The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1878-08-24
AGRICULTURAL INTERESTS OF BAL
TIMORE COUNTY.

AGRICULTURAL INTERESTS OF BAL
TIMORE COUNTY.
1t must be conceded that the agricultural inter
ests of Baltimore county of vast moment to her
citizens. On this account we are especially graft
fed to notice that our Grangers-or farmers-are
giving the subject their earnest attention. They
are gradually seeing and realizing its Importance
with reference, particularly, to themselves and the
county. Toward this end may be viewed the grand
Changers exhibition and picnic announced to
take place September 9Th, which promises to be a
mighty pleasurabe and interesting affair.
Baltimore county is now by far the wealthiest,
most populous and growing county in Maryland.
She possesses a soil unsurpassed and susceptible
of the highest cultivation. Nothing is required to
make it yield in superabundance but careful at
tention, industry and approved enterprise. These
qualities, we feel confident, are possessed by our
agricuturists in an eminent degree. What is
needed to put them into action is unity in a COM
mon cause, having, as an objective purpose, the
formation and thorough encouragement of Coun-
ty Agricultural Association, such exists in many
other counties of the State There is no reason,
nor indeed any excuse, for Baltimore county being
behind Frederick, Carroll, Montgomery, Hartford
and other counties of the State in her annual agri
cultural fairs or cattle shows but, on the other
hand cogent arguments might be adduced demon
strating that she might be ahead of them. Her
soil, with exceptions, is of the very best and
can produce everything indigenous thereto, in
Guiding cereals vegetables, fruits, minerals, etc.,
by proper attention, in the greatest abundance
For raising stock of all kinds, poultry, &C., to-
gether with the production of manufactures in an
almost endless variety, she has commanding faeil-
tiles. Centrality of location, contiguty to Balti-
more, the great commercial metropolis, with con-
spieuous railroad advantages existing and pros
pective, healthful climate, abundant water-power,
otfording ample opportunities for manufacturing
purposes there is nothing obstructive to tax
ing first rank, not only among the counties OF
Maryland-which she now holds-but of challeng-
ing rivalry with any county in any State of the
Union. By the rapid growth in increasing
ratio year after year of population and improve
ment within the "belt" or suburban region border
ing on Baltimore, adding immensely to her taxa
BILE basis and wealth. she must have means at CON-
mand to accomplish and finally Outwork desirable
enterprises that cannot fail of begetting future
greatness.
Since the Inauguration of the Maryland Agri-
cultural Fair at Pimlco, it being within our lin
its and somewhat convenient, the suppOsition was
that farmers and others Of Baltimore county would
have all desirable facilities in exposing their pro-
ducts there. Such, however, was not the case
There was an absence of home-interests which
operated against special emulation and self-ambi-
tion towards exeelling. Then again the State FaiI
fell into careless management, people ceasing to
give it either attention patronage and anguish
ing it finally died suffered years of suspense
There seemed neither pride, nor ambition, mol
ability to keep it alive. In fine, it failure
though efforts are making to renew it again this
fall. Not one citizen in fifty of Baltimore county
nor indeed of any other, did take the proper in
terest in that exhibition, except perhaps the first
one or two seasons, nor are they likely to do SC
henceforward. There was no desirable field fol
cumulative competition.
What we want then is an Agricultural Fair Of
our own county, in which every citizen will take
home-pride and feel justified in giving it his oil
her hearty, cooperative encouragement. The
Frederick, Carroll and other county people would
under no circumstances, be deprived Of their eoun
ty fairs. They are looked forward to from year
to year with fond anticpatiOns as forming episodes
socially and otherwise, profitable and delightful
fruitful always of pleasing memories and happy
results.
We would have our Baltimore county citizen!
emulate the example set them alluringly by
their sister counties in having an Agriculture
Fair of their own, to be held Independent of al
others. This done and proper encouragement
given, the period must come when every res
ident of the county will rejoice in beholding it
triumph.
We have thought proper to open this subject 81
that it may be canvassed and discussed hereafter
hoping the proposition set forth by us may nee
such approval as to eliminate in a substantial re
atty at no distant day.
1t is not ours particularly to designate a local.
ty for holding such an exhibition, but would hav'
it somewhere central, the Northern Contra
Railway, at or near Timonium, or if more desira
BILE, contiguous to Towsontown, securing, as w
are hopeful of obtaining at no distant day, large
Iy increased railroad facilities connecting us will
Baltimore and other sections of the country.