The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1872-1881, 1873-06-06
MORE ABOUT TEXAS.


Aher a pleasant trip I am st home In goo
health.
The timber, in the part Of Texas ! Waited
consists chiefly Of po-t-csk, other varieties no
very abundant, and mostly scrubby. The,
split we'll and last much better than the sam
wood in this latitude; they are less porous ans
OF much slower growh-not 20 liable 10 de
compose. Old settlers say they have neve
known the bodock to decay. I think there !
plenty Of timber there for all practical pur
poses should Judge that from one sixth .,
one eigth Of the surface IL covered with tim
Der, and we'll distributed.
The Railroad from Little Rock via shrrve
port Is now comple,ed 10 DalIa. and Ia nov
being pushed on rapidIy IN compIetion-b,
this, great quantities of lumber IL conveyed "a
Dallas and other points. The retail price o.
lumber Is two dollars and fifty cents per hun.
dred. Brick l. sold Al ten dollars per thou.
sand.
The cultivation Of the .o;l 4. very lipht-
they having abandoned the former custom Of
using large plough with from four to six
yokea OF oxen 10 break nm the prairie turf
They now use light plow with only pair Of
mules or ponies, skimming the earth about
two inches deen. pl,nt;ng ,h.;, co,,o, n, oo,r
In about every third or fourth furrow under
the margin Of the turf. which sufRces for that
crop; the yield Of which Is about one half Of
a crop. The NEXT season they can pillow the
same land as deeply as they desire with two
horses or mules. Other. skim the earth and
cross pillow, and harrow we'll, which produces
much more abundant crop. Il /. very com
mon for farmers to allow emigrsnt., or those
not owning land, to cultivate their prairie
lands first year. free Of charge.
The design Of the farmers Ia now 10 raise
corn and other grain sufficient for their own
consumption, and raise cotton for commercial
purposes. They plant their corn and have Il
laid by with the exception of planting their
cotton before the cotton needs to be cultiva-
ted. They are not annoyed with weeds or bri-
ers as we are-therefore both corn and cotton
require but light cultivation; the cuckle-bur
and sun flower, are the principle weeds with
which they have to contend.
white labor is most prevalent; there are a
lew blacks still remaining with their former
masters
Inc birds OF Texas consist chiefly Of the
black-bird, mocking-bird, wheat-bird and bird
Of paradise. The wheat-bird is small brown
bird. They collect in large hocks and attack
the ne'ds while the wheat IL soft or "in the
dough- and destroy whole fields in very
lew DAYS. Tho farmers protect their fields by
watching them until the grain hardens, after
which they never molest II. The mocking-
bird abounds there, and the birds Of paradise
have rich and beautiful plumage.
Fruits Of all varieties do not gorw we'll in
Texas-peaches are extra in sine and favor
apples, plums and cherries do not mature we'll
but melons are very superior in quality and
numbers. Vegetables mature early and al
most all kinds grow to great perfection Sweet,
and Irish potatoes, onions, &C., particularly,
and are cultivated with much less labor than
is REQUIRED in Kentucky.
Society io5nd to be much better than /
expected in new country. They are noted
for their hospitality and also for the interest
they take in assisting each other In any emef.
eency that NAV arise. They ara establishing
good scbools and cburcbe. Of d;fTeren, a.
exist in all the settled por,ion.
EmiVrants are encouraged when thew arrive
there destitute Of bread stuff and other Mecca
.a,;es of life bv the Loan Of .,o,,,h a. No.,