Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1860-05-02
1fs Sfaqaara.
Letter from Mai. John T. Gilmore.
CONCLUDED FROM FOURTH rAeE.)

AuuHWf " AooPIty ScoW PuFe-LNc DoC" F"
Cusasm-lNule HoQf Kog-Sour Lake-Nneral
Watas-Ant Hills Cold Weather Gamc-Lco-
parl -Bear- Panther or Meriean Lion-I6er-
Wol,es-WiI Cat Catamount-Meeican Hog
Scorpion Spider-Prdnie Dog-Capt. SLAMS
tury's Report Bishop Pierces Letttr--4gricul-
ta,al Fair in Observation-Disclosures address
Scamp Lands an the Counties near tile {
Fur-Railroaa to the Coalaelds W
Tn one of the counties above = :.
in our State Many &c Witch have sect
which have abov- >. che Remaining grasses to
but not bavi. -afidsa are considered excellent,
oelled e seeh identified by name, am COM
h. - PASS them over. In addition to these,
"a are a few coarse grasses, which are common
eese and In n c. also. Of all the grasses howev-
Vi, which have attained the highest reputation in
the State. would mention the Meskeet which pre-
walls chiefly 10 western Texas of which there are
two varieties, If not more. The Meskeet grows
generally from twelve to eighteen inches high, and
has a grain very similar to the oat though not so
large This grass either dry or green is excellent
Tor stock fhaa Running Meskeet called also the
!jonted McSkcet and sometimes the curly Meskect
is likewise very superior grass, and excellent food
FOR stock, whether used in green or dry state. In
fact It is SAID to be nutritious when dry. 1t
Is short grass, and does not generally attain the
hight of six or eight inches. Both these grasses
ern confines of the State. 1t is upon these the
Buffalo grass and some others that emigrants in
that region depend for supply of food for their
stock. The dryness of the climate allows these
grasses to cure in their places and remain without
depreciation until it rains in which event vegeta.
ton is renewed, and thus a sufficient supply OF
food for stock is always on hand. Some few spots
of ground in this section of the State now being
set with this latter grass 1t is thought by many
that it has been brought hither by the cattle. The
people here appreciate it very much, and are desi-
rous of its propagation. Although very short
grass it is known to be very nutritious, ana is pos
sessed of that great and overruling merit, capac
ty to resist the hoof and not thread out" 1t will
maintain its ground even upon travelled road. 1t
receives the various names have mentioned be-
cause it is running grass, has many joints from
which it puts forth roots and when the blades dry
I'D they present curley appearance 1t resembles
very much that which is known i'll some localities
as the Bermuda grass, in Cumberland and Ilarnett
Us the Cane grass and in your county, the Wire
grass; which last think is decidedly misnomer,
and am of opinion would be so decided by any Ag-
ricultural society. Because We have in our State
another grass bearing the same name, from which
br0oms and baskets arc manufactured, and whose
stem resembles very much the article from which
its name is derived. I viii, however, adjonrn this
question until see you.
From what have already said elsewhere, it may
now perhaps, appear useless to repeat that cotton
is the staple production of this section of the State
There are many different kinds of cotton planted
here but that in most general is the Petit Gulf
When in Raleigh, Mr. Fab. Huchins asked me toseect
him some cotton seed have, therefore, procured
some for him, and some likewise for Bledsoe, of the
same sort, which, for the want of better name, |
shall denominate the Trinity Cotton. l made this
selection because l believed it best adapted to our
climate. 1t does not grow tall the Petit Cult
but bears very full and has good staple. It. how
ever does not stand the drought of this country
well as those kinds of cotton which have fewer bos
but inasmuch as it does rain in Wake sometimes, at
least that objection will be removed. We have had
several good varieties of in State heretofore
but they were soon allowed to run out and this
mark applies with equal force to many other articles
of production. When the cotton begins to open,
those stalks should be selected which bear the great
est impress of purity, and the seed selected from
these should be planted to themselves In addition
to this, sufficient supply Of seed should be kept
on hand SO as to plant every other year, that is, the
seed raised in the fall of 1860 should be planted in
the spring of 1862, ard so on. This process con-
tinued annually will preserve them in their purity
and render new importatOns Of seed quite unneces.
sary. Without this they must degenerate. l gath.
cred most of this cotton myself in order 70 obtain
the seed IN their original purity, and should my
two friends fail to give it fair trial and good atten
ton, you may bet your "bottom dollar" I'll gather
no more cotton seed for them. My old friend John
Hutchins said to me one day that he would like to
have cotton which would not fall out of the boil
but remain until he was ready to pick it. sug
gested that perhaps it might be better if it would
also jump into the basket, but he said it would bt
quite sufficient il it would only wait until he SEN
the basket round. So whilst | was here and my
hand was in, determined to accommodate him also
l have therefore, got cotton which is said, b,
those who plant it, to grow of good size to bea
well and to have fine staple. That it will demand
cent per pound more than any other upland cot
ton and that the winds OF this country will mo-
blow out. In fact that you may let the first ant
last boil ripen, and when you send round to picl
the cotton you will find it all there think this
coming quite up to his mark. But make it rul
to take everybody's opinion, and l find that thos
who do not plant this cotton swear they would no
have it at all. Whilst they admit everything hav
said in relation to it above and especially its capac
ity to resist the wind they say in the energeti
language Of the country that you can scarcely blow
it out with double-barrel gun. Thus you see ther
are two sides to every question, even in Texas
However, have got this seed, and if my good oil
friend is not suited it will be his fault certainly no
mine
have seen it stated in we'll authenticated writing
based upon tradition, that the devil was once an IN
habitant of Spain That after having devoted thre
months to the study of the Basque language, h
made failure; whereupon, presume, he quit tina
country and settled in Texas, which, at that time
was department Of Mexico and the latter colo
Of Spain. Having resided here for long time, i
various places, he was finally driven out by tn
Texans And as most persons, in leaving acountry
are unable to carry off all their goods and chatte
and especially when driven out in haste, SO it wa
with him. whereupon he left behind MIN several
his pin cushions. As he was never known to sligf
his work, they are always abundanty provided wit
pins and needles, and wo be unto the man who pu
his foot thereon. Travellers, from time to time, i
passing over these vast praries have OCCASIONAL
found them, and although low in statue, are still
sfourishing condition, and standing forth as vege
able monuments of skill and ingenuity. pluckt
the seed from one of these which are herewith e
closed. Give five to Fab. Hutchns, five to Bledso
five to Sylvester Smith, FIVE to Wilson, and keep Il
balance yourself Whatever may be thought Of tn
matter by some feel assured it will be properly
preciated by Wilson and yourself; for, if mistal
not there is attached to your establishment Il
printers devil, or the devils printer, and see
sensible reason why there should not be min Gus