40

The price of these lands very from five to ten dollars as to
their unimproved condition and locality, as a general rule
they are cheaper as we proceed down the bay, and sell for a
much less price in Dorchester, Somerset and Worcester, in
the order named than they do in Talbot, Queen Anne's and
Kent counties. There are large quantities of this variety of
soil more or less improved in this section, and its price
varies from twenty to one hundred dollars per acre, according
to degree of improvement and locality. Most of it lies di-
rectly on navigable water (the Chesapeake bay or its tributa-
ries) and thus first rate facilities are afforded for the obtaining
manures and the transmission of farm products to market by
speedy, cheap and easy routes. No more force being required
than is necessary properly to work the various crops to be
grown on it. These soils produce the finest quality of wheat,
both as to color and weight, which usually brings the highest
prices in our markets. With proper working and manuring,
wheat, indian corn, oats, grasses, fruits and vegetables, thrive
remarkably well and are good compensating eropi.

THE RED AND YELLOW CLAY Soius.

By the above term I include all of those soils having for
their bases red and yellow clay; the surface soil being various
as to its physical character, composed of sand of various de-
gress of fineness and more or less light in color, dependent
on the quantity of vegetable matter in it, and the quantity of
peroxide of iron, mixed with the soils. The surface soils ex-
tending to the depth of four or five inches, varies in the
above features from the causes assigned; but the sub-soil or
base of soils is remarkably uniform, being composed of red
or yellow clay of the kind that bricks are made of, and of dif-
ferent degrees of strength.

The color of the clay differs as we proceed Southward,
being more red in Cecil and Kent, than it is generally
found in the Southern counties, where it gradually as-
sumes a lighter color, approaching to a fawn color in Worces-
ter and Somerset counties, the strength and color of the clay
equally decline as we proceed Southerly in this section.

Deficiencies of the above Soils.

The surface soils overlying the clay are deficient as to tex-
ture and nutrient substances. Their mechanical or physical
texture is not good, and they are, moreover, generally deficient
in the nutrient substances, owing to improper cultivation and
neglect, they have become poor soils,

Mode of Rational Improvement.

Very happily this can be effected in a manner at once cheap
and expeditious, the sub-soils contain all that is necessary to