The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1879-05-17
Ghe farmeF.
FOR The Democratic ddrocafe.
Agricultural Resourcesof Central Maryland.

Agricultural Rssouroesof Central Maryland.
LISBON, Howard Co., May Q, 1879,
In this section of the State the soil is
Of both an arinacious and argiIlaeeous ma.
turc, which mixture renders IT, with
moderate application Of barnyard manure
or lime and sprinkling of fertilizer, I'M
equaled for the growing Of Indian corn,
tobacco and wheat, while potatoes, rye,
oats and hay yield quite remunerativeIy.
The land is moderately undulating and
naturally productive, while the wheat crop
only requires a small amount Of the phos-
pilates to nourish and perfect the grain,
and amnoniated lines, etc., to inyigorate
the growth, as the abundant yernacular flint
gradually disintegrating, furnishes the 81
ica or oxide Of silicon which Is requisite
to give stiffness to the GSalks. The Fultz
variety Of wheat is pretty generally sown
by the farmers Of this vicinity Of late
years. AS a rule on these lands--thoueh
occasionally there is an area of impoyer-
ished soil that must be excepted--an ap-
plication Of 200 to 300 lbs. Of fertilizer
will insure yield Of 20 to 30 bushels of
wheat per acre, according to the strength
Of the soil. Stone lime, SO abundant in
portions of Frederick county, few miles
northwest Of this place, can be obtained
at the kilns, burnt and ready for use, for
IL cents per bushe' 0yster.shell lime
can be had at tic kilns near Baltimore,
for and 8 cents per bushel, and is CON
sldered by some to be nearly as durableas
the stone lime. The prices of fertilizers,
guanos, bones, ETC., are, however, exhorbi-
| tant, and it is mainly from this fact that
I the farmers are not enjoying the success
that they should. Freight aud transpor-
( tation rates are also high, but possibly
+ public sentiment viii eventually do some-
r thing to redress these wrongs inflicted upon
D the tiilers Of the soil. The culture Of to-
c bacco is an important industry, and num-
t Der Of farmers confne their cultiyaiions al
t. most entirely to this crop. The labor at
C tending tobacco growing is, however, ar
= duous and constant though it Is usually
C well compensated. Occasionally pest in
e the form Of tobacco worm demands
It the almost constant attention Of the grow
5, er, and not unfrequently they are very
e stubborn to subdue. Large Aocks Of tur-
le keys and guinea keats are often employed
in the tobacco fields and do good work in
nr destroying the worms. The yield is about
Y, ll00 to 1900 lbs. per acre, when stripped,
le which realizes from So to SIS per hundred
It. weight according quality. A fair quanti-
lie ty and quality Of timothy hay is moved
n upon the meadows and low lands and clo-
BY yer upon the upland, either Of which finds
a ready sale ia the Baltimore markets at
So to s14 per ton, the former command
ing the higher figure. Blue grass is also
grown for pasturagc, and for this purpose
tn it has no equal. Dairying receives cop-
al siderable attention by those living along
Sc the route Of the Baltimore aud Ohio rail-
ep road, and it is estimated that nearly $500
b. gallons Of milk are shipped daily to city
lie. consumers from the scope Of country lying
ds between Frederick and Baltimore. The
til rearing Of sheep and stock cattle is by no
tut means neglected but rather constitutes an
ug. important industry. Appended are sub
he stantially the statistics Of tho crop returns
cir with the varieties grown.
lc Wheat Is to 80 bushels per acre Fultz and Amber
nd Rye, y to % bushels per acre, Black
Ter Potatoes 60 70 $50 bushels per acre Eariy Rose
at Hay, ~ 10 tons per acre, Timothy, Clover
ds Com; % y barrels per acre White and Golden or
ne Tobacco, 1000 to 1900 pounds per acre
10 These are the maximum and minimum
ng figures, and by adding the two extremes
Sc and dividing tho sum by 2 we have fair
OF average
nd This locality has been remarkable for the
en- excellent quality of chestnut, oak, hickory
1d and maple wood, of its groves, but the
ie- constant demand for fuel and 'snew ground
&c, which is required by the tobacco crop has
s'o caused serious denuding Of these aud
now only about l6 to Is per cent. Of the
land is wooded. Our farmers do not seem
to be cognizant Of the fact that this de-
Oh vastation win eventually bring drouths and
at violent storms upon them if meteorological
he researches can be relied on.
m In certain sections granite is extensively
,at quarried- particularly in the locality Of
nd Ellicott city, where the well-known Bel
,ot gian blocks, employed in the Baltimore city
,at street Improvements, are obtained. Flint
nc rock is also found in abundance, and along
Oh the Patapsco river bowlders Of forcible d.
de mensions crop out
i'm We will now consider few Of the ex-
his penses which farming recessarially ineurs:
IN. lst, tax rates, which, though excessive, can
BE not be complained Of when you take the
all rates Of other counties, into consideration
lat 2d, farm labor wages, which seem heavy
aid with the present anti-bellum market rates
mo Men receive Si2 to Sl5 per month, the
,ht lower figures including, the higher exclud
IAN ing, board. Boys get s3to IS per mouth
is according TO ability Day labor commands
,bt so cts. and 75 cts.
M An important item in the farm expensei
is fencing, which is rendered abscIutel,
necessary because Of the deprecable Gus
tom Of the poorer class Of village RESIDENT
Of pasturing their stock upon the public
ion highways. Measures to suppress this nui
aid sanceare being taken by some ofourcitizens
bat Finally, we may say, that the ayerag,
ird Maryland farmer, though not wealthy, i
lgh generally in good circumstances, and Is a
1t least prone to enjoy the few pleasantrie
you Of life. He unmistakably presents a mucl
lnd more favorable condition than the Britisl
nth agriculiuralist whose misiortunos hay
ut. been 50 graphically pictured By recen
toll English writer's. n b. WI
lin s
- To BIT A CoLT.--The true way to ii
the a colt is not TO bit him at all; that is, le
him bit himself When my colts are on
not year old begin to teach them to hold
ea- bit in their mouth. The Bit Il Of pine
for some half inch iu diameter and iige f6eha