The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1877-07-05
Home and Farm.

CROSSING PLANTS. The fact that the
embryo of q plant being once fcrtilized
with the pollen of the same variety is
thereafter incapable of taking up and
Stimulating that of kindred variety,
is beautiful example of the means
used by nature to keep species and
families distinct. Not only this, but
it has been proved that plant fertil
lied with cross variety, aud soon af-
forwards with its own immediate spe-
cies, will reject the cross fertilization
and accept its own.
TRAMPs.-The Scientific Ameriodn
thinks the average tramp might be
utilized as q waste product, lessening
the cost Of labor of digging trenches,
laying drain pipes, pumping, etc. We
do not know how it is with Eastern
tramps, but Western tramps are better
satisfied to lie in trenches, to drain
the patience of farmers, and pump
their pockets dry than anything else.
As irrigators, however, they are sue
cess. The average tramp will shed
oceans of tears to get rid of labor that
will add to the wealth of the country.
! KINDNESS TO Cows. "A market gar
dener had very fine COW that was
MIXED week after week by two hired
| men. He observed that the amount of
butter he carried to market weighed
about pound more on each alternate
week. He watched the men and tried
the cow after they had finished milk
ing, but always found that there was
no milk left in the teats. He finally
asked the Scotch girl who took care OF
the milk if she could account for the
difference. 'Why, yes" she says,
"when jim milks he says to the old
COW, SO, my pretty little muky, so;'
but when Sam milks he hits her on the
hip with the edge of the pail and says,
'hist, you old sbrute.n = Sacramento
Record.
PARA GRASS. The Para grass was
imported from Brazil by the editor of
the Florida AgriculturaSt. 1t grows in
wet lands, even in standing water,
like marsh grass. 1t will not grow
well in dry land. 1t produces i'm
mense crops, like the Guinea grass,
and horned cattle are about as foud of
grows and thrives only in low attitudes.
1t should find plenty of soil and eli
mate IN Southern Louisiana, where it
would feel perfectly at home. There
would be millions" In the grasses OF
Ieulsiana, far more than Col. Sellers
dreamed of in his mile raising In Mis-
souri,, If they were properly cultivated
and cared for, and the grass and hay
fed to fine blooded stock. And il
would take but 1.-THE of the labor to
Tun blooded stock farm that it takes
to run q sugar plantation of the same
size. And the labor question, as well
as the grass question, is highly impor-
'ant in Louisiana.
GUINEA Fowls. AT late meeting
of the American Farmers Club a talk
was had regarding the Guinea fowl.
j. s. Scoville, Hadley, Saratoga coun-
ty, N. Y, sent word 10 the club how
to get rid of the potato bug. He said
let every farmer keep Guinea hens.
They will destroy all of the potato
bugs. They eat them as fast as hens
eat corn, and, furthermore, will keep
all bugs and insects Of every kind off
garden vines. Mr.. Scoville estimated
that one hen to the acre will protect
the potatoes. He also argues in favor
OF these fowls that they will not scratch
like other kinds, or harm the most del.
icate plant; their eggs are valuable,
and they lay ostener than the common
hen, and lastly they are valuable as a
weather indicator, for Just before
storm they set up terrible screeching,
which is KEEP. up until the storm comes.
President Ely corrob"rated what had
been said about the Guinea fowl, so
far as their not hsrming the garden is
concerned, and added that many farm.
ers priced them, because their screech-
ings kept hawks away from the poul-
Try yard. DIR. Heath concluded the
evidence regarding these fowls HARM
lessness to plants, etc., by calling at
tention to the fact that large f1cks OF
them are kept in Central Park. He
thought il it is indeed true that they
will dispose Of the potato bug the
statement should be promulgated
throughout the country. He said that
the bugs had made their appearance in
large numbers on Long Island, and
that many of tue farmers are appre-
bending unpleasant consequences. He
hoped farmers having any information
'on this subject would send in further
testimony.
BERMUDA GRAss.-We are indebted
to the Dallas Nal for the following
collection of points regarding Bermuda
grass:
The Southern Culticator SAYS:
For summer grazing, no grass com
pares with the Bermuda. 1t combines
every quality that Can be desired will
grow on any kind of land, poor or rich
is never killed by drought, or close
grazing, and does not impoverish the
soil. On the contrary, land set in it 4
will steadily become more fertile.
The Southern Farmer saws:
For permanent pasture, be it rich or
poor land, hill or bottom, there is moth
ing better than Bermuda grass.
The prejudice existing towards this
grass-thst it will spread and take the
fsrm-that it cannot be destroyed when
it on ce gets set, Is myth. II is pretty
tough blowing, yet the ground can be |
plowed with good teams, and by
thoroush cultivation IN cotton. in one
year every vestige of the living grass |
win be eradicsted, leaving the bead |
roots 10 enrich the land and make the
second crop better than the FIRST.
In the report Of the Commissioner OF
Agriculture for 1874, c. w. Howard
says:
1t cannot be doubted that this grass,
IN connection with sheep, is TO be the
salvation Of the worn regions of the
cotton belt. II viii grow on any soil,
vet or dry. upland or lowiand, sand or
slsy-thriving In proportion 70 the fer
.1lity of the soil.
In the same, Col A. @. Lane says:
Upon ordinary uplands have found
10 difficulty in destroying It, By close