350 



THE PLANT LIFE OF MARYLAND 



parted to the milk from the food, and the full benefit of the suc- 

 culent milk producing material will he received. 



The greatest development of the dairying industry is of course 

 in regions convenient to the large cities, where the milk can be de- 

 livered promptly by the railroads. The presence of towns of con- 

 siderable size in the central part of the State helps to distribute the 

 milk industry over a broader area. The natural pasturage which 

 prevails in the northern part of the State is an important factor 

 in the success of the dairy farmer. 



Fio. 15 Map of Maryland showing the relative Annual Production of Milk. 



The sale of milk removes comparatively little fertility from the 

 farm, as the chief components of milk are similar to those of green 

 plants ; i. e., water and carbon compounds which contain but little 

 ash or mineral matter. By keeping the other produce on the farm 

 for home consumption, the general fertility of one's land would in- 

 crease rather than decrease from time to time. 



Farm Animals. 



Through the region of firm soils which favor the dairy industry, 

 there is an accompanying line of agriculture closely related to it in 

 many ways, the feeding of beef cattle. It is the practice of many 

 farmers to buy cattle of the beef type in the fall, stall feed them 



