San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1883-10-11

| IuOuutuiuos uuu OoNCiou "Asu sAA~~s "
various kinds, such as cedar, live oak,
Spanish oak, elm, pecan, mesquite, and
several other varieties of inferior quail
lity. This mountainous section is also
partially covered with grass, and inter
spersed. though at distant intervals.
with creeks and rivers, affording fine
opportunity for stock raising. The re.
manning one. third of the county is chief.
ly prairie. of fine soil, and will produce
perhaps as great variety Of crops as
almost any country in the world. The
face Of the country is beautiful and pic-
turesque in the extreme. We have
seen many of the finest portions Of the
Mississippi valley, but have never look.
ed upon lovelier land than this.
PRODUCTIONS.
The valley and prairie lands are won
derfully productive. Here we see oats
produce 30 to GO bushels, corn ID to 40,
wheat 10 to 80, and sweet potatoes 20
to $50 per acre, cotton half bale to q
bale, and sorghum always two crops ,apd
all growing side by side in the eHsamo
field. Seldom can this be seen on the
continent except in Texas, and no
where perhaps to greater perfection
than in this county Then vegetables
of nearly all kinds do we'll If cut
sb ort, as they frequently are, 5y the
droughts Of summer, the fall and win
ter gardens. unknownto more Northern
olimes, often make ample compensation.
Fruits, such as figs, peaches, plums,
grapes and some kinds of wild fruits
also do tolerably we'll, and some think
that apples may by careful attention be
made to succeed. But Western Texas
cannot be said to be a first rate fruit
country, except where facilities for irri-
CATION exist and are brought into use.
There is no doubt however, but that, by
the introduction of improved and carly
varieties, fruit growing will become
much more successful than it has yet
proved
AS a stock country this region is un-
surpassed, having fine grass, pure water
and short winters All stock does we'll,
and is usually healthy, and much atten-
ton is given to sthe introduction and
Improvement ofall kinds of good stock.
In fact, the old style OF stock raising as
I it prevailed when the country was new,
is being rapidly superseded by the
growth, on q smaller scale, in inclo.
sures, Of improved varieties OF stock.
The mesquit grass--perhaps unrivaled
among wild grasses-is yet abundant in
most parts Of the county, but around
the county seat, and in the more thick
ly settled neighborhoods, owing to su-
perabundance of stock and extensive in
closures, the range is getting scarce,
and will have to be supplemented by
winter pastures of rye, barley, wheat
or oats, all of which grow luxuriantly.
and form an admirable substitute. By
the aid of these, and feeding for a short
time, there need never be any scarcity
of fat beeves, or the best of milk and
butter; but there is general neglect of
these simple, common sense precau-
tions. We believe more mouey could
be made from a small dairy. conducted
on these principles, than is now done
from many large corn or cotton plan
tation, If raising poultry were combn-
ed with it there could be no question on
the subject, for there is always a great
scarcity of milk, butter, chickens and
eggs during the winter, and they COM
mrnd high prices.
STREAMS, ETC.
The county is we'll watered for Texas,
having many springs. creeks and rivers.
It's principal streams are the San Mar
cos and Blanco rivers, Onion creek aud
Bear creek, all affording lasting water
Of pure and crystal-like appearance.
and aboundiDg in fish. They also afford
fine water power for mills and machine
~. The San Marcos, especially, is Of
SURPRISING beauty. and deserves more
than a passing notice. Breaking out,
as il does, full-fedged river. from the
south side Of mountain. in quantities
Of pure crystal spring water sufiie eient to
run a large smount of machinery.
makes il wonderfully attractive and
valuable. It COW has many mills and
gins in successful operation located upoa
IL. Water can slso Be found y digging