45

These are the chief varieties of soils in the district of coun-
try which has been under consideration. There are many
other varieties, modifications and mixtures of the above, con-
fined to small localities, but all partaking in the general
merit—of easy cultivation, facility of improvement and con-
venience to market.

SOILS ON THE BALTIMORE AND WASHINGTON RAILROAD.

These are entitled to separate notice, as, unfortunately for
the reputation of our State, amongst strangers who merely
pass through it on the Railroad, they embrace all of the very
worst that can be found in the State, with a very slight mod-
icum of those which are even passably good. For the first
nine miles of the road from Baltimore to the Relay House,
the face of the country is pleasantly rolling, but for the most
part composed of tough, close, retentive clay, poor in produc-
tion and hard to work—suffering alike from too much water
in rainy and from drought in dry seasons; it was formerly,
and to a great extent is now owned in large tracts, whose
chief value consisted in the iron ore mined on it, which is of
first rate quality, and from the scrubby oak wood cut from
the surface. But few attempts have been made towards its
agricultural improvement. The texture and physical char-
acters of the soil being such as in a great measure to impede
the value of the nutrient substances existing in it. But even
here, where proper efforts have been made, great improve-
ment has taken place. A gentleman of energy, talent and
capital has purchased largely of it, and has been rewarded
with ample returns. Between the Patapsco and the Little
Patuxent River, the country is gently rolling, and though a
kinder soil than the one above mentioned, yet for the most
part, in its natural condition, is poor and unproductive ;
having been exhausted by long and improvident cultivation.
It, however, quickly responds to the proper means of improve-
ment,—has risen, and is now rapidly rising in value.

Between the Little Pautuxent and the Big Pautuxent, at
the Laurel Factory, there is an alternative of close compact
clayey soils and loose light gandy soils, in their natural con-
dition poor and unproductive, presenting anything but an
inviting appearance to the traveller. These soils, however,
will respond readily to means of improvements, and speedily
realize very propitious results.

Between the Big Pautuxent (Laurel) and the District Line,

the soils for the most part are of a close, poor clay—and very
poor and barren when unimproved. Yet, as has been dem-
onstrated, they at remunerative expense can be (for some of

them have been) made very productive.