Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1904-09-15
Maryland Agricultural Exhibit

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scenes located at each end and on the wall
side of the block, That on the north end Is
labeled "Westcrn Maryland Barn." The
front is built of barn boards painted red.
One story only is visible; the second and roof
IS hidden by a hickory tree, with foliage
true to nature. The trunk, eight inches in
diameter, stands at the north corner, while
its long limbs with its many branches, hide
completely the second story and roof A
hop vine winds itself around the trunk and
spreads its foliage and flowers across the
front. A coonskin is nailed 10 the side. The
font has the appearance of an open barn
floor, and is protected from dust and the
hands of the multitude by plate glass. On
the floor to the right is pile of yellow Deht
corn, each ear of mammoth proportions.
Some has been selected for seed and lays in
nile by the bucket with bundle Of alfalfa
on it, where the farmer sat when Smelling by
hand into the partly filled half bushel basket
while in second pile are the cobs and in I"
third the nubbed corn. Some sacks have
already been filled. At the south end Of the
same barn is pile of wheat, quite 20 bush
els; the NOW to the left is filled with wheat
in the sbcaf while that to the right is filled
with loose timothy hay; overhead is corn
fodder, while on the timbers hang corn
knives and the falc. The inqulsltive visitor
is told that straw has q value to the Eastern
farmer second only to the grain, that hay
brings q better price loose that when baled,
that the coon and fox take the place OF the
deer and jack rabbit of the plains.
The barn at the south end is labeled South
crn Maryland Barn" Here the grapevine
and muskrat skin take the place of the hick
ory tree and coon. The darkgrecn foliage,
with punches of half ripe grapes, have been
frequently taken for the "rcal" thing. The
front is not painted nor whitcwashed, but
stained a wcathered gray Oyster tongs lean
against the barn. The font is also protect
ed with plate glass. The loft to the right is
filled with tobacco longing from sticks,
while on the floor is a stripping scene. as
when the farmer and his help drop all and
go to dinner To the extreme left is Il "bur'
den" Of seasoning tobacco, while opposite is
full hogshcad ready for the French market.
hanging from pegs and nails are corn husk
collars Uhe only exhibit Of the kind in the
building), baskets, mats and implements
commonly seen in tobacco barn, and
basket of cotton sent from ST. Alary's county.
A spinning wheel which came from Calvert
county hangs from n beam above, and Is
said to be over 200 years old. 1t is sur
prise to many that cotton was once grown
for market in Southern Maryland and lower
Eastern Shore. The stranger is told that
man does no, have to work for n living in
Southern Maryland unless it is work to gath
or what the waters Of the Chesapeake Bay
abundantly supply, without care or fore
thought on the part Of the people whose
farms lay along the shores of its many inlets.
In the barn hangs the dccoys, gill net, crab
net, oy stcr hammer and knives, fishing rod
and tackle. The north end of the barn Is
filled with blade fodder, which Is new pro
duct to the Western farmer, and is the only
exhibit of tue kind in the Agricultural Pal
ace.
The corn exhibit consisting of samples of
10 cars each, collected from nearly every
county, is displayed in handsome case Axle
feet, protected by plate glass. Each sample
is tied with orange and black ribbons, with
the names and addresses Of the growers at
m hn t,n cl IN S 10 n
.parativc analysis of Maryland corn, high in
protein, presented by ii. j, Patterson, of the
Maryland Experiment Station Here, too,
is displayed q diploma awarded by the Paris
Exposition In 1859 to "Sn" j. p. Silver OF
lIalford county, for corn exhibited by him.
The certificate is Immediately below sam
pie of the same variety exhibited by his son,
Mr.. J. Z. Silver. This case Of MARYLAND corn
often causes remark and expressions of sur.
prise that Maryland has land that will grow
such. A second corn exhibit is made in
special EXHIBIT. n the middle aisle of this
mammoth building. Here are displayed the
four staples-tobacco, sugar, cotton and
corn. Through President Sylvester and Di
rector Patterson OF the Maryland College and
Experiment Station, special corn exhibit Is
made, the design being built of staff and
wood with three mammoth ears of corn
weighing each 100 pounds as decoration in
part. Around thic on tables will be seen
duplicate exhibit, with many additions, of
the samples shown in the general exhibit
It was thought by making this display be-
fore the western corn growers they would be
convinced of the evident fertility of Mary
land sell.
The tobacco exhibit is displayed in a case
of like construction and proportions to that
occupied by the corn, and is located at the
opposite end and in front Of the southern
MARYLAND Barn" 1t makes an attractive
showing of the planters tobacco from both
Southern Maryland and Frederick county
The broad membrane like leaves readily
catch the eye Of the VISITORS and they are
frequently heard to read aloud the sign,
maryland Tobacco" A special tobacco
exhibit is also made in the middle aisle on q
space 90 feet square. In the center stands a
giant Indian on pedestal over seven feet
high with long s.emihed pipe in his mouth
and horn OF plenty on his left arm, from
which the manufactured products of the
weed fall to the ground, The whole is ap.
parently built of tobacco. To his right and
left are cases ~ feet long, in which are dis
played on the one side the several types of
tobacco sold on the Baltimore market, and