The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1881-05-13
For The 1Egis and InteRigeacer.
Outlook Alphabetically in Lower Har-
ford

Hartford is very encouraging, and in nothing
more so than in its agriculture. In addition
to the cultivation of the cereals, the planting
of tobacco and the canning of vegetables is
assuming large proportions The improve
ment is seen in all sections of the county, but
in none more than in the lower part oft. In
that section, along the line of the Phiadel-
plia Wilmington and Baltimore Railroad,
| from the Gunpowder river to IIayre dc Grace,
| and including an area of ten or fifteen miles
square, the canning interest has grown to
large dimensions. The pioneer in this in
duStry in the county was George w. Baker,
ST., II gentleman to whom the people of the
| county are greatly indcbted-an indebted
ness which they do not fail to recognize. If
he who makes two blades of grass to grow
where but one grew is public benefactor,
surely he who adds fouriold or more to the
productive power of whole community is
deserving of Il high place in the esteem of his
fellow citizens. Happily, unlike many other
public benclactors, Mr. Baker is reapng rich,
~ the fruits of his intelligence diligence and
skill
The work of Mr. Baker, his sons and
others, in the ncighhorhood of Aberdeen, in
the preparation of the land for the coming
crops of vegetables, is of general interest.
Commencing at the home farm Of Mr..
Baker, which we shall designate as No /, we
ioun! at Il recent visit there - acres plowcd
for corn His tract contains 10 acres, ID of
which was given by his father and the bal
anCc was subsequently purchased. On this
farm is n canning house, and here he canned
first in 1867, blackbcrrics, peaches and to-
matoes The highest price then obtained for
tomatoes was $3.50 per dozen 3 lb cans; for
peaches So per dozen cans, or SO n case, >
ID. cans 3 Id. cans $3.50 per dozen. The
present prices are greatly below these, but
rcmuneratiye. In the immediate vicinity are
the canning houses of Mr.. VIM. JeWens, and
Mr.. Carsins the latter house on the farm for,
merly owned by George Baker, ,Ir., son of
Nicholas, but now deceased, II young man of
remarkable promise and greatly esteemed.
The next farm visited, which we shall call
No. ., is that Of Charles w. Baker, five
eghths of Il mile west of Aberdeen. On this
tract of 30 acres is II canning house. and here
will be brought the corn raised on farm of
400 acres in Bush river Neck near Michaels-
willie, recently purchased by Mr.. Baker. Two
hundred and sixty acres of the 45O will be
planted in corn In addition to canning, this
gentleman is broker, selling the goods of
the many Gamers in the neighborhood of
Aberdeen, amounting last season in the ag
greEatc to $4,000 cases, worth $3.50, O00.-
Two hundred and fifty thousand cases, worth
stations OF Aberdeen, Pcrryman and IIavrc
de Grace. Charles w. Baker, or Charley
Baker as he is familiarly called, has by
promptness and integrity in his business
transactions secured the confidence of the
whole community.
The next farm visited which we shall name
No 3, is that of James b. Baker. This farm
contains 200 acres, 100 of which will be
planted in corn. This, the well known Nor
gan farm, lying at and around Halls Gross
Roads, is most cligibly situated, and has on it
a most inviting residence and an extensive
canning house. This gentleman has recent
ly received patent for an instrument for
packing corn.
The next farm seen, No. 4, belongs to
George w. Baker ST. 1t is known as Edge
wood, or the Griffith farm, and contains 100
acres, 100 of which will be planted in corn.
Adjoining Edgewood is the Cranberry
farm No ), containing $50 acres, 175 ofw which
will be in corn This is owned by and in the
occupancy of William b. Baker, gentleman
well known as an intelligent and energetic
business man, and who is recognized by his
friends of like political sympathies as worthy
of party honors. On this farm is a canning
house
The next farm, which we may designate rs
No. 6, belongs to George W. Baker, ST., and
contains $50 acres, fifty OF which will be
in corn
No. : is Clovcrdale, or the Russell farm,
belonging to George W. Baker, Sr. This
tract of land consists of 300 acres, POO of
which will be planted in corn. The cross
fences of this farm have all been removed,
and the unusual sight in Hartford is pre-
scented of plowcd field of 200 acres. This
has n canning house. The next farm, No s,
is Hopcwell This also belongs to George
w. Baker, ST., and contains 25j acres POO of
which will grow corn this season. Ii is un-
der the direction of George A. Baker, known
among his friends rs "Cap" We regretted
his absence on the day of our visit
No is the farm of John Baker of Geo,
containing 90 acres, part of which will he
planted in corn.
The whole number of acres being prepared
for corn by George W. Baker and Sons is
1908, and the number of horses and mules
employed is 90. The average yield ofcOrn,
if the season shall be favorable, will not he
less than so cases to the acre, which if sold
mt So 80 per case, will amount to the hand
some sum of S212,00O. | have not been ad-
vised certainly of the probable profit, but
conjecture that it will he satisfactory. The
amount of fertilizer used by Mr.. Baker ST,
is GOO lbs. of bone meal and from 100 to 200
lbs. of phosphate To each acre cultivated
The whole number Ol canning houses in the
county is 20 or more, and increasing rapidly.
The fear in some quarters is that this in.
dustry will nj no distant period be 0yrrdonc.
That such n catastrophe is possible is con
fcssed that it is probably may or may not
be. The demand for canned goods is Ger
| tainly increasing, but whether the production
is increasing more rapidly than the demand
is to he determined One thing is obvious,
that the gentlemen whose farms | have so
lately seen have taken the tide at the Hood
"Thcre is tide in the affairs Of men which
when taken ut the flood leads TO fortune. "
And it is certain that the elder Mr.. Baker,
the "Pionccr and Prince of Hartford Gamers"
as he has not inappropriatey been called,
has struck II bonanza And that he has by
his example and words of encouragement
added materially to the possessions of many
of his fellow citizens in true. r. T. w.