Smyrna times., 1884-11-26

insula is destined and at no distant day, to
become as valuable in quality as it is desir-
able in location. Its convenience to the
great markets Of New York, Philadelphia
and Baltimore puts patent Of desirability
on every arabic acre between the two bays
and the ocean, because in the multitude
nous products needed to supply the
wants of these cities, every acre can be
made available for one or another Of these
crops Already the lower Peninsula has
the supremacy in strawberries and pota-
toes while the belt from Laurel to Middle
town has is in peaches The peach centre is
moving down slowly but surely, but it
leaves behind it richer fields, better dwell
lings and outbuildings, and the evidences
of culture that accompany the accumnla-
ton Of means.
The possibilities Of the Peninsula were
never 80 apparent as to-day. What the
spinal column is to the living organism, the
railroad which now runs its entire length,
j. in its ability to develop its resources.
The roads that branch off from the main
line together with the water courses that
=
surface with communicating ways for
commercial facilities.
The recent acquisition to our main stem
Of the New York, Philadelphia & Norfolk
railroad which branches off from the line to
Crisfeld at King Greek, some six miles
below Princess Anne. thence ria POGO
moko City few miles below where it en-
tiers Virginia and runs almost its whole
length, opens up a country that is destined
at no distant day to appreciate immensely
in value. To say that it is " behind the
times y is but to affirm a natural result of
section for generations under the strictest
slavery regime, and, withal, isolated for the
most part from the world only as reached
by their little sailing "pungies."
The soil from a few miles above Princess
Anne down to the jumping off, place, is
much superior in natural qualities To- that
from Salisbury to Bridgeville. In fact the
Eastern Shore of Virginia is as good in
surface and subsoil as is Kent county be-
low st. Jones Creek, and its present Coz
dition to-day will compare favorably with
the most of the farms of this country thir-
ty and forty years ago-before the intro
duction Of guanO, phosphate and skilled
husbandry.
While as level rs table land in appear
anee, it has gradual slope from the back
hOne-alOng which the railroad runs-to
either shore, and no swamps or branches
are visible. Pines and oaks form the prin-
cipal timber, both growing to large size,
interpreted among which are other trees.
including the holly At a single station
about fifty logs of this wood were seen
ranging from twelve to eighteen inches in
diameter, and from eight to twelve feet in
length This wood is very desirable fol
certain artistic purposes, for which it wa:
being shipped to the city The soil is q
light loan, not sandy in the sense thai
Sussex county is considered and has 4
clay subsoil. The soil is very much Xix,
that in the section about Camden in tbi
county, but perhaps o: finer grain, anC
Just as susceptible of Improvement But il
IS worn out just as this countr,
was forty-five years ago when hun
dreds Of Delawareans migrated with thei
families in covered wagons to the virgin
pralries and river bottoms Of the West I
has been cropped in corn and potatoes IN
til the land is almost devoid Of vegetable
matter. From the vicinity of Pocomoket +,
Charles City, distance Of some Ga mile
not wheat or clover field was seen bv IN
recent excursionists, though some wheat
oats and perhaps clover are grown nea
the coast where the better farms lie. Tn
railroad, as IN Kent and Sussex counties il
our State, does not run in the best cultiva
ted parts. What the land most needs
vegetable mould by turning under clover %
good dressings Of manure such as ca
come only from good supply Of straw an
"theF proyender in well stocked bar
yard. Ihi= land can be rendered fertile il
ie" years by "a proper treatment Of crop,
Nothing met the eye but fields of tonDe
ana biad"d corn and potato patches. Tn
.'.H-r i- i"r horne consumption and IN
latter for market. Many Of these cor
fields would not yield ten busbal. IN IA
acre, but the lower Peninsula has -ufFere
since the Spring from an unparalelle
drought The potato is the crop that brine
the money. White potatoes used 10 h
grown IN large Quantities but the Colorad
beetle has proved 50 destructive that III
crop has been largely abandoned and m
efforts in this direction centered on n
sweet potato These are fertilized wi,
pine shafts, which could be seen m ke
together in piles in the woods for carting
the barn yard or fields, in the latter ca,
being spread on the piece Of ground inter
ded for the next years potato crop nm
turned under. They are mostly howey,
put IN the hin as we put IN manure. and :
some means produce splendid potatoes In
are more desirable in the New York ma
ket than the famous Jersey tuber. The
shafts act evidently, mechanically.
keeping the ground light as well as in
fertilizing way. They are called "r
sources" and when a man rents a piece
land he wants to know what the g
sources are the amount Of timber viii,
is to yield "shats for his potato crop.
The yield Of sweet potatoes varies fro
IS to $50 barrels to the acre and natl
who Joined the excursion said he h,
grown Is high as 200 barrels 10 the acr
The run Is - hills TO the basket and q
baskets 10 the barrel They range in pri
from Sl.GOt 10 $500 per barrel, averaei
1928 to $3.50 on which freight Of abo
50 cents must be deducted fgr freight
New York and 20 cents to Boston ifbo
Rot marketed until cold weather are plao
ln piles and covered with "shatsn al
earth and taken out as needed for sbi
ment The farmer above-named said m
would if planted in soil not too long rs
an growing the crop. keepinthis way SON
lpnes All Winter. Like DE peach. the
tato has 70 have iiew soil % gsow in or
viii not keep long after coming Gu If /,
ground
The land which has been selling for
% so per acre IS rapidly advancing
price About Nashville. Where the land