PROCEEDINGS OF THE FARMERS' CLUB. 175 



It is also equally important to look to climate and the condition of the 

 locality for health. If you should write to any county in Maryland for 

 information about buying a farm, you would be told that the locality was 

 decidedly healthy; yet it is certain that some parts of the State are not so, 

 particularly in the thirteen counties of tertiary formation. 



In the Eastern Shore counties, it is nccessar}' to be careful always to 

 build the dwelling upon the south side of streams or marshes, because the 

 south wind always comes loaded with miasma, and therefore a site is 

 always more healthy althoug-h upon low ground on the south side of a 

 stream, than it is tjpon the top of a hill on the north side. That side of the 

 State is very fine for Winter residences, but is subject to summer fevers. 

 In all situations, when the air is damp that the house sweats, it will be 

 loaded with miasma if there is any in the vicinity. It is certain that the 

 lower counties of this State are subject to chills and fever. The middle 

 aiid noithern counties, where primitive rock prevails, are as healthy as 

 other similar regions. In a section where bilious fevers are prevalent, all 

 H(juth or south-eastern windows and doors should be closed an hour before 

 sundown, and whenever the atmosphere is damp, fire should be lighted iu 

 tlie house, no matter what is the state of the thermometer. 



If you go to the State to select a farm, do not take the opinion of the 

 seller about the healthiness f)f the location. My practice is to go to the 

 graveyards, and look at the ages recorded upon the tombstones. In some 

 neighborhoods I have never been able to find one indicating that anybody 

 lived over ft)rty j-ears. I do not believe such a location is healthy. Do not 

 take the evidence of a single crop as the productiveness of land. I have 

 known men make e.Kertions to raise one large crop for the purpose of sell- 

 ing the farm. This can be done by guano or some other stimulating 

 manure. 



The aspect of a farm is important, not only for health but productive- 

 ness. I know farms where the wheat is ten days earlier upon the field 

 with a southern aspect, than in another which slopes toward the north, 

 and the earliest ripening is always the heaviest. I know situations where 

 grapes grown upon the south side of a hill will produce good wine, ■v/hile 

 lliose grown only a few rods distant upon ground with a northern aspect 

 aae only fit to make vinegar. 



The importance of having a deep, dry subsoil is proved by the fact that 

 tJie roots of wheat will penetrate eight feet deep. I have traced the roots 

 of sorrel three and a half feet, and well authenticated reports say that hop 

 roots have been traced iu England 20 feet deep. If the subsoil is impreg- 

 nated with peroxide of iron, as soon as the roots penetrate it they are killed, 

 and a conmion expression among farmers is, " My wheat has gone back." 

 It is simply because its roots have gone into a poisonous subsoil. !Much 

 (»f the State of Maryland needs underdraining. In the northern part there 

 is an abundance of stone; in the southern there is none; there tiles must 

 be used. 



Speaking ff the benefits of lime, Mr. Baer deprecated the use of that 

 which is air-slaked. Magnesian limestone, fresh burned, and slaked with 

 water saturated with salt, is ten times as valuable as lime in any other 

 Ibrra. The objection to air-slaked lime, or shell marl, is that it requires a 



