Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1893-02-02


away from the heterogeneous matter
Of the soil. Cow peas and grass
are great growers, and they are the
foocs to bring up these lands.
Then barnyard manure through
more stock on the farm and a great
er variety of crops. The land is
like a lean, half-starved animal.
1t needs food, and plenty of it, fed
to it regularly every season. After
this manner it viii produce abun-
dant and profitable crops. 1t is a
pity that the Plantation system of
Southern Maryland should not be
discarded for smaller holdings of
land with individual ownership; q
more mixed cultivation and the in
PRODUCTION of some industrial en-
terprises. Dairying and sheep rails
ing can be made very profitable, as
also the growing of fruits and veg
etables. This country is the native
home of the peach and grape; here,
also, grow the fig and apricot. From
several visits of inspection to st.
Mary's county we can speak with
no little pleasure of the great hos
pitality Of its people, and with all
seriousness Of the goodness of her
soil and its great opportunities.
The growing of peaches. intelli-
gently and properly cared for, could
be made very profitable. We know
Of many q fortune made here in
Delaware from this fruit, until the
ravages of that dreaded disease,
"The Yellows," has made the crop
too precarious to be any longer pro-
fitable. We find on examination
st. Mary's county to be exempt
from this disease; and we would
urge upon her people the utmost
care and precaution towards keep
ing out this fell blight 20 princely
revenues from peach culture. We
feel fully assured the beautiful
pasture lands, gradually rising al
most to hills, surrounding the ex-
tremely picturesque st. Mary's
River. with its fine harbor, could
be most profitably devoted to grape
culture, after the manner of the
vineyards on the lakes of Western
New York. In the early annals of
the settlement at this beautiful
spot, we find this subject brought
to notice: Il have drunk wine
made of the wild grapes, not infe-
rior in its age to any wine of Spain.
| have not seen as yet any white
grape excepting the fox grape.
which hath some stain of white, but
of the red grape / have seen much
diversity" With neighborhood CO.
operation and organization among
farmers, We would urge in behalf
of individual profit and the COM
mon veal, the establishment of in
dustrial enterprises in st. Mary'e
county in the way of creameries,
canneries. etc. Here is our obser-
yation of the management of such
enterprises in Delaware. A cream
cry may be started with 200 cows,
but a larger number would be bet
ter, as more satisfactorily establish
ing and holding a good and perma-
nent market for the butter. A
creamery of 400 cows at Middletown
is now paying out to the farmers
So, 900 monthly, and there are five
more within a radius of FIVE miles.
Our farmers would very reluctant
ly give up their cows and milk,
which afford them q monthly reve-
nue. in their creamery check. Now
as to a cannery in the way of peach
es, corn, tomatoes, &c. These may
be easily established by first putting
yonr shoulders to the wheel and as
surfing a practical Gamer that you
mean business, and will put him up
"a building and grow the material
for him to can You may readily
in this way secure competent man,
thoroughly understanding his bus
mess. This is the way these CO.
operative creameries and canneries
have been established in Newcastle
county, Delaware. And they may
thus be secured to st. Mary's coun-
ty with little well-directed effort.
These enterprises, besides promot-
ing the individual development of |
the county and making q profitable
local market for the products of the |