San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1878-09-07


through il. About two. thirds Of the.
county is occupied by rudimenurys
mountains, and covered with timber of.
various kinds, such as, cedar, live oak,
Spanish oak, elm, pecan, mssquit, aud,
several other varieties Of inferior quail.
ity. This mountainous section ,is. also.
partially covered With grass, and inter-
spersed, though At, distant. intervals,
with creeks and rivers, affcrdipg fine
opportunity for stock raising. The se-.
naming one.third of tho county is
chiefly prairie, Of 6ne SOL. and will
produce perhaps % grsst 3 varisty Of
crops,as almost any country, ia the
world. The face Of the country is,
beautiful and picturesque in, the OK
treme. We have seen many of the
finest portions Of the Mississippi val.
ley, but have never looked upon a,
lovelier land than this. ee
PRODUCTIONS. e.
The valley and prairie lands are won,
derfully productive. Here we see oats
produce 30to GO bushels, corn Is to 40,
wheat 10 to 30, and sweet potatoes 75.
to $50 per acre, cotton half bale to o
bale, and'sorghum always two crops and,
all:erowiug side by side in the same
field. Seldom can this be seen ON the
continent except in Texas, and no
where, perhaps, to greater perfection
than 10 this county. Then vegetables
of nearly all kinds do we'll. If out
short, they. frequently are, by the.
droughts Of summer. the fall and win,
ter gardens, unknown to more North
ern climes, often make ample opmpen-
sation. Fruits, such as figs, peaches,
plums, grapes aud some kinds of wild
fruits also do tolerably well, aud some
think that apples may, ,by,carefuL atten-
ton DO made to succeeds But West
ern Texas cannot be said to be first
rate fruit country, except where facili-
ties for irrigation exist and are brought
into use. There is no doubt. how
ever, but that. by the introduction of
improved and earJv varieties, fruit
growing.will become much more sue,
cessful than it has yet proved. 'ni
AS a. stock country this region is un,
surpassed, having fine grass, pure wa
ter, and short winters. All stock does.
we'll, and is usually healthy, and much
is given to.the Introduction
and Improvement of all kinds of good
stock, In fact, the old style of stock.
raising as it prevailed when the coun-
try was new, is being rapidly super
seeded by the growth, on smaller.scale,
in Enclosures, of improved varieties Of
stock. The mesquit perhaps
uprivaled among wild grasses-ls yet
abundant in most parts Of the county,
but around the county seat, and in the
more thickly settled. neighborhoods,
owing to q. superabundancs Of stock
md extensive Enclosures, the range is
getting scarce. and will have to be
supplemented by winter pastures of.
rye. barley, wheat or oats, all af which
grow luxuriantly, and form an admir-.
lble substitute. By the aid of these,
Ind feeding for short time. there
reed never be any, scarcity OF fat beeyes,.
,r the best of milk. and butter; but
here is general neglect OF these
imple, common sense precautions.
We believe more money could be made
rom small dairy. conducted on theso
principles. than is now done. from
many large corn or cotton planta-
ion. If raising poultry were com--
lined with it there could be no ques-
ion on the subject, for there is always
great scarcity of milk, butter, chick
ms and eggs during the winter, and
hey command high prices.
STREAMS. ETC.
The country is well watered for
Texas, having many springs, creeks
nd rivers. Its principle streams are
he San Marcos and Blanco rivers,
Union creek and Bear creek. all af.
ording lasting water Of pure and
rystal.like appearance, and abound.
ug in fish. They also afford fine wa
er power for mills and machinery.
rhe San Marcos. especially. is of sur