The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1881-03-31
Letter rrom(aun,sv,,le.
HUsTsvILlx, YnxAs, Mar

uUsTsvILlk, YrxAs, Marcn Is, 1881,
Correspondence Of the Herald.
We lef. our home in Dallas a
few days sgo Tor s(aying business trip over
southern Texas, and now snatch few mo
ments from business time to write an item or
two for your columns; not in u csptious or
tina, fault finding spirit, but because we realize
Ia more senses than one, are We our brothers
keeper, Md because we hold the prosperity OF
our beloved state "sbove our chisf Joy"
As our state looks to agriculture as tie prip-
ciple source of her prosperity, We feel that
any note of warning or word of experience
and encouragement coming to the farmers
through the press, if they will read and heed
il. will tend to foster and build up their in
terests. On leaving Dallas we we're panied
ana disappointed to note along the road, not
only the backward conditions of most OF the
farms, but also the very slovenly and shit
less NJ amer of doing the work. We have
had some heavy raiSs, but not what could
be called wet season. The exodus has not
materially affected the labor question III
ncr,h Texas. and hence here Is no good
reason why farm labor and the preparation
of the soil for the seed should be In sucn
backward condition, or that 1t should be
done in such ley manner as almost to
insure 3 failure OF crops. More than two
thirds OF the farms we passed from
Dallas TO Mexia, on the line OF
the Houston & Texas Central railroad had
not been touched. The corn and cotton
stalks were still standing, and very few OF
those that had been plowed had ever been
broken up ano narrowed AT all. Those that
had been broken, had the corn and cotton
stalks all plowed in, but most OF them that
showed signs of being worked had only
received shallow furrow between tho rows
of old stalks which were still standing. Into
this the seed had been thrown and covered,
by throwing two burrows Of rough clods
upon them, leaving tho middles TO be plowed
or broken up afterwards. This is not all,
farmers who will prepare their soil and
plant in such lax manner, will pursue the
same course, no doubt, through the whole
season, in the cultivation and gathering of
their crops. Under these circumstances
none but tho most favorable season will Sc
cure even moderate crop, and IN ordinary
droulh is ruinous. This goes out TO the
world, and retards immigration, business OF
inevitable result, tramps and idleness and
crime ara il creased.
Now, Mr.. Editor, we cannot SO good
citizen, desiring above all things, TO se5 our
country and our cOHntrymen prosper, see
these things in Our travels over our
state and be silent, nor can you, as
the proprietor Of one Of the highest engines
Of modem Tim, 8 for tho diffusion of knowl-
al. 4 Z
that pds to bring pence and plenty to
people afford to be sny thing less than
"Naihan" to gay unto these farming DSvids,
"Thou art The man." We know that as
faitnfll editor you have not been unmindful
of these interests, and herce VIC have sought
your columns because We b9liev0 most of the
farmers in North Texas read and heed what
the HERALD says. Farm lands for any pur-
pose should be broken deep, aud, if possible,
more than once, and if stiff Gnd cloddy, 1t
should be narrowed and u plentiful supply Of
seed put in early and covered deep enough to
admit Of narrowing or scrapng off The top
just before the plant appears. This keeps
back the weeds and gives the plant good
start so ii can b. of good size before the pillow
or cultiva,or is put in. Deep breaking good
puiveriziug and frequent stirring Of tho soil
Will counleract t0o elect OF any ordinary
drouths and enable the farmer to wrench
success, as It were, from the most uafavora-
BILE season. Let plenty of seed BIO planted
and allowed to gov until it is of sufficient
size to DO out Of the way Of frost or insects
and then thin down to what the strength of
the soil will bear. This secures stand and
renders replHntng unnecessary. II the
ground needs fertilizers lot them bs used, but
never pillow under the old stalks TO clog your
cultivatar, tear up The tender plants, destroy
your stand and impede the process of culti-
vation throughout the whole season. Old
stalks are expensive fertilizers, cut, rake and
burn them. RISE early md work late, and
according TO the laws Of common sense, in
seed time, md you will have harvest and She
blessings ola prosperous people.
w. ID. X.