The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1899-03-04
Correspondence of the Baltimore Sun.

Correspondence OF tne bdltllnOre sun.
LEwIsBURG, Pa, February 21.-A
large surplus of the idle capital has during
the past few years been accommodating in the
banks, especially of our larger towns and
cities, and it is likely to continue to aceu-
mulate there in default of new fields of
employment. Probably some of this sur
plus will be ventured in speculative invest
meuts, in our newly acquired territories
and dependencies, and some of it will be
required to meet the demands of our ex
panding American manufactures. But
with the balance of trade largely in our
favor. as now, the amount OF capital
awaiting a reasonable safe investment must
still continue to be large
In view of this condition it is an inter
esting question to ask, ''What opportu
nitv does the business of practical agrlcul-
ture now offer for the employment of large
capital under individual or corporate man
agement, especially in the Eastern or
Southern United StatesY
Before we had any very great develop
ment of our mining, manufacturing and
transportation interests it was the practice
of our farmers to grow considerable va
riety of crops, and not often to specialize
in ANYTHING. This policy of general or,
as it NAV be called, distributive farming
was then thought to be, and probably 1t
was. judicious one. But as large towns
and cities have grown up, affording excel
lent and convenient nearby markets Tor
many farmers for great variety OF farm
and garden products, the agricultural con
ditions in many localities have greatly
changed, and many farmers have dritted
into the growing of specialties. The pres
ent and prospective conditions IN the
United States and in the world at large
favor the future development Of American
agriculture on special lines, and this ten
dency will be continually strengthened by
each improvement in and every cheaper
ing of transportation.
1t is well known that differently located
and differently constituted soils vary great
ly in their adaptability to the growth Of
particular crops. Some soils are not nat
urally well supplied with the elements Of
fertility, and it is necessary on this account
if there were no other reason for II, to pur-
sue system of rotation of crops. This
disability, where it exists, presents a seri-
GUS obstacle in the way of special crops in
practical agriculture. But this disability
exists in different soils in very different
degrees, and some soils are so richly sup
piled with the elements Of plant food that
it scarcely exists at all.
The lands along the lower Nile. IN
Egypt, because of the annual overflow
which leaves deposit of fertilizing sedi-
ment behind it, are of inexhaustlble fer
tility. The same IS true, and for the
same reason of many American creek and
riyer-bottom lands. was recently shown
a corn field on the north bank Of the
James river, in Virginia, upon which
was told that crop of corn had been
grown for fifty years in succession was
once shown wheat field in Michigan
which | was informed was then carrying
its ffty-second successive annual crop.
A few years ago, when traverslng the
great Maryland mari belt in Prince
Georges county, in the month of June, |
was shown fine crop of corn and tobacco
growing on soils upon which | was in
formed that no clover had been grown,
nor any commercial fertilizer applied for at
least twenty two years preceding, and very
little stable manure, if any at all, within
that time.
It is in soils such as these, the fertility
of which is easily and by natural means
maintained, and the mechanical condition
of which does not materially degenerate,
that the widest and fullest scope Is given
for agricultural specialization. 1t is in the
cultivation of such soils, when favorably
located and large tracts can be obtained in
body and at low price, that large CAPT
tai can be most proftably employed.
Such lands as | have described are plen-
tifui and cheap. The States of Maryland,
Virginia and North Carolina have them
by the tens of thousands of acres. The
States of South Carolina and Georgia have
them also, but these are too far from mar
ket and too far South.
Other things being equal, location has
much to do with determining the question
of profit in agriculture For this reason
chiefly the lands upon the shores of the
Chesapeake bay, and those that skirt the
rivers and streams that flow into it, and
those upon the James river, in Virginia,
have superior advantages to most Others
There IS probably no better and more
promising opportunity for the employment
Of capital in agriculture anywhere IN the
United States than is now afforded in the
reclamation and cultivation of the bottom
lands in what is known as the tide-water
region of Maryland and Virginia. Many
of the minor streams flow long distances
through fat and nearly level lands elevated
but a very few feet above their surface.
By the construction of few inexpensive
hoodgates at suitable points and judi
cious arrangement of drains many acres of
these lands could be irrigated at will
Some of these streams cut through extern
sive marl-beds and when flushed by heavy
rains carry much valuable sediment which
could easily be thrown out upon the land
to fertilize it when crops are not growing.
In choosing a location it would be borne in
mind that stream draining marty or
limestone clay soil carries load of sedi-
ment far more valuable for fertilizing pur-
poses than the drainage of merely sandy
region would be.
Another consideration not to be over
looked is that of the cost and facilities for
transportation to market by rail or water,
or both.
There are hundreds of thousands of
acres of practically virgin lands of the
highest natural fertility skirting the Ches-
apeake bay, and its innumerable indenta-
tons and inlets, and especially the streams
and streamlets that flow into it, which
could be purchased in large bodies and at
low rates. The same is true of the Patux-
ent river and its tributaries / mention
this river because it drains the Western
Shore mari-belt and consequently the sedi-
ments it carries are especially valuable for
fertilizing purposes. In the days of slav-
cry much of its Patuxent river country
was held in large estates and this region
was then regarded as the very garden
,,oo+,s &c Marvland Tbara ara sill IN ha