The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1894-09-21
LETTER FROM WESTERN MARYLAND.

DEAR ENQUIRER:-l am now writing
amidst the mountains of Western Mary
land, having reached this place on Monday
evening of last week The change from the
heat of the tide water country to this pure
fresh air, that is untouched of mosquitoes
wing, nor tainted by malarial influence,
is indeed grateful, beyond expression.
This is one of the favored seasons of the
wear in this region The heat of the day
is by no means oppressive, and the nights
are simply glorious for rest. The noun
tain scenery is slightly FURNISHED by the
hand of autumn, and is just beginning to
give promise of the deep tinge, that will
soon make it so wondrously beautiful. The
trip from Washington city through histor
c old Montgomery, skirting Frederick
county, until the entrance is made full in
to the everlasting hills, is one varied with
interest. The crops on the line of the
road show the want of rains, and as far as
could be seen do not promise the yield ours
do. The land being heavier, it seems to
have suffered more from the effects of the
drouth, than our lighter soils. The same
may be said of Washington county, where
grain is the chief crop. The wheat of the
present year was very prolific, and the
average yield is placed at % bushels per
acre. But the farmers are very much dis
turbed over the low prices for that cereal,
and in the most cases, this crop will be
much reduced in acreage for the coming
year. Two causes operate to produce
this result, one the low price of wheat,
the other an inability to fallow, owing to
the want of rain. The crop is put in the
ground during the month of September,
and in nearly every field the corn has been
cut off, and seeding already commenced.
The farming lands are simply beautiful.
The arabic lands are all in the valley, and
and the methods pursued to turn every
thing to advantage have made these peo
pie the most prosperous, contented and
happy of our entire population. Nature
has done much to this end. With soil
that is naturally rich, well watered, and
splendidly wooded, with high and healthy
tiOns might be sufficient to make almost
paradise These western counties seem
to abound in small towns, and they are all
right in the midst of the farming lands,
and indeed the heavy rcls of wheat straw
abutting the solid and comfortable barns
for the stock can be found at every turn
Butter making is one of the fine arts of
Western Maryland. And indeed there is
no wonder. Their mountains furnish the
crystal spring right at the house door,
and from the rocks that are so profusely
scattered around, it was an easy matter to
construct the dairy house Any of these
houses is a marvel for neatness, and puri-
ty, and one can there find, in vessels, placed
IN the running water the process of but
ter making in all its stages, from the sweet
milk to the yellow cream. There !" an air
of solid comfort per. adIng these valleys
that is certainly captivating. The evil
dences of want or poverty are rarely to
be found, and it can be said, that the
jewellers of this mountainous country, are
a contented and happy and thrifty people.
In my next | will speak more at length of
the methods of farming, and the varied
crop that are raised as the farmers are be-
ginnin" to realize the necessity of a mixed
husbandry, but as tobacco is the staple
with us, so will grain and grass be the
great reliance of these people for all time.
Their lands naturally incline to the pro-
duction Of these crops, and nothing has
yet been found to supplant them. II.