Southern Maryland Farming
Originally from: Letters from Linden
Date: November – December 2010 & January 2011
Southern Maryland Farming
Low prices prompt call for change, January 1887
“Dunkirk, Calvert County, Md., Jan 21. The low price of farm products, while it has had a very depressing effect upon farmers in Calvert, has had the effect also of arousing them to the fact that it has become absolutely necessary to so modify their mode of farming and the routine of crops as to give more attention to the raising of stock and other resources. For a number of years tobacco has monopolized the best energies of the farmers of Calvert, with other Southern Maryland counties, and other resources of a farm which might be made profitable have been neglected. For a number of years the pork-raising industry has been allowed to decline, and not sufficient cattle are raised to supply beef for home use. The raising of sheep has almost entirely been neglected of late years, and usually if an additional team is needed on the farm, horses have frequently to be bought in the city. This state
of things has been brought about by the good prices tobacco has usually commanded, and it was thought best to raise all the tobacco possible, even if other matters on the farm were neglected. The low price of tobacco now makes a change in this mode of farming imperative, and the opinion that first of all a farm should be self-supporting is obtaining daily recognition.”
“Farmers are now beginning to lay their plans with this object in view, and horses, cattle, hogs and sheep will again be raised with a view of supplying the needs of the farm, and more interest will be taken in the introduction of improved grades when thoroughbred stock cannot be obtained. The fact is patent that a Southern Maryland farmer can raise almost everything on his farm that his family needs except groceries and clothing. These articles are already low, and the outlook is that they will be lower than ever if the tariff laws are readjusted to suit the needs of the country, and the farmer can well afford to buy these necessaries with the smaller profits of the farm, leaving what tobacco can be raised clear of expense except the actual hire of labor.”
“As an encouragement to renewed activity on the farm, the agricultural fair, held at Dunkirk last fall under the auspices and management of the Enterprise Club, was felt throughout this entire section of the State, Anne Arundel, Prince George’s, Charles and St. Mary’s participating with Calvert in its exhibition of stock and farm produce. It is now proposed to buy permanent agricultural fair grounds at Dunkirk, and fit them up for annual exhibitions of vegetables, farm produce and stock, and for this purpose an effort is being made to form a stock company, with a capital of three thousand dollars. The shares are placed at ten dollars, with a limit of ten shares. At a recent meeting of the Enterprise Club it was ordered that the corresponding secretary, J. E. W. Taneyhill, notify the following gentlemen that they are requested to solicit subscribers to this enterprise for the encouragement of agriculture: Dunkirk, J. N. Jones, treasurer of the Enterprise Club; Huntingtown, V. C. Cox; Bristol, Anne Arundel county, Henry Hopkins; Friendship, Anne Arundel county, J. T. Hutchins; Chaneyville, F. L. Grahame; Prince Frederick, J. P. Briscoe; Wallville, T. B Turner; Plum Point, J. G. Roberts; Solomon’s Island, W. H. Hellen.”
SOURCE: Baltimore Sun, 22 Jan 1887.
www.NewsInHistory.com
