The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1894-02-15

serious OUSUdCIG WHICH HIS, anu
still does bar the path of Garrett
county in her forward march to
prosperity, is the small population
within her borders. This is much
less than is necessary for the devel-
opment of her vast resources, tax
ing into consideration the fact that
Garrett is the largest county in the
State, covering as she does, an area
of six hundred and eighty square
miles. This large territory has
population of only fourteen thou
sand two hundred and thirteen or
less than an average Of twenty-one
persons to the square mile.
IMMIGRATION NEEDED.
The population of Garrett county
during the ten years from 1880 TO
1890, increased from twelve thou
sand three hundred to fourteen
thousand two hundred and thirteen.
which is the greatest increase made
during that period by any county
in the State except Anne Arundel.
Baltimore county, which is smaller
than Garrett, has a population of
about seventy-three thousand. At
the present rate Of increase, Gar
rett county would scarcely have so
great a population as Baltimore
county now has, at the close of the
next century. Garrett county,
therefore, can not look to the nat
ural increase Of her population for
her prospective prosperity. 1t
seems to me that it must be appar-
ent to the most casual observer that
au increase of population is Il, aded
and that the need can only be sup
piled by immigration. Artisans
and skilled labor are not so much
needed as farmers and farm labor
ers. Only about ten per cent. of
the territory is cleared and under
cultivation. The other, ninety per
cent, is covered with virgin forests.
What is especially needed therefor
are purchasers for these forest lands
who will fell the timber and develop
the agricultural resources of the
county.
POSSIBILITIE IN AGRICULTURE.
There is very little old, worn out
or abandoned land in Garrett
county. The small per centage Of
the land which is cleared is being
farmed, or used for grazing pur-
poses. The soil is highly produc-
tive and the farmer can always
reasonably expect a fair return for
his LABOR and outlay The princi-
pal crops are buckwheat, oats,
wheat and potatoes.
The following may be considered
average crops: Buckwheat, twenty
to thirty bushels per acre; oats,
thirty-fve to sixty bushels; wheat,
thirty to forty-two bushels, and po-
tatoes three hundred bushels per
acre. These crops are raised usu-
ally without the aid of fertilizers.
In some sections Of the county far
mers are using large quantities Of
lime, which acts like charm upon
the soil. Since our farmers begun
the application Of lime, the produe-
ton of wheat has been more than
doubled. Notably is this the case
in the section about Accident. which
is the garden spot OF the county,
viewed from an agricultural stand
point. The cultivated farms are
usually small. but a great deal Of
the timber land is owned in large
bodies which will appear bv refer
ence to several sales which have
been made in late years. The
"Yough Manor Tract contain
ing nine thousand acres, was sold
for $40, 900. The "Kunkel" tract
of about six thousand acres, was
sold for $43, 900, and the tract
called "Swanton, containing over
thirty thousand acres, was sold for
$54, 900. All these immense bodies
of lands were purchased chiefly for
their timber, and can now readily
be purchased in small gu lntities by
those desiring farms at very reason
able prices. The proportion of
farms under cultivation, for sale, is
very small. There is a decided ad-
vantage to purchasers in buying
timber land. In most cases they
can pay for the land and support
their families from the sale of tim
Der, whilst they are opening up
their farms. When they have the
land cleared they can raise better
crops without the application of
fertilizers than can be raised in
many other places by a heavy out
lay for manures. Whilst the other
resources of the county are immense
it's future lies in agriculture. If
thrifty class of immigrants can be
induced to locate here the day is
near at hand when Garrett will be
one of the greatest farming coun
ties in the State.
Garrett county farms are chiefly