222 HOW TO GET A FARM, 



very productive lands of &quot;The Ridge,&quot; in Anne 

 Arundel county, and &quot;The Forest,&quot; of Prince 

 George county, extending to within forty miles of 

 Baltimore. These lands yield large crops of wheat, 

 corn, tobacco, and roots, are of sandy loam with 

 clay subsoil, are mostly improved, and are valued at 

 $40 to $100 per acre. Continuing North, the lands 

 are of light sandy soil up to the vicinity of Balti 

 more. When improved, they produce fine crops of 

 early small fruits, melons, peaches, and corn, and 

 are valued, where accessible by railroad, at about 

 $20 to $30 per acre ; if not improved, at $12 to 

 $15. The foregoing portions of the State have 

 heretofore been worked exclusively by slave labor, 

 hence the farms will not be found as neat or well 

 cultivated as those in other portions of the State. 

 The inhabitants have access to the cities by steam 

 boat and river craft, the latter furnishing cheap 

 transportation of freight. 



From Baltimore, going north and west, to the 

 Alleghanies, and northeast, the lands are high and 

 rolling. The valleys are of limestone, the hills of 

 gray rock, blue slate, and red soil, generally. On 

 the valley lands large crops of w r heat and corn are 

 produced, with many cattle. Lime is relied on 

 as the great fertilizer. These lands vary in price 

 with their accessibility. Generally, when distant 

 from the cities, the improved valley lands are val 

 ued at from $30 to $80 per acre the hill lands at 

 about a third less. This region abounds in turn 

 pikes and railroads. Near the large towns, the so 

 ciety is good, and distant therefrom, the people are 



