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peake bay. It is about twenty-eight miles long, from east to
west, and about ten miles broad, from north to south.

The soils are of the usual varieties found on the peninsula,
but is mainly composed of the white oak, red clay, and, in
some places, of sandy soils. The capacity of each of these varie-
ties for quick and permanent improvement has been very
thoroughly proven, as in no county in the State has greater
progress been made in agricultural improvement than in this.
Much of this has been accomplished by the use of the do-
mestic manures, as oyster shell lime, shell and green sand
marl. These, applied with a knowledge and skill scarcely
equalled anywhere, and nowhere excelled in the country, by
a numerous class of well educated farmers and fruit growers,
have placed this county in the front rank (if not the very
first) of those excelling in agricultural improvement. With
these, and these alone, the productions of crops have been
doubled on many farms in a single year, whilst the perma-
nent value of the land has been increased an hundred per
cent.

The land produces grass and wheat, Indian corn, and all
the staple crops, and is especially celebrated for its fruit pro-
ductions—particularly of peaches. The soil on the Sassafras
and many parts of the Chester river is a light sandy loam,
in, many places highly colored with per oxyde of iron, and of
the nature best adapted to fruits—which are one of the most
valuable productions of the county. During the season many
steamers are devoted daily to its transportation.

There are many valuable deposits of marl in this county,
both of shell marl and of the green sand variety, with occa-
sional combinations of the two, with the addition of notable
quantities of sulphate of lime (gypsum, or plaster of Paris.)
These have, in numerous instances, demonstrated their value
as cheap, quick and permanent fertilizers.

Its waters abound in fish of the finest qualities, with im-
mense flocks of wild duck, geese, swan, &c., and immense
oyster beds. These not only supply the resident population,
"but give active and valuable employment to a large number
of persons who take them for exportation.

The face of the county is gently rolling, and naturally for
the most part well drained. This county has all the climatic,
hygienic, and social advantages in an eminent degree which
distinguish the State.

A reference to the geographical boundaries of the county
will show its admirable advantages for transportation. On
its northern border is the Sassafras river, an arm of the
"bay, navigable for steamboats for its whole length. On the
west is the Chesapeake bay, giving direct communication
across its waters to Baltimore, and by means of the Tide-wa-
ter canal to Philadelphia and the northern cities. On its