Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1912-02-29
Saint Msru's Beacon


ern MaryIand Farms.
United States Department. of Agricul-
ture-Oaice of the Secretary.
Washington. d. O., Fe bruary 2, 1912.
Secretary Wilson has received the
following reporton Department. Dem
onstration Work in Maryland.
The work was commenced 10
Maryland OCTOBER list, 1911, TO be or
ganized in the FIVE counties lying
between the Chesapeake Bay on the
east, the Potomac River on the south
and west. and the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad between Baltimore
and Washington on the north. Five
local agents have been appointed
and started in the work and a graft
flying number of Demonstration are
being enrolled
These FIVE counties are financially
and agriculturally poor, though ly-
ing close to two large and growing
cities and possessing large areas OF
land that have been exceedingly
productive in the past, and would
be so again If peopled with farmers
growing food products that these
cities need. The climate is the 6n-
est ia the State and unsurpassed in
the United States as a place OF resi-
dence, and for the growing offs great
variety of useful plants and animals.
Aud yet, Il is just here that Of pre-
sent lands are cheaper than on the
drv plains OF Oklahoma or In the
cold climates OF New England or
the Northwest Tobacco has for
generations been almost the sole re-
lance In most Of this region as q
money crop. Rotation OF crops has
not been generally practiced, and
the best land, manure and energy
has been devoted TO the production
Of tobacco on few acres OF a large
tract OF land, and the rest Of the farm
is allowed to grow up In sedge,
briers, sassafras and pines. II Is
estimated by experienced men that
not mere than one tenth OF the ares
Of Southern Maryland Is now farm
I'D at ell. Certainly more than hal
Of this territory would be good farm
ing land II treated as we'll as similar
lands are treated in the northern
and central counties OF the State
A large majority OF these soils are
greatly in need of lime and legu
mes TO restore the humus and nitro.
gen which will not accumulate ID
acid soils. Some OF the lands along
the water courses are literally sup
piled with disintegrated oyster
SMELLS, and these shell lands, >
though varying In texture from
heavy clay to light sand, are always
dark in color and very productive
while similar soil nearby but with.
out shells, is light colored and bar
rem. The main problem, therefore
to DO worked out in this section, ID
how to provide cheap supplies o
lime, preferably In the form OF car
Donate, such as we have In ground
shells or ground limestone, and 10.
duce the farmers 10 use itintelliRen
tly and systematically and build uE
stores OF humus and nitrogen In the
soil 1t was found on inquiry thai
wherever the farmers bad received
their lime by water transportation
they had been buying the so called
"Hydrated Lime" at 81 80 per ton
which the State Chemist and Direc.
tor OF the Experiment Station agreed
was nearly, II not quite, 30 per CEN
water. 1t was found on inquiry
that firm in Baltimore is willing
to grind oyster shells and place
them on vessels or cars at 81 90 pet
ton. and this information was giyer
to the Demonstrators through the
local agents. Small vessels which
go to Baltimore laden with oysters
fish, grain, or wood, can haul The
ground shells as back load and &c
up the small creeks and bays to the
numerous private landings over q
very wide territory. For the farm.
ers living nearer to the railroad
than to deep water, ground lime
stone can be shipped from the great
deposits at Martinsburg, W. V.
ibis is now quoted at 81 Is per ton
on the cars, and we hope will be
made still cheaper when the guam !.
tlty used becomes larger and com.
petition increases.
All the Demonstrators who ara
financially able to do so are encour.
aged to put lime on all the plats that
will be nut in corn In 1910