The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1880-05-21


To an old Dallasite there is something very
pleasant in the reflections that are called up
by the words "Dallas HERALD" 1t was
one of the earliest and noblest institutions of
the embryo of this city and we most devout-
ly revere the title. 1t has grown in pro.
portions and is ably conducted and ably ed
tied, but II has never been able to find an
equal of the founder, j. Wellington Latimer,
to supply material for its columns.
Latmer was man of talent, learning and
virtuOus thought; besides being forcible
and most graceful writer.
But this is DEPRESSION that was not con-
templated, sprnging from the thought fthe
moment and although out of place, it will
be grateful To many of your renders and |
hope Fashionable by you
There is much interest, aye, much solicit
tude, in regard to the present status of the
wheat crop of this county. Many inquiries
are made and many answers are given, and
the answers differ as widely. as they differ
from the true condition of the crop. Casual
observers often make very great mistakes ms
to the real situation of things, and in nothing
do they miss the mark further than in rela-
ton to the wheat crop of this county. + n
instance, not many days ago, a farmer of this
county was speaking of an unusual develop
ment in Il certain crop of wheat that indi-
Gated an extraordinary yield From this an
individual, who is just suited tor such work.
was engaged in representing the wheat crop
of Dallas county MS the finest that ever had
been made--that he had it from a highly
creditable farmer, giving the farmer
name, and if he had asked that
farmer he would have been told
that the crop in the aggregate WIS the short
est that had been made for years. farmer
who happened to have pretty fair crop;
devoting bis time and attention closely to his
own farm, hoping and believing that his
neighbors are doing as well as himself; COM
ing to the city is asked in regard to the wheat
crop, and he answers, fine, fine sir crops
are as good as usual, perhaps little better.
And this is taken as true in regard to the
whole crop. A gentleman coming from the
county line to the city, is attracted by fine
looking wheat crop on the roadside
baps two or three or more crops. he is
asked, how does the wheat crop look, and he
ans wers, fine; and this Is taken and pub
| lshed as the crop of Dallas county; when, of
course, the crops that had been killed.
destroyed or plowed up did not
attract his atten,ion-,bat which
was not, of course was not sure. He had no
interest, he did not care; it WAS only acct
dental that fne-looking crop or Two at
tracted his attention. Su h modes of estl-
mating the crops are extremely falacious.
md now | will give you, us briefly ms pos
sible, the true state OF the crop OF Dallas
county, this wear. There was short crop
sown, en account of scarcity of seed and dry
weather; al least one-fourth short, if not
one-third. On une-fourth of what was sown
there was 10 sufficient stand, aud that, to-
gether with sudden frosts, cut the crop to be-
| low half A fer the wheat started up In the
spring it was attacked by some unknown
blight that destroyed many crops. The
Chnch bug, or some insect resembling 1t,
came upon it afterwards and did
much damage. Then the worms came, but
did not destroy the crop, and if they injured
the gran it is not yet ascertalned. They
stripped the ayes perfectly clean from the
stalks, but did not attack the stalk or the
grain. There ARE few crops remaining
one-half of Them full average, the other half
quite short. The whole crop nov standing
does .ot amount to one.third of the usual
crop in acres--perhaps not one fourth. If 1t
were all brought in it would not run the mills
of Dallas county three months. OF course,
like last year, it will be sold principally in
this city and much of it shipped north, es-
pecialy if the quality is anything
like fair, while there ia prob.
ably not enough in the country for seed and
bread.
But the people are pressed and are com,
PEELED to sell to raise money to pay taxes and
other debts, or purchase indispensable artie-
les of subsistence.
There is much being said now about the
unsuitableness of the soil and climate OF this
county to the wheat crop and the farmers are
much discouraged but, doubtless the diff
Guilty is not so much in the soil and climate
as in proper attention to situation and cul-
ture. There is no doubt, but the uncertain.
ty of seasons has some effect on the crops and
has had from the beginning, but fine crops
have been made and can be mace again.
The corn and cotton crop has never been
more promising. There is some
complaint of a web-worm in the
cotton, but we hope ii will be of short dura
ton, a FARMER.