The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1880-10-06
ON abe Cultivation Of wheat.

To the editor OF the Herald.
In your issue of the Dad inst. is contained
an article headed "On the Cultivation of
Wheat" which seems to me to require some
thing more than passing notice from the
farmers of Texas. An experience of many
years NJ \ farmer in this state leads me TO
believe that there is "more truth than
poetry" contained in the above mentioned
article, and assume that the writsr is sub.
stsntially correct in the position taken, and if
his ideas were more fully accepted by the
farming classes of Texas, we should hear
less complaint of hard times among our
farmers and see more hopeful Signs of pros
psrity among our merchants. 1t is asserted
by many that cotton /: the only crop that can
be grown with profit in Texas. Thi, l do not
heheve, and it is my opinion that the sooner
farmers give up tho idea that cotton is "lhe"
crop and give more attention 10 the pro.
duction Of nome supplies, the sooner they
and the people Of Texas will COM
mence TO prosper. 1t i, said
to he very hazardous to attempt
to carry all ofyour eggs to market in one
basket" aud the success OF farmers this sea.
son partially demonstrates the truth Of this
time honored adsgs. Early in the season
when it was sscertsined that much of the
wheat had been killed by cold weather, insects
bad preparation of the soil, or whatever i;
WAS that killed the wheat (no one seems tc
know what the trouble wss) farmers said ave
will pillow up our wheat and put the ground
in cotton. Many OF them did so, and what
hiss been the result During tie months
oI July and August, meetings we're held t.
ueviSe ways aud means TO ind-ce exodus,
tors to leave their suuny cline IN Kansas and
come to Texas to gather the largest crop Of
cotton ever made III The state" Bacon, lard
hams, flour, butter, cheese, eggs, fruit, &c.
are now pouring into the state by the car
loads, and each and every one Of these arti
cles command good price, Now where /:
the money coming from to pay for these
products Of the farm! One thing is certain
the money must come from
the farmers out OF this crop
or some previous crop, and much of til,
money thus collected will be "iUterest on nd
vancos." Most of us can remember thst bu
y few years ago it was claimed that this sec
ton of the country WAS better adapted to tn,
production of small grain than cotton. Com
psraiiyely speaking this sschon of country
between Wills Point aud WestheriOrd is
nav country, and does not the his
tory OF our northeastern states, whert
wheat is now grown su ce,sfully, show
that they, too, have had their reverse
n wheat culture l believe it to DO the dut
o every farmer 10 raise his supplies at home
instead of sending abroad for them, and it il
also II duty when he owes himself and famil,
to raise no more cotton that he can gsther, auC
allow reasonable time for the education o
mis- children. "All work and no pla,
makes Jack dull boy" Would it not b.
well for the farmers of this state to max,
some effort to demonstrate the fact that whea
osn be grown in Texas rather thsr
assert that it cannot be grown
simply because they have made enc or tw,
fsiures' If proper appreciation of thi
subject is manifested by the farmers of thi
section, undertake to say that they will b,
aided in substantial way by the non:produc
ing class and much good may arise from al
earnest effort upon their part to thorough,
solve the wheat growing problem. II agree
able to the editor Of the HERALD let III
discuss this subject through the medium o
his valuable paper and try and form an or
ganizston tor the purpose of thorough,
testing the culture Of wheat in Texas.
DALLAS, Tex, Sept. 50, $50.