Huntington advertiser. [volume] (Huntington, W. Va.) 1874-1921, 1874-07-23
FARM LIFE IN TEXAS.
Correspondence Huntington Advertiser.

Ellis COUNTY, TEXAS, July Is, 1874
In the beginning of this article, it may be
well to correct lew erroneous ideas en-
tertained abroad in regard to the social
condition of Texas. The people do not,
like the Daures, dress their heads in
horns ;'nor, like the Tartars, carry knives
and pistols as part OF their wearing APP
parel. On the contrary, they are Peacea-
bic, law-abiding, and well informed citi-
zens. Tue tone Of society is decidedly
moral, and marked by an absence OF ev-
erything like display. Fortunes are net
running around loose, waiting Tor some
one to calm them bat here, as elsewhere,
Il requires energy and perseverance to IN
sure success, though tho exercise OF these
faculties will nowhere meet with greater
reward. Industry, also, is Characters
tic feature-as is not unfrequently mani
tested BY a scene that attracts the gaze OF
one "iresh from the States To see on
the broad plantations the hoes flashing IN
the light II mid day, welded not only by
the "chiva.ry," but even by the beauty OF
the land, certainly possesses something Of
the charms Of novelty, and calls TO mlnd
that sentiment Of the poet,
Beauty uuaGorned is adorned the most"
The stranger travelling in Texas meets
with the kindness due his situation, and
often with as much hospitality as can be
found in the mountains Of Virginia.
This country is fast filling up with an
enterprisiug population, who are building
for themselves neat cottages and fencing
in snug little farms at a comparatively
small expense. 1t is said person can
stand on an eminence a short distance
from this spot and count seventy-tive
houses in sight. Good prairie land can
be bought ~ from three to ten dollars per
acre, according 10 the locality more than
% the quality. The soil is OF black
waxy consisteUce, and very disagreeable
in wet weather, clogging up under the
feet Of horses and in the wheels OF We
hiclcs, greatly retardiEg their progress,
and making travelling labJrious. 1t is
generally classified into two kiuds-leyel
prairie, and the "hog waliow' land. The
latter consists Of 4 succession of numerous
small elevations and corresponding de-
pressions, which are always filled with
water after heavy rains, and breeds myri
ads Of mosquitoes, causing great annoy
ance 70 stock. Such land is always cheap
er than level prairie, owing to the increase
# labor required to bring ii to suitable
condition ilr cultivation. 4 number Of
creeks flow through the country and emp
" into the larger rivers. The banks Of
these streams are covered with low,
shaggy growth Of post oak, elm, cypress
and pecan, which serve every necessary
purpose fur fencing. Timber rarely eX-
tends farther than one or two miles on
either side q creek. Lumber for build
ing purposes is obtained from dcpots on
the Houston and Texas Central Railroad,
running through the eastern part Of the
county, and costs about twenty-eight dol
lars per thousand at the depot.
Agriculture is the principal pursuit in
the rural districts. Stock-raslug is less
extensive every year in proportion as the
population increases. The climate is
quite pleasant, and rains are regular this
wear. making il one Of the finest crop sea-
sons ever before known. The long con-
tinued droughts so much dreaded former
~, become less severe annually, owing, 1t
is said, 70 the spontaneous production Of
vegetation that Is Springirg up all over
the prairie, since improvements have made
burning it every spring improctlcabie.-
The usual amount OF grain raised
70 the acre is, for corn, forty bush
e's. wheat fifteen 70 thirty bushels, oats
about thirty bushels, and lint cotton four
hundred pounds, oltener above than be-
low these figures. Very little attention Is
paid t. fruit, except to peaches; the IN
PRODUCTION If other kinds has been limited.
The Wild plum and mustang grape grow
in abundance among the thiekets. The
latter Is very fine, and equal IN size to the
cultivated varieties.
Spring is far the lovelicst season in Tex
=, though its balmy atmosphere is ire
qucrtlv taken possession Of by the dreaded
No-tler, which is more Of braciug char
acter % the system than injurious Deer
;hen co be seen browsing along the mar
Gin Of the STREAMS and lakes wolves SkIlk-
ing in the hrushwood; focks Of wild geese
covering acres % ground plovers flying
in all directions; large mule-eared rabbits
skipping about; prairie chickens whir-
ring in the air, and a solid mass OF vari-
Gus hued flowers spread out before the
sight.
Now, with the advent Of summer, come
the changes that il works in nature, if not
rs diversified, equally as pleasing to the
senses. The prairies are covered with a
more tropical growth Of blazing colors /;
the screechiug Of the harder fowls of the
air is exchanged for the songs Of the cana
~, whippoorwills and mocking-bird and
above the head, OF wild horses and cattle
{. dark green corn can be seen waving in
tine cooling gulf breeze, ard making 4
pleasing contrast with tine broad yellow
fields Of wheat and oats The song Of the
reaper is heard everywhere, and notwith-
standing slight appearance Of rust in the
wheat a short time since, n good yield is
generally expected. Corn is laid by, cot
ton crops are nearly clean, and in a few
more weeks farmers will clay down the
shovel and .he hoe" and expectantly wait
f.~ fi o. rr.,f., elmo harvest