San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1882-07-20
From an English Farmer, Now Of Hays
County.

From an English Farmer, Now Of Hays
County.
PECAN GROVE, July 2, 1882.
EpIroR FREE Press: yours of 18th of
June you make some comments on English
farming, most of which is very erroneous.
You say hay stacks are very nicely built (;
they are, but do not compare with grain
stacks for neatness, and which have known
to stand for two years. That English farm
ing produces better results is true, and 80
it ought, AZ the English laborer is reliable
and thorough as are most Englishmen, and
the rents paid are such that no tomorrow
business can be permitted. Although you
say you produce your crops with less labor
and make products cheaper, I say without
any hesitation that the farming around here,
and I suppose it is about the same around
San Marcos, is, with few exceptions, the
poorest attempt at farming one can well con-
ceive. Most men that know are content
to move in the groove that their grandfath-
ers moved in, and from their poverty or
shortsightedness get for most things but the
farm. You say there is dark side of Eng
lsh farming, regret that this is too true.
Viz: Game preserving landlords, also too
much rain wish We had in Texas the
surplus, but this is what you say, (and
would respectfully ask for your informant.)
also advise when you wish to draw fowery
pictures of comparison that your easel is
right, also your colors are true; beware of
color blindness. spent So years of my life
in England, and I found the farm hands
fairly WELL most of them we'll fed, Also
most of the men and horses too, intelligent,
for English horses are intelligent. The last
time I dined with farmer they had
a fine sirloin of roast beef and plenty of
good vegetables, and all sat down together.
AS to the farm hand being only working
animal, he is not always dull and sluggish
man. If as you say here he has any get-up
about him, he can be happy and make his
way in the farming world. have three
cousins in one respectable working family
those three men followed the vocation until
they were gooi farmers, and two of them
found their own in becoming managers to
rich large farmers, getting near upon $1,000
per annum, house to live in, horse to ride,
COWS for milk and butter and poultry. Now
I think that is much, very much better than
any man in or near San Marcos can do on
l6O acres of land. Now further, am the
Youngest of brothers, of whom were
hired farm servants and all followed that un-
til they married. How much wages they
received don't know, but they always were
much better dressed and believe much bet
ter fed than the same class of men are in
any part of Texas. They wore good broad
cloth coats costing about $25, top boots at
ten dollars and breeches to correspond, not
forgetting the vest, natty necktie and the uni
yer al silk pocket handkerchief. This is the
picture of the young farm hand fifty years
ago, and know his position is bettered
now, for since left England they h'g the
courage to strike and 1 have no doubt you
have read of Joseph Arch who visited Can
ada and in trying to arrange for emigrants
in which believe he failed, ending by tell
ing the Canadian farmers they wanted not
men but slaves. When married he has his
cottage, and as you say usually his garden.
As to COWS, you should know that there is
vast difference in the value of them, and
more by comparison with Texas COWS, though
have known some keep cow, nearly all
of them a ig, and eggs he can buy of the far
mer much cheaper than you can raise them
even here. have bought them in Hull
market at 30 for 24cts and you cannot produce
them cheaper As TO your lively pictures
of the variety of our diet,.I say our for am
a little over ten year old Texan and my
food has been corn bred and bacon, then ba-
con and corn bread, varied occasionally by
little beef, and now and then Little biscuit,
and am satisfied have lived ss comforta-
bly, as very many of my neighbcrs, but this
I viii say of my Texan neighborS. they are
In many respects noble in character, hospi-
table. and vhether beef or mutton Is want
ing they put whatever they havesenerously
before YOU, and have the good sense 10 Offer
no apology. Further have never Jet seen
an Americsn down on his luck Q valuable as