Baltimore daily commercial. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1865-1867, 1865-11-02
Letters from Cecil County.

correspondence of the Baltimore Daily Commercial
CHESAPEAKE CRY, October 80, 1865.
MeSsrs. Editors :-Traversing leisurely the countv
roads, which are in first rate condition T have
reached this town. the Maryland terminus of the Del
aware and Chesapeake Canal. 1t needs no close
scrutiny to decide that the farmers of the first and
second election districts of Cecil have diligently inn
proved the opportunity afforded by the late rains TO
get their fields ready for seeding On every side are
evidences that with good luck, there will be an abun
dant yield of wheat in 1866. The carly seeding ;s
very promising except in few instances the very
earliest sown, which show signs of the presence of
the fly. 1t may prove a benefit to the farmers that
they have been prevented from getting in the wheat
as soon as they wished and the latest seeding NAV
give the most abundant harvest.
The great extent of Usage Orange and other hedge
IS peculiar feature of the lower sections of the
county. The difficulty of procuring and the cost of
lumber for fencing have induced the Iandholders TO
enclose their farms with hedges. which add to the
beauty OF the country, while they make barrier TO
cattle OF all KINDS and are kept up at small cost
Nhile at Cecllton | examined Sorghum mill at
work, grinding up the cane brought in from the
farms The cultivation of ghum is quite general
and enough is produced for home consumption NOT
for SALE The molasscs or syrup is very palatable,
ana preferable to the Vest India Molasses for which
it is now the substitute
The mills grind on the old system of taking rs foil
certain portion of the product, or else charge 81
cents gallon for the syrup when boiled down and
put into barrels. The extent of the culture of Sor-
ghum Is evident from the large stacks of the cane
piled around the mills and waiting their turn to ba
crushed and to pass through the boiling pans The
syrup is considered good, and sure to keen when if
weighs 6iG pounds to the gallon: at less weight if is
liable to turn sour The scum from the boiling mans
is mixed with water and after undergoing fermenta-
DrO1upnS n ri 10 nf ,-ir
cane Is used as paper stock, and is said to make n
strong brown paper. 1t is interesting to observe
these new branches of cultivation and manufacture
lhey add to our wealth. at least by keeping money at
nome which would be sent to New Orleans or Cuba
chesapeake City owes its importance to the canaI
ana certain to prosper the business of the canal
increases. ltcontalns several hundred inhabitants
has some we'll houses and the usual roporton Of
stores The chief object of interest is the great steam
pump, by which the water is raised from reservoir
on Back Creek and emptied into the canal. The
whole supply OF water, with the exception ola slight
How from small pond is thus furnished The pumps
work day and night and keep the water its proper
level for the laden schooners and propeers that
are constantly passing from New York and Philade-
phla TO your city. By means Of the Delaware &
Raritan, the Delaware Il Chesapeake the Dismal
swamp Canal, and the Albemarle and Pamlico
Sounds, we have safe inside navigation for schoon-
ers OF 200 tons for many hundred miles, and avoid the
delays and dangers of the ocean.
In all directions the crop is spoken of as most
abundant. Its immense yield, added to the product
OF oats and potatoes will compensate for the failure
of this years wheat CROP and the decline in the price
of Hay and Straw. MERcu,xr