Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1860-04-28

made good water may be obtained. learn That
csterns more numerous 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 aravine by which
the ranwater is held in this little pond for 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 Rio
Grande Whilst the Importance of so many dvi-
sions might appear questionable at first view, espe
cially as other State in the Union contain more
than half that number, yet when you recolect that
it contains area Of 2S7, 1921 square miles, being
than four times the area of our own State the
importance Of those divisions will be readily con-
ceded 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
pine. 1t 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
chllS 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 richer soil
than the division of which have just spoken, espe
cally the cotton lands of the DraSos and its tribua
ries, some of which would of course be embraced in
the Western division. | have heard these lands
spoken of being equal, at least, to any in the
State, and perhaps the same remark might be made
in relation to the bottom lands of 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
ry division. I have talked with several persons
who seemed familiar with the State, who say that
the tImhered land occupies only about onc-fourth
the of the whole State; all the rest being pra
re There is quite difference in the forest growth
of this State and our own-fuly great as there is
in soil and climate As well as ] can learn, Texas
has no poplar, sourwood forked.leaf black jack
chestnut In fact this latter tree is said to be found
nowhere west of the Mississippi river All of these
we have. On the Otner hand Texas has the Mes
keet, Rat'ama, Pecan, Dwarf Plum, Burr Oak,
0sIge Orange, species Of Haw, wild China, and the
wild Peach Tree, none of which believe are i1di-
genous to our State As | intimated elsewhere,
regard the first as Il 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. Ii
has bean from five to ten inches in length reScm-
bling somewhat in appearance the common field
pea of which stock of all kinds are very fond, and
of winch the Indians, by preparation, made very
sweet bread. Of the second have seen but one,
which is very beautiful, and have no hesitation in
saying would be admired by all Either of these
would he highly ornamental TO the yard, more so,
think, than any tree have either in your city
or mine 4; 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 critcria. The Dwarf
Plum tree is from TO 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 avdity. The
Burr Oak is a large tree and bears an acorn of
great size OF the remaining trees it is perhaps
unnecessary speak. Beside these in southwestern
Texas there are Ebony, Acacia, (GuiSache) Brazil
wood Lgnum NitP-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 descent, |
will here mention another article of growth, but
which belongs entirely to the water 1t is called in
this section the Goukapn, in Kansas the NOcanut
and in Florida the Bonnet Acorn or acorn of the
water Lilly 1t sprouts at the bottom of pond
and continues its growth unit. it has reacaed the
surface of the water Its limitation in this particu
lar is not well defined, for it has been known to
grow eight ten feet high and it is believed would
grow much higher, if necessary, to attain the top
of the water. Its stem is about half an inch in d-
ameter, and has flower the top which gives
place to burr which is smooth upon its upper sur
face and divided into cells of about fifteen or twen-
ty in number, in elch Of which there is nut in APP
but with shell much harder. As 1t ripens the
burr turns down and the nuts finally fall out sink
to the bottom, and ready for the next years
growth This plant quite curiosity TO me-
inaSmuch as | had never seen anything of the kind
heretofore, nor do believe it is to be found any,
where in our State do not consider this section
Of the State good country for fruit | have seen
but few orchards of either Apple or Peach trees
The latter appeared decidedly the better of the two
Nor do regard this country as by any means equal
to our own in the production of domestic grapes
1t is true the season for fruit had passed before my
arrival; I therefore judge only from what can see
and what can learn from others in relation to the
vine 1t is, however, worthy of remark, that pub
lie attention has not been directed to its culture
is it likely to be, long the culture of cotton is
profitable and the price Of labor high. Yet have
heard it stated upon good authority, that west of
this excellent wine has been manufactured from
the Mustang grape. find grape vines very plenty
in the woodland and where they have not been
Overrun by the fire they attain good size. There
said 70 be four kinds of grapes here. The Mus
tang grape, which is in clusters upon the vine and
very unpleasant to the taste it rpens early iE the
summer. The most common is the Post Oak grape,
which bears in punches; this is said to be decided
y better for eating than the Mustang. Next is the
common bunch grape, which ripens also in the sum-
mcr, and for eating purposes is preferable to all.
Last, is the winter grape, such have in
own State. ! will also mention, that in certain To-
catics the bulls and the muscadine are said to be
found. AS it rains less here in summer and fall
thar in any of the States north and east the effect
to be produced thereby upon the culture of the vine
remains to be tested. IconSider North Carolina the
premium State for the vlne-the Scuppernong, the
catawba and the white bunch grape are all of we'll
known celebrity, they not excelled either for
table for wine, and all of them find their ma
tivity in our own State. The scuppernong is now
being considered wherever it be grown as the
ne plus ultra of all the grapes, and yet we have
variety of the muscadine in Cumberland which is
believed by many to surpass il, even in the decacy
Of its flavor. But this grape yet is unknown to
fame We have also the Flower grape native of
our State, which has but recently entered the list
for nnhlic Elynr and SnnrnS dnctinnd