Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1865-07-14
Maryland and Virginia Lands.

The extinction of slavery in MARYLAND
and Virginia naturally awakened much in
terest in agricultural resources aud advan-
tages Of those states, which | have been re-
quested to describe. Taking the District
If Columbia as the climatic average of
tire two states, my experience here is that
~man working four DAYS i'll aweck may pro-
duce as much food and other necessaries
Of life in year as he can in Central New
York by working six days in a week, This
problem on natural agricultural forces
which are as reliable as night and dav.
summer and winter. Virginia and
Maryland are distinguished for the incredi-
ble tide-shores which they possess, incredi
HE for lenght. depth Of mari, sea-weed
and other fcrtilzing substances. 1t is now
fifteen years since the late Washington
Park Gusts told me of raising ten thou.
bushels of wheat a year on one of his mari
plantations in lower Virginia; and | have
spent time and money in visiting large dis
tricts but recently elevated above the brine
Of the ocean. This land, being quite near
the capital of the nation-near the indus
trious and enterprising people Of the free
states must soon be settled and cultivated
by dense population.
The Potomac river, by fall Of some
eighty feet, creates a water power in the
District of inestimablc value. Both coal
and iron float down the gentle current of
the Chesapeake and Ohio canal to Wash
ingtOn cheaper than either can be trans
ported to Philadelphia by railway. In a
word, the same causes that have made
Philadelphia great manufacturing city
will do as much for the District of Colum-
bia. While the Hudson is locked in ice
above the Highlands, all foreign goods
NAV penetrate the continent several hun
arcd miles without breaking bulk, TO the
capital Of the great republic.
A farm near enough to Washington fol
the owner to hear all the church bells in
his house, that can now be bought for Sl0t
per acre will soon be worth ten times thai
sum for suburban residences.
Manure is taken in vessels to the east
ern shore of Maryland and close to Phila
deIphia. This cheap transportation o
manure, wood, hay, straw, potatoes, cattle
&C., is a great advantage to Maryland ant
Virginia. These tide-waters, so rich il
fish. and oysters, have no freshets to de
strOy, like the Susquehannah and othe
rivers, and never fail from drought. IL
districts where the soil is rich the water il
impregnatcd with lime and magnesia salts
and bilious fevers are not uncommon bu
where the soil is poor the water is general
~ soft and pure, and the country Yer!
healthy. In many parts of the Soutl
planters live in the poor piney woods ant
cultivate distant swamps which are YER.
productive. Concentrated fertilizers ar,
doing wonders on poor, dry, sandy lands
Maryland and Virginia have used mor'
guanos and other commercial manurc
than any other states. 1t has appeared tt
i the writer that more attention should b.
paid to perennial grasses and clover, t.
deaw mineral food from the deep subsoi
to enrich the surface soil, at the minimum
cost; while cattle, horses, sheep and WOO
sold, will give fair income with little
Ylonghing and less planting. Farmers
and planters who have lost their servant,
may see the necessity Of making land pa!
with less labor, in pasture and meadow
than is required in raising tobacco, graiI
and. cotton for market,-[D. LEE, in Com
Try Gentleman.