Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1852-03-31

NO. b.
Opinions and Reflections as to the Geo1ogi-
cal Character of This County-its Forma-
tion and .Structure-its Susceptibility OF
Improu ement. and Capabilities Of Produc-
tion-acuh some Suggestions as to the
Means and advantages acittin our reach
A WORD AS TO THE POLICY OF THE STATE.
AND THE AGRICULTURAL CHEMIST.
Having considered the geological charac-
ter of our lands, the mineral and fossiIifer-
ous resources which are within our reach
having compared the texture of our soils
with those in the corresponding region OF
Virginia, and the nature of our resources to
those which have been used elsewhere, our
next enquiry might be, what is to be done
TO make our lands more productive and pro-
flable. We all admit that the system here
tofore pursued has been defective, that our
county has deterlorated, and that we have
neglected advantages which we possess in
an eminent degree.
il is not my purpose to institute an enqui-
ry into the policy of growing the di1eren,
crops-whether the culture of tobacco, or OF
grain, or grasses, and raising and grazing Of
stock, would be most profitable Nor will |
presume to write a treatise Oh practical farm
ing for the improvement of my brother cul-
tivators Of the soil, who are so much more
: skilled and better informed in this depart
ment than ! am. seek to give but hints,
and try to direct .he attention of others to
the bject in which we all and our children
have so deep an interest.
The improvement of our lands and in
creasing their capacity of production, is the
branch Of the subject to which had intend
ed TO ask attention in this number. In the
last number we gave the component, parts of
some of the mos. productive soils known,
and also the elements Of wheat, she wing by
analyses its organic constituents as we'll as
the mineral ingredients, which are incombus-
tble and which are extracted from the soil
by The growth Of the plant. In treating OF
the application of ler,ilizing agents, there is
boundIess field before US, and if we had
the ability to explore it and point out what is
worthy to be observed, we might walk with
frmer step under the hope that our efforts
nigh, lead to the development of some truth
which has not been made generally apparent
to the agriculturalisls of this section of the
State.
Since The last number went to press, !
have given hasty reading to the Report of
Doct. HIGGINs, and 1t speaks a thorough
knowledge of this subject, and promises
great practical benefit if his services are con-
t;nued, as have no doubt they will be.
believe it may be better to leave this
branch of the subject to what is said by the
intelligent Agricultural Chemist. lake
pleasure in expressing the qualification that
the reading Of the report afforded me. 1t
might have been more acceptable, if it had
gone more in detail in describing the con-
sliluent elements Of plants and the ingred-
ents of soils necessary for their production
But there is much in it by which we may
profit, and Doct. Higgins labors and his re-
port deserve the appreciation of the State.
Before pursuing our subject, let us advert
to the course and policy OF the State towards
: the agricultural interest.
About the year 1882 or '33, when the
State was pursuing an extensive scheme of
internal improvement, with a view to secure
part of the western trade TO Baltimore, an
Engineer was employed to make survey OF
the State and 10 project correct map ol
lis whole territory, and Geologist appoint.
ed to examine the mineral and other agri-
cultural resources which might be availed
Of for its improvement. We have already
spoken Of the labors of Doct. Duca,el, the
Geologist. So far as they were prosecuted
he was laying the foundation for usefulness