THE AGRICULTURAL FEATURES OF 

 MARYLAND 



FREDERICK H. BLODGETT 



Introductory. 



The type of building found upon the farms of a region is a char- 

 acteristic worth noticing, as it is directly related to the crops pro- 

 duced. On the tobacco areas of the Coastal Zone the best farm 

 buildings, aside from the houses, which are omitted in this dis- 

 cussion, are the tobacco barns. 



In the more severe climate of the Midland and Mountain Zones 

 it is necessary to have shelter for the animals as well as for the 

 main crop. And with the need of storage of fodder for winter use 

 added space is required. These two factors unite in making a type 

 of barn quite ■different from the one used in the tobacco areas. 

 Sheds and shelters for implements and for the smaller animals, such 

 as sheep and swine, are provided by thrifty farmers when needed, 

 and are of a rather uniform type. 



The tobacco barns are necessarily so built as to make possible the 

 easy ventilation needed for the curing of the crop. The shelter of 

 animals is a very secondary purpose, and is in many cases confined 

 to the horses or mules, a shed sufficing for the other stock. As wheat 

 displaces tobacco, the purpose of the barn changes, and where the 

 growing of wheat is important, a large barn structure is common, 

 usually in the form of a "bank bam:" This provides space within 

 for the unthrashed bundles and for the sacks of thrashed grain; for 

 hay; the more important machinery of the farm, and below a half 

 basement shelters the stock. 



For the benefit of those who are not familiar with the barns in 

 the central part of the State, the characteristics of the bank barn 

 may be mentioned. Ordinarily placed at the top or brow of a slop- 



