330 



FARMERS' REGISTER, 



[No. 6 



Goose 

 Duck 



Dung-hill fowl 

 Pork, per lb. 

 JBeef 

 Mutton 

 Veal 

 Butter 

 New cheese 



Answer to query seventh. — There is a very 

 great iron market at York; you may estimate the 

 ton of wrought iron there 26Z. — and iron of a simi- 

 lar quality will command the same sum at Cham- 

 bersburg. 



Answer to query the eighth. — I herewith s'we 

 you a list of taxes laid upon the count}- of York 

 since the becinning of the revolution, but they are 

 all nearly discharged, and no new land-tax has 

 been assessed by the state since the establish- 

 ment ol the general government. Pennsylvania 

 has a considerable demand against the ireneral 

 government, and has a surplus revenue after paj'- 

 ing all the debts, which is intended to be applied 

 to the improvement of roads and naviijation — no 

 land tax is expected to be levied by the state. 



N. B. — The demand of Pennsylvania against 

 the general government, is not yet ascertained. 



List of taxes laid upon Vnrk county by the Com- 

 monioealth of Pennsylvania. 



During the war, there were a kw instances 

 where some additional taxes were laid upon non- 

 jurors ornon-associators in the militia. A rate of 

 sixpence per pound upon personal property," will 

 in general, be more than sufficient to pay the 

 county-tax. The road and poor tax will not come 

 so high. 



By the laws of the union we pay a duty upon 

 foreign importations, and an excise on vvine and 

 spirits of all kinds. He thai drinks must pay. 



Franklin county may be nearly in the same 

 condition as to taxes. From the foregoing state- 

 ments, it must appear that this county, from cli- 

 mate, soil, and situation, is favorable to agriculture. 

 The hand of industry, with a 2;ood system, is only 

 wanting to bring it to perfection, I imagine that 

 if our farmers were to cultivate fewer acres, and 

 attend them well, they would succeed better ; a 



greater regard should be had to collecting proper 

 manure. 



I have given you my sentiments respecting the 

 two counties, and shall be ready, during the win- 

 ter to grant any further assistance in my power. 

 I am with the greatest respect. 

 Your most obedient and most humble sen'ant, 

 The President of the United States. 



Sir : 



Frederic, Maryland, November 10, 1791. 



After many endeavours for assistance, in answer- 

 ing your inquiry into the afrriculture, &c. of Mont- 

 gomery, Frederic, and Washington counties, I 

 was obliged to rely principally upon my own ob- 

 servations and conjectures ; lor, as very lew mea- 

 sure their fields or produce, it is mere guess work, 

 and they commonly think and speak the best of 

 their own affairs. 1 wish my conjectures had more 

 certain foundation than they have, yet I flatter 

 myself they will mislead no body to his injury ; they 

 certainly are not calculated for that purpose. 

 I have the honor to be. 



With the jrreatest respect, 



Your most obedient servant. 

 The President. 



Montgomery County, Maryland. — The land in 

 general, is what may be called with us of mid- 

 dling or rather inferior quality — it produces well 

 when fresh cleared, but soon declines. It will sell 

 according; to quality, improvements, and the pro- 

 portion left in wood, from 22.s. Qd. to 51. an acre — 

 it has been very generally tendedthe first two year.? 

 in tobacco, the third in Indian corn, and sown 

 down in wheat. As common throughout the state, 

 the tobacco is planted three feet distance each way, 

 and the corn about six ; so that it has become a 

 general estimate, that 4800 tobacco plants, or 1200 

 corn hills, take up an acre. The produce of to- 

 bacco is so various, as from four to ten plants to 

 the pound, nor is that of Indian corn more certain. 

 Such land as I have described, may be expected 

 to yield for the first four crops, according to the 

 seasons, a pound of tobacco for every six or seven 

 plants planted, for some will fi:iil. From 15 to 20 

 bushels of Indian corn, and from nine to 12 bushels 

 of wheat, to the acre. Afterthis destructive course, 

 the land is often again planted the next year with 

 Indian corn, and sown down again with wheat or 

 rye, without any assistance. The crops accord- 

 inglj' le.^sen, till the land becomes so exhausted 

 that its produce scarcely pays fiir the ploughing. 

 If the land was well cleared, and a crop of wheat 

 well put in, in the first instance, I have no doubt 

 but the yield micrht be from 12 to 20 bushels an 

 acre, and sometimes more. I judge, that from half" 

 to two-thirds of Montgomery county is cleared — 

 a good deal of it is much impoverished, or, as we 

 call it, worn out, thouch a great proportion of it lies 

 well, and very little of it sandy — so that it is capa- 

 ble of improvement. This county is, in general, 

 plentifully watered with good springs and small 

 streams. Very little hay is made in it, though 

 there might be a good deal of watered meadow. 

 Georsje Town, a good port for shippinjr, in this 

 county, has for some years past, been the best 

 market for tobacco in the state, perhaps in Amer- 

 ica ; and the Montgomery tobacco is in hiffh rep- 

 utation. The labor of the people has therefore 

 been, I may say, wholly applied in the cultivation 



