The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-08-21

varieties do well. Average crop-sa
fifty bushels
of every description grow to gre;
perfection, especially in sandy sol
The crop is worth from seventy-tiN
to one hundred and fifty dollars pr
acre. The largest melon reported II
this year weighed eighty-thrt
pounds, and was grown by j.
WaShburn.
VEGETABLES
do well, of almost every description
and L am advised all worth from tw
to three hundred dollars per acre L
the market.
GRASSES.
Syrian.-Egyptian or johnson gras:
is essentially a dry weather grass
Will produce annually three crops, ay
eraging from two to three tons pc
acre each cutting; grows from tn
seed and root, does not have to be re
sown, and is eaten by stock generally
will winter horses or cattle In goot
condition, and is the dairyman's friend
its capacity to increase the t1oW o.
milk is unrivalled.
The Panicum Texanum.-ColoradC
bottom grass is to Travis county Wha'
blue grass is to Bourbon county, Ken
lucky. 1t is equally nutritious-bet
ter than timothy-yieIds double the
quantity; can be cultivated advantage
ously as distinct crop, but comes u[
voluntarily annually in the corn field
after the latter crop is made, produc,
Ing double crop annually without
eXhausting the soil.
Alfalfa.-GroWS well, yields from
one to two tons per acre; does not re-
quire to be re-SoWn; the roots pene-
trate to great depth; two or three
crops are grown annually; good for
horses and cattle, and is splendid win
ter grazing for hogs.
Bromus Unioloides (rescue grass
is volunteer, coming up in the fall
grows to height of from twelve to
eighteen inches, is most nutritious,
bears head well filled with seed pas
lures satisfactorily; remains green IN
til May. Can be cultivated to great
advantage.
Poa Arachnifera (Texas blue grass
is regarded as the most valuable of all
our grasses with single exception;
it is comparatively new here; comes
up when cultivated, early in the fall;
grows most rapidly; has broad fiat
blade; blooms late in winter or early
spring; natures its seed by April CT
May; bears pasturing splendidly, and
stock of every description eat it most
Bermuda grass (cynodon dactylon)
is most valuable grass; stands graz
ing well; makes a splendid mat and
large yield with sufficient water, but
in our climate, subject to drouths of
weeks duration, it is not to be classed
with the other grasses in intrinsic
grazing value.
Stipa setigera (bearded mesquite), is
one of our most valuable winter
grasses, but of all the grasses yet
tested for all practical and
practicable stock growing purposes
the
Buckloe dactyloides (curly mes
quite, is pre-eminently at the head of
the list-its capacity for sustaining
animal life is difficult to compute.
Samples in bale and bulk are prom
sed of the different cereals, grasses,
ETC., in time for the worlds exposition.
HORSES.
There are about one hundred head
Of thoroughbred and fifty head of
horses in this county. OF
the former many are of as fine and
fashionable lineage as can be found in
Europe or America.
CATTLE.
estimate the thoroughbred stock
in Ira vic 0OI1ntu fnllnxuc.
Jerseys, 100 head; DurhamS, $50
head; Ayershires, 20 head; Holsteins,
10 head.
Grades are to be estimated at prob
ably ten-fold as compared with the
of thoroughbred.
SHEEP.
We have large number of fiocks.
For practical purposes the Merino
stands at the head, then come the
COtswolds and Southdowns. This in
1ustry stands second in value to that
Of cattle, in present and prospective
value in the state, and is developing
rapidly in the county. We have not
rs yet secured sample fleeces for the
ANGoRA GOATS.
We have several flocks of thorough
bred and high grade. Of most noto-
riety are those of Maurice Moore and
Fred STERLING. One or more pair will
be forwarded to the exposition.
HOGS.
Berkshire is the leading breed and
most desirable. Poland China, Essex
and Chester White rank in the order
given. The county is well supplied.
The information obtained about
facilities to and from the
exhibition for live stock, together
with space and provision for their
care, is too crude and indefinite to in
vite owners to prepare their most val
liable animals for competition at the
Worlds Fair.
The society adjourned to meet in
he hall of representatives at 10 a. m,
80.
NoTE.-These proceedings would
have been published sooner but for
the fact that important matter was
lot in the hands of the secretary.