360 Transactions of tee American Institute. 



in the mountiiins, the limestone region nearer the sea, and the 

 lower or tide-water country on either shore of the Chesapeake Bay. 

 With respect to fertilizers, he spoke of the marls of Maryland, and 

 said after repeated analysis he was satisfied they were in general 

 equal and superior to those of New Jersey. They have both the 

 green sand and the shell marl. Some of these shell marls are very 

 rich in potash and phosphoric acid. In places the variety of marls 

 was such that a farmer who understands their use can make just 

 such a soil as he wants; if he needs potash, he can get a marl that 

 has fifteen per cent of it; if his land requires lime, magnesia or 

 phosphoric acid, there are reservoirs of these fertilizing substances 

 in the earth beneath his acres or near at hand. The lands of Anne 

 Arundel county were described at some length; the li^ht sandy 

 soils with an out-crop, of good red clay, admirably adapted to 

 vegetables and early fruits, the white oak soils capable of high 

 development, and the West and South River lands, first among the 

 first class lands of the State for productiveness and value. The 

 farms of his county are not large, varying from three hundred to 

 eight hundred acres. The light sandy soils of this county can be 

 purchased at from five to thirty dollars, the white oak, at from ten 

 to sixty, and the most valuable farms of South and West River at 

 from sixty to a hundred and twenty. 



A member of the Club here inquired if these prices were 

 attached to improved lands with buildings and other improve- 

 ments ? 



Dr. Higgins. — I thank the gentleman for the inquiry. Yes, the 

 improvements are included. We have not generally built many 

 barns in that part of Maryland, as our winters ai*e mild, and we 

 have found it best to thresh our wheat in the fields as soon as dry, 

 without hauling and storing: under shelter. 



The Eastern Shore lands were also described as affording: irood 

 fruit and vegetable farms, easy of access, and with ready trans- 

 portation to the cities of Washington, Baltimore and Annapolis. 

 These lands are now to be obtained at very low rates. 



In summing up the advantages aflforded by his State, Dr. Higgins 

 said: We have a season two months longer than you of New York, 

 so that eight full months are allowed by the climate for farm labors. 

 We have a city population of more than two millions M'ithin a half 

 a day's ride, who are certain to buy all the vegetables and fruits 

 of all kinds we can raise, at high prices. We have a coast line of 

 greater length than any other State of the size of Maryland, and 



