The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-09-13

"Do not understand me to say that all is
such land, or the above was not in high state
of cultivation. Far from it. Facts show to the
contrary. There is much which is called poor
land. L say called poor; and, for this reason,
they never have tested it or attempted to i'm
prove it. IT'S poor land, Just as they contend
that the negro is poor and inferior specimen
of the human race, because they make no effort
to elevate, but rather to Cypress him.
In regard to these poor lands, there is, how
ever, this redeeming feature: nature has gen.
erously placed side by side with them the very
means requisite for its improvement. Indeed,
the richness and variety of resources for agri-
cultural improvement is striking feature of
this country. Permit me to again refer to the
State Report.
go On many of the rivers, there are large de-
posts of Indian shell banks, capable of afford
ing many millions of bushels of the purest lime.
1t has numerous deposits of very rich shell and
green-sand mari. In some of these counties,
the green-Sand mari contains larga per cent
age of gypsum. In many large Districts of
country, shell marls, containing from forty to
seventy-six per cent. of air-slaked line, can be
obtained with the greatest facility, bring some
times within few feet of the surface, ometmes
even cropping out upon it. The sht ties of the
bay, and its numerous creeks and rit ers, afford
large quantities Of sea-weed a most excellent
and valuable manure. In other co mites, the
marsh mud, easily obtained, is exceedingly
rich in those constituents most generally need
ed by WORKOUT soils. Where magnesia or
guano is required, the Chesapeake and Delaware
canal, and the proximity of Baltimore market,
afford every facility for a cheap supply
"One must readily perceive that land situa-
ted as is Maryland may be made productive OF
grains and fruits of almost every State and
cline. Few crops can be mentioned which
may not be grown in this region. Wheat. oats,
and corn, are the staple commodities while the
sweet and Irish potatoes, and all kinds of fruits,
may be cultivated as proGtably, if net more SO,
than in any region, either North or s'outh.
Such being the case in regard 10 the soil
and its products, man, in addition tc all those
advantages, is favored by the smiles Of a genial
climate. He here has to endure neither the
austerities of Northern winter, nor The debili-
tating effects of a meridian summer. And
while those of colder regions have constantly
to prepare for, or battle with, severe storms and
the inclemencies THE seasons, and are at great
expense to afford proper shelter to their hocks
and cattle, he may here be cultivating the more
ample crops, or reaping rich profit from the
market of the same.
" have spoken of the geographical and ag-
ricultural advantages of this region Net US now
look at it from another point of viewi
"One is ready to suppose such region to
be thickly populated with thriving d wealthy
inhabitants. Such land surely cam OF be pur.
chased, except by those of corr esponding
wealth. On the contrary, these as Just the
lands for the poor farmers of New ngIand to
purchase. Maryland is no more thaa half set.
tied, which also is true of Virginia. B The den.
sity of the population of this State compares
we'll with that of Indiana. Farm. here, as
there, are divided into tracts of frou, half to
a mile square, and well proportional between
timber and cleared land. Farms well wooded
and watered, which may be made equally pro-
ductive as any in the United States, can be pur
chased for from ten to forty dollars an acre
Such tract, in this country, of thousand
acres, is now for sale, at an average of fifteen
dollars. Such facts may seem hardly credita
BILE; they were so formerly to myself, vet have
come to the belief and the full realization OF
the same.
"That such facilities for amassing wealth
should have been so long overlooked, or such
opportunities disregarded by Yankee enterprise
is perfectly amazing. Some of the reasons fol
this neglect, some of the influences which have
tended TO make this State what she is, and the
inducements here presented to active, energet
ic Settlers will be the subject of another letter
"JAY."