the culture Of tobacco promoted and pro-
longed it, is equally evident; but still II
does not follow that under a different sys-
tenn ii could not be made means 10 aid in
the renovation of the same soil it exhausted;
when cultivators Of the soil only applied
those manures which accumulated of neces-
sity from the feeding Of stock, and applied
them exclusively to tobacco, and that sold
off and not returned in manure, it could on
ly tend to impoverish the land. But hope
! am not writing for such tobacco planters
in this enlightened day, when farmers and
planters are estimated by the Improvement
they make of their estates, and, if the right
view of the suhjec, is taken, think that to-
bacco culture will not be found inconsistent
with speedy improvement, as the poorest
land will be found to be bes. suited to the
culture Of it, and will repay the expense OF
improvement sooner than in any other crop;
and if it should be true, that poor land can
be made rich cheaper, when cultivated in
tobacco than any other crop, surely it will
not prove that it is an impoverisher OF our
lands. This might be the case if no reno
valor were to be had, bu. such as can be