PROCEEDINGS OF THE FARMERS' CLUB. 101 



have no fear of an unwelcome reception. We have some fine farms for sale, 

 and will be glad to have you with us. A friend of mine lias a very good 

 farm for sale, the land is thin, but there is no better natural soil; it is situ- 

 ated about a quarter of a mile from Chester river, within fifteen minutes 

 ride of a steamboat wharf and grainery. It is in a fine, healthy neighbor- 

 hood with good neiglibors; there is a lime landing on the place, also a quan- 

 tity of red cedar. Such a farm can be purchased at from tliirty to thirty- 

 five dollars per acre, it being finely situated for grain, fruit or marketing 

 of any kind. There is a steamboat to and from Baltimore every day. 

 Should any friends wish to make inquiries concerning this or any other 

 place, I will gladly do all I can to aid them. 



Geo. W. Russum, Denton, Maryland: 



Gentlemen — My desire to contribute everything in my power to the 

 growth and prosperity of my native State will, I hope, be a sufficient 

 apology for the obtrusion of this letter as a response to tlie interrogatories 

 propounded in your hotter to Mr. Stockbridge, and by him published in the 

 Baltimore American of a late date. 



The first and second of that series can possibly be better answered by 

 Mr. Stockbridge than myself, and they doubtless have been already. Whilst 

 Mr. Stockbridge speaks of the convention and its purposes, it may not be 

 amiss that I should state so far as the people of tliis district, comprising all 

 the State east of the Chesapeake, are concerned, the prospect of an early 

 renioval of the curse of slavery from our State is as good as could be 

 wished. The^- are ready for it whenever the convention shall fix the time 

 for the operation of the new Constitution, which they hope will not be later 

 than October 1st, 1864. The convention has already- provided for the elec- 

 tion of olEcers under the new Constitution in November, which indicates 

 that the wishes of the people are to be faithfully executed by that body. 



To the third and fourth interrogations, I would reply that land can be 

 had in this section of the State at prices ranging from ten to sixty dollars 

 per acre. This will indicate pretty well which are the exhausted lands and 

 which are under good culture. 



To the fifth, as to the advantages of the eastern shore for agriculture and 

 horticulture, I reply that a/Z the. advantages, soil, climate and markets, are 

 in favor of the eastern shore. Its soil is easier cultivated, being clear of 

 stones, but few hills, and the season some week or ten days ahead of the 

 renpectable part of the western sh(n'e. 



()th. The facilities for reaching m irkets are excellent, the bay vessels 

 and steamers to Baltimore, to Philadelphia through the Chesapeake and 

 Delaware canal, and by Delaware railroad to Philadelphia and New York. 



7th. Considerable att(;ution has been given to fruit culture, and the ex- 

 perirr.ent has not oidy prtunise I well, but proven exceedingly remunerating. 



8th. You "Yankees," as you call yourselves, the bone and sinew of the 

 great and christian North, would be heartily welcomed by all true 3Iary- 

 landers. There is but one section of the State where it is likely there 

 would be an exception to that, viz., in the lower section of the western 

 shiire, known among loyal men as " South Carolina." I hope your Club 

 will send a deputation to this eastern shore to view its advantages and 



