The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1861-04-16
FARMING IN TEXAS.

We copy the following from letter to the Hills
boro Recorder, dated Walker county, Texas, March
18th:
81 must say was somewhat disappointed in the
appearance of this country. I did not expect to
see hardly any poor land, but find large quantities
of it barren sandy ridges and post oak glades yet
on these hills and gades to-day, the grass is ankle
high and the stock which have wintered on cane
in the river and creek bottoms coming out and
literally covering the whole. Here everything is
belled from the horse down to the hog, and from
morning till night you can hear but little else than
the ringing of bells. The best lands that | have
seen yet are river bottoms. When cleared and
cultivated they seldom fail to bring bale of cot
ton to the acre, and from fifty ID sixty bushels of
corn The soil, when once broken, is very light,
and easily cultivated. Before cleared the growth
is large and stands very thick, of the usual diver
sites that you see on river lands in North Carolina
The cane on these lands, in some places, is from
fifteen to twenty feet high, and so thick that you
could not thrust walking cane through it. The
next best lands are the prairie or stiff black lands
These are generally in small bodies, say from
TWENTY-FIVE to one hundred and twenty five acres
together, without any growth except mott of post
oaks here and there, some few red haw bushes,
and cactus in any quantity. You have only to
fence these lands which is easily done, there is
plenty of timber surrounding them, deaden the
few post oaks and begin your blowing, which re-
quires good team, and different pillow from any
have seen in North Carolina IF taken in
proper order, the sward will run fifty feet without
breaking, and after a rain upon it will pulverze
and become as light as ash-bank if too dry, it
is almost impossible to break them, and exceeding
ly hard on man and beast. You can hardly keep
the pillow in the ground, it is constantly jumping
and kicking like an unbroke Mustang. This land
produces eq ual to the bottom lands and is said to
stand drought better. The next lands in cult-
vation are the sandy lands, and not generally
cultivated, as they require more rain, which, for
the last few years, has been very scarce. l have
no hesitation in saying that, from my observation
the above described lands, with very moderate
season, will produce crops than man
possibly gather. BY little attention vegetables
can be raised in great abundance, both for summer
and winter use. We have both spring and we'll
water; some also have cisterns. The latter con-
slider best, especially the bleak land, as fire.
quently in digging you get limestone water, some
of which l consider very unpaateabe, and to those
unaccustomed to the use of it, very unwholesome.
l cannot speak in too high praise of the inhabi-
tants AS far as have seen, find far more in-
telligence and morality than could expect in
new country, and have received much kindness
and hospitality at their hands.
The Trinity river is the best navigation we have,
but by no means reliable. Boats have run regu-
larly this winter from Galveston, and the naviga-
ton always good to Liberty, about fifty miles be-
low here. We have Railroads in progress, which
will run through this county, and completed to
Navasota, ftty-fve miles from this place. When
completed, freights will be greatly reduced, and
both dry goods and groceries will be much cheap
ened. The price of dry goods and groceries at
present ranges very high, and the cash system
adopted for the latter We have no banks in the
State except the bank of the Sabine River, which,
in the days of the Republic of Texas, paid large
amount of debts to old States without any renewal
no paper money in use but Louisiana, and that to
limited extent.
We have abundance of game, and although
1 exceedingly fond of hunting, have not kill
ed or shot at deer. l often them in droves
wolves few bears, and fish in great abundance.
grocs last week on fish, and is still catching large
quantities every day. We have few large rattle
snakes plenty of cotton mouths, centrepcdcs, ter
antulas and singing Lizards, and few more feas
than there is in any other country on EARTH
| am living on farm, fifteen miles from Hunts
vile, the county seat of Walker, and two miles of
New Port, on the Trinity river. l commenced
planting the 2lst of February-it is coming
up-some of the neighbors who planted earlier
have commenced wedding. | expect to begin to
plant cotton in few days the trees are in full
foliage, and think that the weather of this month
represents May in North Carolina We have had
or two trosts since we have been here, but
quite light the only cold | have felt is Norther,
although not severe enough to in lure vegetation,
the wind is quite cold and piercing The spring,
so far, is considered very wet one, but not more
forward than usual