71

the higher branch of our legislature, who with just pride can
point to successful results in proof of the truth of measures

designed for agricultural improvement frequently in advance
gpaeral public opinion.

CAROLINE COUNTY.

The next county to Queen Anns' in order is Caroline
county lying adjacent to the State of Delaware. It is bounded
.on the north by Queen Ann's, on the south by Dorchester, on
the east by Delaware, and on the west by Tuckahoe creek
sand the Choptank, by which it is separated from Talbot

county.

The soils of this county comprise the usual varieties of the
tide-water region, and principally consist of sandy loams,
with a sub-soil of red or yellow clay of variable strength,

sandy and white oak soils. These latter are found in great
excellence in the lower part of the peninsular formed by
Tuckahoe creek and the Choptank river, the sandy soils for the
aaost part lay between the Choptank river and the Delaware
Line, whilst the sandy loajos principally occupy that section

which lies between the Choptank river and the Delaware line,
alternating to some extent with the white oak soil. Shell
marl of good quality is found in the neighborhood of Denton,
the county town, and in some other parts of the country.
The face of the country is slightly rolling, naturally well
drained. The usual variety of staple crops, fruits and vege-
tables are here produced in great perfection, the climate and
soil being very admirably adapted to the production of the
latter, at an early period of the season, and in great excel-
lence. Much advance has been made of late years in the cul-
tivation and improvement of the soil, and, as a consequence,
the price of land has rapidly advanced, but is yet very far
from reaching its real intrinsic value.

Its facilities for navigation embrace both those of rapid and
cheap transportation; the former by the Delaware railroad,
which, entering at the northern part of the county, progresses
through its northwestern part, and emerges from it into Tal-
bot county, at Hillsboro'; and the latter, that is tide-water
navigation, by means of the Tuckahoe creek from Hillsboro'
and the Choptank river from Greensboro', where the Mary-
land and Delaware Railroad passes in the northern part of
the county to its extreme southern border. No part of the

county is more than three, or four miles from the railroad or
navigable water, and has a choice of markets by the former
to Philadelphia and by the latter to Baltimore and all parts

of the country.