The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1888-03-03
Cur 0lio.
A New Yorker in Maryland.

Julius A. johnson, Esq, editor of the
Independent, published at Auburn, n. Y,
in its issue of February 23, gives the fol-
lowing description of two Talbot county
farms
Talbot county is very fine agricultural
region, and is a section where progressive
farming is not overlooked by land owners.
Itis very favorably located, being the centre
pf the nine counties composing the Mary
and portion of the peninsula between the
Delaware and Chesapeake Bays, and, within
seven hours of Washington and New York,
and less than five from Baltimore and
Philadelphia 1t is located right in the
heart of the fruit and oyster region of the
country, oysters being abundant, large
orchards Of peaches greeting the eye at
every turn, small fruits growing in proiu-
sion, and the lands being especially adapted
to the growth of the best qualities of wheat
and corn.
Il Talbot county is irregular in shape and
has an area of about 250 square miles, and
contained total population in 1880 Of
1905, 1927 of whom were colored, and
Ill .738 white. The increase since 1880 is
estimated at % per cent. giving about 25,-
900 as the present population, a little less
than the population of the city of Auburn.
Nearly every farm in the western half of
the county is located on salt water, and not
farm in the county is over three miles
from navigable water, so that the labor of
marketing crops is brought to minimum.
The soil and climate are admirably
adapted to the growth of peaches, apples,
pears and small fruits of all kinds, but
grapes do not ripen we'll. 1t is also fine
Erain iaTi ngT growing country, and yields excel
The land is level and being free from
stones is easily cultivated, even when the
soil is stiff. The yield of wheat is good,
many farms making from 80 to 40 bushels
per acre, and double that number Of bush
els of corn, though some make very small
crops of BOTH The average yield Of wheat
in the county as shown by the census Of
1880 was IA bushels per acre, and of corn
% bushels. This has since been material
ly increased. When we remember that
some of the former famous wheat growing
counties of New York have dwinded within
half century from an average Of about %
bushels per acre to 6 or Z, this shows very
favorably for Talbot county, which has been
under cultivation over 200 years as a wheat
growing country. The peach crop is an
important element of prosperity, but of the
number of bushels grown we have no
knowledge, but it is very large.
1t is a. favorite idea of our people that
agriculture south of Mason & Dixon's line
is way behind the age, but as far as Mary
land is concerned it is mistake. We find
there the Osborne binder, the Stevens
separator, the Birdsall engine, and the
Auburn wagon, as well as all other makes
of these articles, and all kinds of improved
farm machinery. The dwellings are COM
Portable and in many cases handsome, the
farm buildings commodious and convenient,
and the horses, cattle and sleep of the best
breeds.
As an illustration of how the enterpris-
ing farmer of this section lives we will
mention the farm of Mr.. VIM. p Powell,
with whom we spent part of our time
while there. His farm contains 160 acres
situated on salt water estuary of the
Chesapeake bay, which abounds in fish,
oysters and crabs, in their season. The
dwelling is cottage with tower and gables,
is heated throughout by furnace, has
hot and cold water on every floor, and is
lighted with gas made on the place; thus
he has all the conveniences that can be had
in city He has commodious barns and
stables, lofts for hay, sheds for his stock
and implements, and his machinery is
never subjected to destruction by being
left out in the rain and sun. He gets up
early in the morning; attends to his hands,
pushes his business and adds to the average
yield of his farm every year. He can
hardly be charged with being 'behind the
age" in his business, nor is farming fail
ure with him, as he has raised 80 to 40
bushels of wheat to the acre, where he re-
ceived but five the first year he cultivated
the farm ten years ago, yet he is a young
farmer and was not brought up in the
country. The entire farm is enclosed and
the fields divided by plank fences.
On Saturday, the 4th of February, we
visited Col. f. Carroll Goldsborough at his
beautiful residence on Tired Avon river,
and had the pleasure of examining his
farm buildings and stock, and will briefly
describe them, so that our Cayuga county
farmers may judge how much he, too, is
ssbehind the times" The farm contains
$40 acres and he can stand in his door and
see all over it, as it is level, though per-
fectIy drained, and is free from ravines and
thickets to impede the view of the fields.
The wheat field, as large as a good sized
farm, was thoroughly covered as with a
green carpet, and gives promise of fine
yield. His usual crop of wheat is about
1000 bushels, but with an extra acreage
he made 1000 bushels one year. The
corn cultivation is about 20 acres, and he
does not complain of not getting fair
yield. This farm is situated within two
miles of the farm on which his father made
the largest yield Of wheat to the acre ever
reported in the United States. The Mary
land State Agricultural Society in 1859
offered premium for the best FIVE acres
of wheat grown in the State. Mr.. Colds
borough had five acres accurately measured
by surveyor, the wheat was cut, threshed
and measured under strict regulations of
] accuracy hv men under oath and the Weld