The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-08-11

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FRzDsRIcx CoUSrY, Nd. July 80, 1854
The DysrxAe-TM Wheat Crop-.Middle-
toscs Valley German Settlers-Seuth
Disfriet-Slave Characterization Of the
.Negroes-Insensibi!ify to Heat-Refee-
tiens on these Points-Blaek Children-
Corn Crop-Soeiesy Of the Talley-Re,i-
gions Denominations-A Possi6!e Future.
This county Is suffering, just now, from
drought The corn, in particular, stands In
the greatest need of rain and none falls, al
though every afternoon since our arrival gust
comes up with clouds and lightning, and after
scattering drops enough to form the dust of the
carriage sweep into little dark pellets, without
laying it, perversely rolls Of to the southeast,
with brilliant rainbow, exquisitsly beautiful
object, but pro6tless to the thirsty crops. As
ON agricultural district, this portion of Frede-
rick county is, you know, rivalled by few
parts of the States. The staple is wheat, Of
which, by the aid of the new manures, they
make as fine crops, one after another, as the
virgin GeDesee could boast. The access to
market is also convenient the country being
relieved Of its produce by both the Baltimore
and Ohio Railroad and the Cumberland and
Chesapeake Canal double exit which alike
facilitates transportation and keeps down
freights.
AS mentioned in my last, the wheat is now
cut, and The yellow fields, lying between green
fields of corn, are covered with the golden
shocks, which the farmers are stacking as fast as
they are able. A good deal of it, indeed, is
threshed, and commands, at the moment that
am writing, about 81 65 on the ground-a
highly remunerative price, thanks to the En-
perOr of Russia, who is certainly proving HIM
self the farmers friend. II the war continues,
for which, / am afraid, some of them are pray
ing, it will be their own fault if they don't grow
rich.
The particular part Of Frederick county where
we are, is peculiar in all respects. The lime.
stone, which rises to the surface both east and
west of us, and which forms in the neighbor-
hood of Frederick those fine quarries of vare-
gated marble which have supplied the Senate
chamber Of the capitol, here takes
and gravelly soil yield abundant supplies Of
delicious soft water, contributing to the health
and comfort of man and beast. just suppose
that at a distance of some six or seven miles Tin
the greatest brcadth) from the Blue Ridge, ex-
tends cham Of high lands Of less elevation,
which ss it advances north draws closer to the
main ridge, till they almost blend in one. Be
tween these ridges, and reaching from the Po-
tomac to the northern State line of Mary land, is
fertile valley, rolling in great undulatiQns
and watered BY streams that course down all
the hollows, and which ranks among agricul-
turists next to the Genesee country for its
wheat gowing capacities. This is the Middle
town valley Of Maryland.
took drive yesterday with our host, up
through this fine region and across It, so as to
obtain complete bird 's-eye view Of the whole
and feel Us if could give pretty fair geo
graphical account Of it. The population Is Of
two sorts, defined by accurate limits. The
northern part is occupied by German settlers
from Lancaster county, Pa. who entered the
State from the northern frontier, and have gra-
dually spread themselves down to with
Their farms are all Of moderate size,
say from one to two hundred acres, which
they cultivate themselves, aided by one or two
hired hands of their own people Occasionally,
in the more southern part Of their district, they
/, own few negroes but higher up towards the
State line not one. as they arc prejudiced
against it. They are hard-working. thrifty
race, close managers. and excellent farmers,
though not first class. as that requires more
| liberal expenditure than their notions allow
In religion they are principally either German
/ Reformed or I4uthcraDs, with considerable
! spIipkling Of a sect called Donkards Or
Sunkcrs. Their Information and intelligence
are what We should consider limited; there is
! certaiuly BOT al immense effervescence of mind
in this fertile aud hourshing district, but
greet deal of order and quiet, and noticed
tnat tae villages, which necessarily must exist
1 TO supply an agricultural population. were
thick with t'iarchcs.
The broader portion of the valley lying to
the south and bordering on the Potomac is held
4 by old Mary landors Of the English stock. Some
Of The farms are tolerably large and all are
cultivated by slave labor. They are not so large
aS the plantations in the Southern counties, nor
DO the owners hold so many negroes: but perhaps
nowhere docs the "pasriarchal' system appear
tobettcr advantage and Unjust say that, whether
You consider this world or the next, the black
peesantry Of this valley seem 10 Inc to rank
among the most favored members Of the hui
man race.
Screened from the lawn of the house where
we are guests, 10y shrubbcry, trees, outbuild-
irgs and barns. IS the ncsr, quarter, Every
family has comfortable log house, with good
4 garden plat, spacious benroost its porkers in
the masters vast pig-pen, its ditches and quar-
tiers and bacon hanging in the masters smoke
house, its share in the round or skirt of the corn
field for broom corn and beans. and its separate
store Of corn, $50 many barrels for each man,
woman, and ohils,) in his grapary Often in
inc sprng OF The year, master $ corn Is eX-
hausted, while they have enough to sell him.
They sell their broom corn beans and vegetables,
their eggs andchiekens, but not their pork, and
buy with the proceeds all tho luxuries they
fancy: sugar, tea, tobacco universally used
by both sexes-and the finery which the fair sex
Of that term can be used in this case) so dearly
prize. The greatest abundance is in their
dwellings; corn bread is ready for all occasions,
and the coifeepot is always boiling.
Thus their interest in the soil is really
as great as their masters. and this circumstance
heightens that attachment to it which is so in
grained in the negro. In the harvest time, when
hey are severely worked TO save the crop, be-
sides the conviction they have that on il depends
30 much Of their own comfort in the prosperity
oftheir owners. their private expenditure ceases,
while their food is better. Their barrels of corn
vase not al this season; their store OF luxurcs
is IA touched. There il not fire on the place