55

croscopic shells, is the very best article known for giving
superior polish to metallic surfaces. Large manufactories at
the North do a thriving business in preparing polishing ma-
terial for market from crude substances, which after all the
labor and skill bestowed on them, are still inferior to this in
its native state. The preparation and sale of this must
sooner or later become a valuable business. The means for
transportation which this county enjoys in addition to the
Baltimore and Washington railroad, already mentioned, is
by means of the Potomac tide-water navigation on its whole
western border, and the Patuxent tide-water navigation on
its eastern border from the northern part of Charles county
to Hill's Landing, nearly opposite the county seat Upper
Marlbro'. The river this far up being navigable for steam-
boats and schooners, whilst flat boats, scows, &c., run up to
Queen Anne, the head of tide-water, ten miles distant on the
Patuxent. The Baltimore and Potomac railroad, and the
Chesapeake and Potomac canal, already mentioned, will
afford additional facilities to a large part of this county and
greatly add to the value of its property.

THE MARYLAND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE.

An institution well endowed by individual liberality, in
addition to the patronage conferred en it by the State and
General Government, is located in this county, about three
miles distant from Bladensburg, eight from Washington and
about one mile from the College Station, on the Baltimore
and Washington railroad.

The main object of this institution is to teach the prin-
ciples and practice of agriculture and husbandry in all of its
branches.

With this end in view, an able board of trustees, com-
posed in great part of gentlemen of the highest intellectual
qualities and well versed in the art of agriculture, have pro-
cured a farm, where it is designed that all the operations
that pertain to agriculture, in its broadest sense, shall be
carried on in the most perfect form to serve as illustration of
the principles taught in academic part of the institution.
The natural sciences, particularly agricultural and analytic
chemistry are taught and their adaptation to agricultural
development made the object of special and particular instruc-
tion. Besides this the college course embraces English litera-
ture and a full course in the ancient and modern languages,
all that is taught in the highest grade of American colleges,
and a course of military tactics and science taught, and en-
forced by military discipline, similar to that law embraced in
the Military Academy at West Point.