Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1859-03-16
For the Spirit of the Age.
Letter from Texas. :. .
"OrT WEsT" Feb 18th 1850.

DEAR SPIRIT " Ou cannot tnlnk nave !
the cacoethes seribendi, as Ihave4ot Writ
ten you a single line within five months. |
My last came out in print in due. time,
and | thought then that | would occasion |
ally drop you few words from this bourne
whence few travellers returns. but one
sling and another pseVented. ! can't say
a press of business has done it, because we
take the world as easily out here and are
as contented as Diogones in his tub. 1t is
truly refreshing to get out here, far away
from the noise of the world, where we can
take a long breath, and view the world as
it moves along.
But Judging the future by the past, a
few years hence will find this portion of
terra frnoa no longer on the borders, but
in the midst of civilization. The great Pa
cifc Railroad is destined, we think, to pass
through this section. The Central Road
from Houston is coming up as fast as men
can bring it. And already the Overland
Mail Route is open, and stages are dashing
along it twice week. Emigration is
pouring in by thousands, and westward
the star Of empire takes It's way"
Texas is a great country, and as nigh
ty giant running the race for empire. It
possesses all the elements for nationality,
and has variety of soil, adapted to the
cultivation Of every product grown in the
United States. Cotton, sugar, wheat, &c,
are raised in great abundance. Of cotton
and sugar | may speak in future commu-
nications: in this propose to speak OF the
culture of wheat, as | live within the great
wheat region of Northern Texas. | have
Just risen from the perusal of an article OH
wheat culture, published in the last Texas
Almanac, and written by gentleman Of
this State, whose ideas of wheat raising are
so good that | would like to spread them
before your readers, so that should any
Carolinian who intends removing west,
read them, he may come here and see for
himself before he settles elsewhere. But
the article is too long, and | must content
myself with few hints which | write
down almost verbatim.
The whole wheat region as far as yet
-AAualanaa- axtands from 3l1y and 80 de-
greeS or North fcttre,rvt0- 20. he,l AeI' g
including 2 or p degrees of latitude
and reaching from the Goth to the 99th
degrees Of longitude. The district best
adapted to its growth, making the larges
yield, producing the best grain, and afford
ing the surest crop, lies between the 32no
and 35th parallels, and is confined to tn
prairie countries. Farmers as yet take bu
little pains in it's cultivation. 1t IS care
lessly put in the ground, without previou
preparation, and is left until it ripens.-
When proper attention shall be given t
its culture and the varieties best adapte
to the country shall be introduced, we ma
look for largely increased yields. 1t
sown from the 1st Sept, to the lst Nov
and sometimes even later. One hand
every 25 acres, only from one month
six weeks in the year, is required. So yo
6 see thgt the farmer is scarcely interfere
: within bis other field labors.
q Wheat grows luxuriantly through Wi
y ter, afording the finest pasturage for stoc
: Pasturage is great benefit in more ths
. one respect, and is absolutely necessa
: to the safety of the crop, When permi
. ted to grow up, the frosts in the latter pa
of March and early part of April, som
~ times destroy the entire crop. Grazll
retards the growth and truly prevents t
frost killing it. One hundred acres W
" support one hundred head of stock frc
u December to the 18th Of March, keepi
them fat through the worst part of wint
u until the grass rises in the prairies in
# Spring.
~ The usual harvesting season is from
~ first to the last of May, and is cut aim
~ ~ wholly by reaping machines, A man W
~ would attempt to cut wheat out here W
:; a North Carolina "cradle," would be S
;. pected eff being akin to Doesticks' friend
- A Damphooi! We have new flour nj
~ ufactured and ready for market from
~ - 10Th Of May to the 1st of June, which
: six weeks in advance OF Northern
bo Western flour. Thus we have great
- vantage over all wheat-growing regie
:, and can monopolize the trade several we
,sa and command the highest prices.
! But am running this letter to an
ave pardonable length, and must beg in,
IN gence of your readers. / am glad to
40 your friends, dear Spirit, rallying arc
~ ~ Won in the good old cause Of tempera
~ oto May your little bark, laden with reso
"oo p warriors, still float on towards the have
~ success! Surely the good people OF n
~, Carolina will not permit the only tenn
W. ance paper in the State to die ont for '
,;tb M of patronage. Why even the ladies'
Pnt bless their lovely hearts.-ought to su'
anv that paper which so signally advo'
= the cause of woman; and truly the ga
ron ~ try and chivalry of the yonng men
,,,r hope of the nation-will not let the i
hon outdo them in building up journal "
wages war of determination against
r foe which has ruined the hopes of M
= youth and certainly the old men VII
pom orally contribute to put a newspaper
may the hands of their children which te
oxen morality and sobriety; and the Chur
Jury one man should unite to scatter bros
duty over the State that paper which II
the ingly fights the enemy that dethrone
lsible son, which Mr.. Locke beautifully .des
to his as sthe cause of the Lord shining
none man" And so | might go on ad
he So tam, to prove that it would be