The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1893-04-21
IMPROVEMENT OFPUBLICRoADs

The following with regard to road
mending, from the Centreville Obser0-
er is as applicable to Hartford as it is
to Queen Anne's county:
The paramount question now is not
what kind of roads to make but to inn
prove the roads we have. Ask the
practical farmer how to grow good
crops He will not hesitate to answer
that this can be accomplished only by
proper preparation of the ground, good
drainage, &c. So it is with public road
work. There must be good drainage,
this is essential above all other things;
the work must be done at the proper
season, when the road bed is in a con-
dition for work. The public roads of
this county should be worked in early
spring, as soon as the ground is suffi-
GENTLY dry to STIR One of the great
advantages derived from the use of
the road machine is in the early and
systematical work of the roads, and
that they are worked at the proper
time. When spring comes on the
farmer is crowded with the farm work
and has but little time to devote to
theiroad which may be under his
management, consequently the road
work is overlooked until a more con-
veniert season; therefore the roads
should be worked by men who can
give them their undivided attention.
They should have at hand the most
improved machinery for the execution
of the work. When our public road
work is made matter of highest i'm
portance, placed under the supervi-
sion of men who take 4 pride in the
work, apart from the sum of money
paid, brought up to the standard of
the carefully cultivated lands through
which they pass. then will we have
highways which will reflect credit up
on the county, but not until. This is
the time not only for filling holes, but
for blowing, rounding, ditching,t and
the work now commenced should be
pushed forward with vigor and zeal
through the spring months and early
summer, and when another winter
arrives the roads of the county will be
100 per cent. better than during the
preceding one. Our county commits
sioners have put the roads in some
sections OF the county under sys-
tenn which will bring good results.
Road contractors and supervisors, in
sist upon the proper machinery, road
machine scoop, &c, and then use
them, and you will build monument
to your name on our lamentable roads
and be called blessed by all who pass
your way. The county commissioners
will find it economy to furnish you the
necessary equipments, and will come
in for no small share of the public
commentator in their use and be-
neficent results.
STRI AND POTATOES
We have received Bulletins Nos. II
and 1s issued by the Maryland E1-
pertinent Station. The first-named
is on Strawberries and Pota-
toes The opinion is expressed that
the best varieties in the hands of the
skillful grower should average from
$3.50 to 5000 per acre net profit. OF
the varieties tested Bubach No. is
pronounced the most profitable
Other good varieties are Michel's Early
and Hoffman for early; Bubach No. 5,
Daisy, May King and Alabama for
main crops; Parker Earle and Candy
for late.
With regard to seed pota
toes, the report says that in 1890
Maryland grown seed produced 97.15
bushels per acre, the Vermont seed
giving 179 bushels. In 1891, Mary
land grown seed yielded ss1 bushels,
Vermont seed giving 1861 bushels
The experiment for the year 1892 was
made with seed grown in Baltimore
county, as compared with seed from
Maine. The former yielded951 BUSH
els as against 72a bushels from Maine
seed.
Sweet potatoes are grown for
market in nearly every county in the
State. The counties producing the
the largest quantity are Anne Arun-
del, Caroline, Dorchester, Prince
Georges, Somerset, Talbot, Wicomico
and Worcester. The yield varies from
65S bushels in Allegany to 40, 343 BUSH
els in Dorchester. The Bulletin says
the cultivation of the sweet potato
could be largely and prof1tably in
creased in Maryland. No doubt by
more careful selection of acclilnated
varieties large crops could be grown
with profit even in Hartford. Many
farmers now raise small patches every
year, and the quality of the potatoes,
as compared with those raised here
eight or ten years ago, is very much
better.