Smyrna times., 1854-08-02
Correspskdence Of the Smyrnn Times.
LEwEs, Del, July %, 1854.

LEwEs, Del, July %, 1854.
Mr.. EDITOR AS | have heretofore men,
toned my intention of giving your readers a
few thought on the condition of our country
in this vicinity, | now let you have them in u
very rough and uncouth style, thinking, per-
haps IT may interest some one unacquainted
with our lands, in an agricultural point of view.
1t has been a mistaken idea with a great
many people not acquainted with the quality of
the soil of this section of Sussex county, that
it consists of light, sandy and unproductve
earth, but, let me tell you, this is wrong i'm
preston, for there are not TO be found anywhere
in the State more productive land than is to be
found in this part of Sussex county. Sand
here will yield, at common times, from thirty to
sixty bushels of corn per acre. Some ten or
fifteen years back, land could be bGaght for
twenty-five or thirty dollars per acre. Every
farmer is now turning his attention to improv-
ing his land by cleaning up all the woodland,
fencing in all the old and worn-out fields, re-
duced TO extreme poverty by constant tllage,
and sowing guano on them, making composts,
and putting under cultivation every little spot
that years ago would have been thought not
worthy the trouble Of putting the plough into.
Guano is the kind of manure mostly used, as
they think it suits dead-poor land best because
IL udS chSCI INV 9Sdts 0OulC 1Cdis DdCh N
lime was extensively used, but guano has super
ceded II for the reasons given above.
There was, as have been informed, about
two hundred thousand bushels of corn shipped
at Lewes during the year 1853. Corn is the
most profitable crop for Sussex county, as the
damp sea fogs that set in about the first of July
or last of June, while it is ruinous TO wheat
helps, and gives start to corn.
Vtbara ara eataa han ndcama fa r,nc tuif1,i,, q
few miles of Lewes, which, for their tasty
buildings and general arrangements, are a
credit to our country.
In Rehoboth, the farmers have organized q
club, called the Farmers Club, and have month.
ly meetings They have also an annual exhi-
bition, where the finest of all kinds of vegeta-
bles, grain and fruit, are all exposed to the in
spectIon of competent judges, and premiums
awarded TO the successful exhibitor.
In Rehoboth, the Presbyterans are building
a new church, which, when completed, will be
great addition to the relieving of the
wants of the people of that neighborhood
as they have been in the habit OF meeting il
an old school house, with rude seats and nC
back to them, which is very uncomfortable.
But with all the advantages of good soil
and being near a good market, there is one
thing that has clogged itself like an incubus oil
our society--and that detested thing is Rum
the effect of it in many an household and, oil
many countenance is seen in these parts
Yes, the energies of many an honest yeomai
has been blighted by the effects of the vii,
beast" Give us a Maine Law and the shacklei
will be loosed from many an arm, and the pro
duce of the soil viii be sold for that which
sustains life rather than destroys.
We have lost one of our oldest citizens, Mr.
David Walker; he was sick only few days
and was an elder in the Presbyterian Churcl
many years
Last Thursday was what's called " Barefootes
Thursday" and.was conducted by many of th,
farmers in this neighborhood, by assembling, il
considerable numbers, on the Beach, two mile
above the town, and participating in such spor
as bathing, fishing, dancing, and various gym
nastic exercises. ~
The mosquitoes (or, as they are commonl,
called, "skeeters,") have been here in abun
dance, but, as they have nearly disappeared, w,
would advise those that want to enjoy them
selves, TO . come along" as we can find room
for few more. ai /,
No more at present .as
| Respectfully, yours, BREvITy.
II