Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1860-05-02

with cisterns When this provision shall hSve been
made, good water, may be obtained ! ietrn that
cisterns are more numerous as you proceed west
In many places water for stock is deficient IN summer
and fall This difficulty is now being removed by
the establishment of tanks which is neither more
nor less than raising dam across rayine by which
the ranwater is held in this little pond tor the ben
eft of stock This water remains good throughout
the season. And here will say that the State OF
Texas is divided by the people into three divisions
besides those have already mentioned Eastern
Texas, extending from the Sabine to the Trinity
river; Middle Texas from the Trinity to the brasos,
and Western Texas, from the Brasos to the Kio
Grande. Whilst the importance OF so many dIvl-
sions might appear questionable at first view, es2e-
cialy as no other State in the Union contain more
than half that number, yet when you recoect that
it contains an area of 237 321 square miles being
more than four times the OF our own State, the
Importance of those divisions will be readily con-
coded. Eastern Texas contains less rich land than
the other divisions which have just named. The
soil in some places is prairie, in others sandy, and
in many places is supplied with short and long leaf
nine It is from these localities that lumber is OBJ
tanned for the supply of large portion of Middle
Texas. The water here is said to be generally bet
ter and more abundant than in the two remaining
divisions. In regard to diseases, would say that
chills and fevers in the summer and fall, Pneumonia
in winter are the most prevalent. Here as in other
places the typhoid fever prevails occasionally.
Middle Texas is said to contain much rcner SOIL
than the division of which have just spoken, espe-
cialy the cotton lands of the Brasos and its trbua
ries. some of which would of course be embraced in
the Western division l have heard these lands
spoken of as being equal at least, to any in the
State, and perhaps the same remark might be made
in relation to the bottom lands of some OF the rivers
farther west but have been in no condition to as
CERTAIN the fact. In regard to diseases, presume
that chills and fevers and pneumonia prevail in eve
nv division I have talked with several persons
who seemed familiar with the State, who say that
the timbered land occupies only about one-fourth
the area of the whole State; all the rest being prai
rie There is quite difference in the forest growth
of this State and our own-fully great there is
in soil and climate. As well as can learn Texas
has no poplar, sourwood, forkedleaf black jack nor
chestnut In fact this latter tree is said to be found
nowhere west of the Mississippi river. All of these
we have On the other hand Texas has the Mes-
keet, Rattama, Pecan Dwarf Plum, Burr Oak,
Usage Orange a species Of Haw, wild China, and the
wild Peach Tree none of which l believe are indi-
genous to our State. As intimated elsewhere, l
regard the first as beautiful tree, although every
one might not consider it so. The largest have
seen would compare in size with an apple tree, nor
do believe it ever attains much greater size. 1t
has bean from five to ten inches in length, resem-
bling somewhat in appearance the common fielG
pea, of which stock of all kinds are very fond, and
of which the Indians, by preparation, made very
which is very beautiful and have no hesitation in
saving would be admired by ALL Either of these
would be highly ornamental to the yard more so, l
think than any tree have seen either in your city
or mine for since have been here have learned
that Fayetteville is about being lighted up with gas
and as all the ancient distinctions in relation to cities
have been destroyed regard coal gas and railroads
as their only true and modern criteria. The Dwarf
Plum tree is from to s feet high and bears full of
fruit, which is not desirable for eating purposes,
but seems chiefly adapted to the taste of hogs and
deer by which it is eaten with great avidty. The
Burr Oak is large tree. and bears an acorn Of
great size. Of the remaining trees it is perhaps
unnecessary to speak, Beside these in southwestern
Texas, there are Ebony, Acacia, (Guisache) Brazil
wood, Lignum Vita-and in northwestern Texas,
here is the Dwarf Post Oak, from six to eighteen
inches in hight, bearing acorns in great abundance.
If you will not consider it too great a descent,
will here mention another article of growth, but
which belongs entirely to the water 1t is called in
this section the Youkapin. in Kansas the Nocanut,
and in Florida the Bonnet Acorn or acorn of the
water Lilly. It sprouts at the bottom of pond
and continues its growth until it has reached the
urface of the water Its limitation in this particu
ar is not we'll defined. for it has been known to
row eight or ten feet high, and it is believed would
TOW much higher, if necessary, to attain the top
# the water. Its stem is about half an inch in d.
meter, and has flower or the top which gives
,ace to a burr which is smooth upon its upper sur
ace, and divided into cells of about fifteen or TWEEN
in number, in each of which there is q nut in ap
,earance and taste very much like the chinQuapin
'ut with a shell much harder. As 1T ripens the
,urr turns down and the nuts finally fall out sink
the bottom, and are ready for the next years
;rowth This plant was quite a curiosity to me
.,asmuch as bad never seen anything of the kinG
heretofore, nor do believe it is to be found any
where in our State. do not consider this section
f the State good country for fruit l have seer
MT few orchards Of either Apple or Peach trees
he latter appeared decidedly the better of the two
ior do regard this country as by any means equa
our own in the production of domestic grapes
IT is true the for fruit had passed before
rival; l therefore judge only from what can SCI
md what can learn from others in relation to thu
.ine 1t is, however, worthy of remark, that pub
attention has not been directed to its culture, no
it likely to be- so long as the culture Of cotton il
roftable and the price Of labor high. Yet hav
! card it stated upon good authority, that west o
| mis- an excellent wine has been manufactured from
ne Mustang grape. find grape vines very plent.
! the woodland, and where they have not beef
verrun by the fire they attain good size. Their
re said to be four kinds of grapes here. The Mus
ing grape, which is in clusters upon the vine an
cry unpleasant to the taste; it ripens early IT. tn
ummer. The most common is the Post Oak grape
which bears in lunches; this is said to be decided
y better for eating than the Mustang. Next is tn
ommon bunch grape, which ripens also in the sun
her, and for eating purposes is preferable to al
LAST, is the winter grape, such as We have in on
wn State. will also mention, that in certain Il
alities the bulls and the muscadine are said to b
,und. As it rains less here in summer and ia
hah in any Of the States north and east the effet
o be produced thereby upon the culture of the vim
emains to be tested. Iconsider North Carolina tn
,remium State for the vine-the scuppernong, tn
atawba and the white bunch grape are all of we
:nown celebrity, they are not excelled either ft
able use or for wine and all of them find their nj
ivity in our own State. The scuppernong is no
'eing considered wherever it can be grown as Ii
e plus ultra of all the grapes, and yet we have
ariety of the muscadine in Cumberland which
'elieved by many to surpass it even in the delicac
I its favor. But this grape as yet is unknown
.me., We have also the Flower grape, native
ur State, which has but recently entered the Ii
Or public favor and seems, destined ouicklv IN a