The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1888-10-05
OUR SOIL AND CROPS.

ueduIliulj Uue Veh0A Po''Ao"9 ~ w.
sterile as any that can be seen in our
section. We produce crops nearly as
large per acre, and when proximity to
market is considered they are of more
value. From the tenth census we find
that where the average yield of wheat
per acre in five States named above
was about IL bushels it was only IA
bushels in Indiana, Illinois, Missouri
and Iowa, about equal in population,
and in corn our yield was 20 bushels
per acre to their 33 bushels-not
very great excess in either case, con-
sidering their boasted fertility and that
considerable portions of our States are
mountains. We also raised $4,000 900
bushels of potatoes to 30, 600, 900, while
the value of our orchard products cx-
ceeds theirs by nearly halfa million of
dollars. Moreover, the Western farm
ers are already discovering that the
fertility of their soil is not inexhaust.
ible. They no longer build their stables
on the banks. of streams that they may
easily get rid of the manures, but find
that to get the best results they must
abandon the wasteful methods Of for
mer days and even use bought fertiliz
ers and apply brains with them. No
portions of the west that I saw surpass-
ed and but little equaled to the eye of
an agriculturist the exquisite farming
country and productive and well-man-
aged farms of the better parts of the
Middle Atlantic States. Our clay loans
and even our more sandy soils will, I
believe, in years to come equal that
productiveness Of Illinois, Indiana,
Missouri or Kansas. They respond
quickly to lime, clover and bought fer
tilizers, while, as has been mentioned,
the atmospheric conditions are favor
able. If our young farmers can only
be convinced Of the advantages of this
section, and also have fair presentation
of the drawbacks in others, they will
not long hesitate as to where they will
locate. 1t is very true that some ego
West" and do well, but we rarely hear
of the very many who never cease to
regret having yielded to the tempting
prospect only to find that they had
grasped the dead sea fruit. The weary
monotony of a praire country, too, is
wearing to those who have enjoyed the
beautifully rolling, well-drained and
well, watered East. How the settler,
tired of the sluggish, muddy streams,
longs for the clear, sparkling springs OF
his native State!
NEAR THE MARKETS.
"Thirdly, our position, with reference
to populations needing all we can pro-
duce, is particularly advantageous.
The cities circling around the Atlantic
coast within our reach-New York,
Brooklyn, Newark, Philadelphia, Will
mington, Baltimore and Washington
have population of about four mil
lions. Add to this the vast number of
attendant towns and villages and inland
cities, and we see that there is an i'm.
mense and rapidly.inc creasing demand
for all that We can raise. There are also
minor considerations, such as our prox.
unity to the sea coast, when needed for
health and recreation, and the grand
and restful noun tains, easily accessible,
with their bracing air and magnificent
scenery.
"Fourthly, the associations of our old
homes, of acres that have passed per,
haps from sire to son, the duties and
responsibilities of citizenship, the pleas.
ure and pride of sustaining the honored
name and character of parents and
grand parents-these are not likely to
be cast aside. If any one is thinking
of making the change, and these lines
should moet his eye, hope he will
pause long enough to examine the sub
ject carefully upon every side, and
above all things make personal in
spection, remaining long enough to
watch the effect fthe varying seasons,
before severing the ties which bind him
to his native State.
"HENRY G. HALLowELL."