The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1881-01-12
[rRRpARHD FOR TIRE uSaALD.1
During the week

Not lick has yet been struck upon thu
crop of 1881. The week ending to-day hal
been lost. Not a dozen hours have passe(
without the mercury in the Thermometer
being below the freezing point, good many
days at and below 20 degrees, and Monday
morning st daylight actually at zero. Will
the atmosphere as cold as an ordinary lows
winter, the ground frozen several iachei
deep and covered with snow and leo, worl
upon the farm in Texas was rendered impoi-
able, so far as breaking land was concerned
A little was done here and there picking stray
fields of cotton still standipg,and Ii tie corn
gathered. For the rest, the farmers have
hauled wood and sit around comfortable
fires, read their papers and, we hope, many
good books. 1t has been an excellent winter
for reading aad improving the mind. As
before remarked in these columns, frost is a
fine fertilizer. 1t locsess the grouHd, lats in
the atmosphere and leaves il as soft and mel.
low 40 il it had received thorough blowing.
II Is we'll r, ceived fact that heseasou MS thst
follow cold winters are invariably nnc for
crops.
Another favorable fact bearing upon
the future ia the heavy rainfall during
tho winter months Rains and SHOWS have rap
idly aud almost regularly followed
each other, with the exception Of Novom.
Der, since the beginning of last fall. The
earth's surface is saturated to a great depth
and with all the water il viii hold II isa
rich store from which crops will draw sub.
stance until at less, the end Of spring, and
will only require the addition of few timely
summer showers. So we have these gound-
work TO predict bounlifu crops tho coming
season. II is necessary, however, to seize the
first fair weather TO tur the plows loose. Its
pity all arabic lands were not broken up
last fall. There was no chance to do that,
however
Winter oats have beon badly damaged by
frost and much totally destroyed. The bulk
ofthe crop is yet TO sow
Hardly any progress has been mada, that
10 hardly any, in picoOg the rema 'nder of
The cotton crop. Tharo is an indefinite and
and undetiniSble amount still in the aelds.
And since our last rapport, not exceeding two
hundred bales have been brought to the Dallas
marke. There is like per cent of the crop.
yet to be brought forward and sold.
Two-thirds ofthe corn crop stands whore
1t mstured last summon. This is by no
means cheerful picture. Our flrm,rs arc
already far behind, time rapidly slipping by,
and tho day in sight which win require ex-
elusive work upon the next crops.
There is but one solution TO the problem.
one key to the situation More labor, We
must have it from some source or other. Wa
have not sufficient by ct least one third 10
properly cultivate the land, under fence.
and there ara scarcely twonty per cent. of
the wlole susceptible of being brought un-
der profitable cultivation.
There are n, present signs of the winter
breaking. 1t is sill bitter cold NIL north of
US, the thermometer Indicating from 10 to 40
degrees below zcro and snow from few
inches 10 eight fee, deep Lat us be content
The philosopher says, "Whst is, is right
There is Divine hand in all things, whether
the north'wind's rudesl blast, the south winds
terrific hurricane, tho Yves. winds 6srcest
rain, or the east winds soycre:t dreuth Ali
are Tor oar good, for our hAppinoa. These
things we may II It know now, but they will
DO revealed to You hereafter"