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

But his labors were interrupted and discon-
,inued about the year 1867, before he
had made and reported full examination
Of this section Of the State. His geological
survey of the Eastern Shore was much more
minute end extensive. This county was
deferred, believe, to among the last, and OF
course did not receive full share of his at
teniion.
Some four or five years ago the Legisla-
ture authorized the employment of an Agri-
cultural Chemist, and the present inseligen,
officer received the appointment. speak
from memory as to dates, not having the
acts of Assembly before me, nor the sched-
ule Of duties prescribed to those officers by
their appointment.
| The agricultural interes. has received bu,
! little attention either from the State or Fed
eral governments. In all ages the culiva-
tors Of the soil have been a quiet, uncom-
planning and forbearing class. But they ere
not the less entitled to the care of the govern
ment, and when so much has been done to
favor and protect other interests, by The
expenditure of money when il was required,
or by aflording protection when it would
| be of service, surely the predominant and
most important interest in the country
should not be lost sight of. Much may be
done by the State government 10 benefit ag-
riculture, which will lead to knowledge
Of our resources and their development and
the consequent improvement of our lands.
No appropriation is necessary which would
be at variance with any constitutional scru-
pies that might be entertained by the incest
political casuist. But we have right to
expect that this branch of education will be
encouraged by the State, and that the great
book of nature, the earth, which we must
understand, should be explained to us by
competent scientific men. An accurate geo.
logical knowledge Of every distrc, and To-
cality is necessary 10 proper improvement
of the soil, by enabling US TO understand
their ingredients and adapt the proper crops
to them. Agricultural chemistry can rem
der but little aid, without a knowledge
raj Chemist anpninied by -iha- Stale -has--iA-
my Judgment, given evidence by his report
that he is skiiedin his profession, and quail
fie, 10 Impair, much information, and TO rem
der important services if he had the means
a, his commsnd, and the time or aid for the
necessary examinations and analyses. But
The present system is defective. We have,
or bv the system were intended to have, i'm
parted to us information as TO the proper
msnures 10 be applied to our lands before
we know, or before the Agricultural Chemist
can know, what manures our lands require
Before he can inform himself as 10 the in
gradients Of our soils, he is expected to teach
US what we must apply TO them TO make
them Of the quality Of The fertile prairie lands,
or the argIllaceous or calcsreous lands o!
other whea, bearing regions. This cannot
be done. We are at the wrong end of the
path. The Agricultural Chemist mus, have
assistance, and more means placed at his
command, that he may employ those who
will make the proper and necessary geolo-
gical examinations for him, or aid him in
such other way as may most facilitate his
labors. However, he says in his report tha,
he will memorialize the Legislature upon
the subject, and it is desirable tha, all his
reasonable requests should be granted.
The geological survey, commenced by
Doct Ducatel, was never completed, and in
this part Of the State was too hurried to be
productive of much good. We are quiet,
forbearing and accomplishing people, and
content ourselves with any neglect with
which The government may think proper to
visit US, and if any public improvement, is
projected, we are the last to share its bene-
fits, and after every other part has been at
tended to, passing glance is bestowed up
on US, without any information being i'm
parted which is likely to lead to any bene-
fetal results. Docl. Duca,el's reports made
in 1884 and '35 contain valuable facts as
far as they GO. But there was too little of
them, and he was lead into error as TO the
properties and character of some of the
mari deposites and Gossili(erous formations
in this county, because sufficient time had
not been devoted 10 :her examination. He
examined the river banks in some places,
and reasoned from the strata and deposi,es
there indicated as to the general geologic
character of the lands in whole section or
district OF country. His labors, or those of
some other Geologis, should have been con-
tinued until every section at leas. of the
county had been examined and the people
Informed Of lis structure and character
Nor may we expect any more benefit from
The observations of the intelligent States
Chemist, unless he should have means
placed at his command to employ assistants
10 make the necessary examinations of the
soils in df1eren, places, and TO ascertain their
deficiencies.
would say, sir, that the first step to be
taken should be to make geological sur
vey of the whole county, with map desg-