104 MONTHLY JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURE. 



Answer. Limo is but liltle used on limestone land, and where used, the effect has not 

 been very decided, probably from its imperfect apjilication — to a veiy small extent. On free 

 stone and slate lands it is used with more marked benefit. 



3d. " Is gypsum or plaster much used — in what way applied, and in what quantity — and 

 vnth what effect, in public opinion, in its action on the crop or the laud ? " 



Answer. It is extensively used, generally Ijy itself, and at the rate of a bushel to the acre 

 — sometimes in combination with leached ashes in the proportion of 1 to 2. It is apjilied, 

 most commonly, to clover ; sometimes to corn in the hill — generally at planting ; some faim- 

 ers harrovi' it in witli wheat with good effect : its benefit is most decidedly perceived on. 

 clover — the great restorer and fertilizer of our lands. Some fanners have supposed that af- 

 ter a period of use it (ails to produce its general effect ; others seem to think that — ffom its 

 stimulating property or other cause — it, in many cases, leaves the soil either exliausted, or less 

 adapted to successful cropping of wheat. This opinion, however, is but limited ; for plaster 

 and clover are the maiu substitutes, in the County, for direct manure in maintainmg the fer- 

 tility of our lands. Gypsum is now abundant and cheap — costing at the Railroad depot from 

 four to five dollars per ton. 



4th. " Have your lands generally increased or diminished, within the last twenty or thirty 

 years, in the average produce of wheat and coni — and what is the average through the 

 County ? " 



Ansicer. It would be safe to say they had generally increased ; the portions, however, of 

 the County then in fresher cultivation have doubtless diminished in many cases in their pro- 

 ducts. There is a perceptible improvement in farming of late years. The limestone por- 

 tion of Frederick County embraces from 60,000 to C5,000 acres ; its average of wheat may- 

 be set down at ten bushels, and of com about five barrels to the acre. 



Sth. "What is the price of your best lands — middling-sized and large farms ? " 



Ansiccr. A farm of 250 to 300 acres of good limestone land, reasonably improved and con- 

 venient to market, will command from $35 to $50 per acre. Larger tanns are at a rate from 

 .15 to 20 per cent. less. 



6th. " Does or does not the Valley suffer more than formerly with drouth — and is there 

 not a general falling-off in the volume and constancy of your springs and spring branches ?" 



Answer. From the clearing of woodland, and the more general tillage of the County, it is 

 reasonable to suppose that the water coming from tlie clouds is more rapidly carried oft" to 

 the large streams: and it may be that some of the smaller springs may have disappeared, 

 and, to a small extent, the spring branches may have consequently diminished — but there is 

 Bcarcely any farm called a " dry farm " now that was not in the same condition thirty years 

 ago ; and our springs, almost without exception, still retain then- constancy and remarkable 

 copiousness. 



7th. " Are oxen used to any considerable extent in the plow, and might they not be more 

 generally substituted for horses in that sort of farm labor 1" 



Answer. Oxen are not used at all for plownng — they are considered too slow and not 

 adapted to the broken character of our soil in many places, nor to the kind of hands they 

 •would generally have to be managed by. They ai'e used for drudge work on a great many 

 farms. In general farra-work"the mule is somewhat used in addition to the horse — the main 

 reliance of our farmer iis the beast of labor. 



8th. " Is the horse-rake in general use ? " 



Answer. It is, in making hay, and frequently \vith gi'eat benefit in the harvest field — imme- 

 diately following the hands, in many cases. 



9th. " What wheat-thresher is most used and approved ? " 



Anstver. The six-horse spike-machine of various forms and constructions — recently a 

 threshing and cleanmg machme (combined) seems to attract much attention and is getting 

 into use. 



10th. " Are your fanners gettin" in the way of cutting their wheat by machmery — and if 

 not, why have machines been used and found wanting — ruidin what ? " 



Answer. Our farmers use reaping-machines to a very limited extent — nor are they likely 

 to employ them much. The not unfrequent limestone ledges and other inequalities of our 

 lands seem to forbid the complete benefit of the reapin.g-machine, uidess accompanied in 

 places -with the cradle. The defect in those introduced is mainly found in their not complete- 

 ly cutting the grain unless standing very favorably — but especially iu not foi'ming the sheaf 

 regidarly and in fair arrangement. -- ' 



11th. "What are the usual wages given for white farm hands — what is the average al- 

 lowance in provisions, especially meat to working negio hands, day by day, through the 

 year ? " 



Answer. White hands are not to be obtained with readiness — their wages are from $7 to 

 $10 per month, with board. The wages of negro men by the year are from $50 to $75 — the 

 allowance in meat, when particularly distributed, which is rare, may be fiom one-half to one 

 pound — but with an abundance of vegetables the experience of one of our farmers has found 

 tlie first quantity to be sufficient. 



Thus have we the opinion of one of the most judicious farmers resident within. 



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