25

Georgetown, we have seen, is easily reached by railroad and
water, within a few hours, from all parts of this division.
The same is true of Alexandria, and Annapolis and Balti-
more A steamboat canal (the Chesapeake and Delaware)
connects the Chesapeake and Delaware Bays, offering every
facility for the transportation to Philadelphia and New York
of the fruits and vegetables to supply their markets much
earlier and easier raised here than anywhere else from which
these cities can obtain a supply. For, remember, we have
here a better garden soil and an earlier climate than is found
in the neighborhood of these cities. We have at the very
threshold of this section very large, populous and growing
cities; all ready, and constantly increasing, consumers of its
various agricultural products, with a certain, safe, quick
and cheap conveyance to their markets, with no chance of
future competition; the population, the consumers of this
division are increasing with unparalelled rapidity, but the area
to supply them must remain stationary. What then, must be
the result but an immense increase in the value of its farm-
ing, marketing, garden and floral lands?

STAPLE PRODUCTIONS OF LAND AND WATER.

These are wheat of fine quality, Indian corn, rye, oats,
tobacco, buckwheat. The Sorghum flourishes here also
in great perfection. The cultivated grasses are, clover, tim-
othy, rye grass, herd grass, all growing in great perfection,
and besides these there are many indigenous grasses which
afford almost all the year a good pasture for cattle and other
stock.

The market and garden vegetables are, onions, cabbages,
peas, carrots, parsnips, tomatoes, asparagus, turnips, cauli-
flower, egg-plant, oyster-plant, beans, peppers, Irish and
sweet potatoes of great excellence. The finest watermelons,
musk melons and canteleupes, and many others, too numer-
ous to mention. All of these embracing many varieties, suita-
ble for early, medium and late planting, grow in the first
degree of perfection.

The fruits are, peaches, apples, pears, apricots, nectarines,
strawberries, grapes, plums, figs, pomegranates, and many
others of all varieties, giving an abundant supply from the
earliest part of the season to the latest; and I have frequent-
ly seen contrasted the apple which had been kept through
the winter with one fresh plucked from the tree.

The grape vine flourishes most exceedingly well here, as a
prioria, might be known from the soil and climate.
I have, as a general thing, seen better fruit and vegetables
here on the table of the farmers and planters of Maryland
than is shown and rewarded by prizes in the Exhibitions
North and West of us; and we have very many here which