San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1888-01-26

trying by the farmers OF Western
Texas.
Next TO preparing the ground
comes the question what TO plant
And certainly, here too, there is much
room for improvement. The import
ance Of diversifying our crops has
been so often dwelt upon that it
would seem needless to expatiate upon
it further. But line upon line, precept
upon precept,' are still needed. Cot
ton and corn should receive due atten-
ton, but they should not engross so
nearly all of it rs they do at present.
In the first place much more small
grain should be planted-and the
suggestion is just in order. Oats
have heretofore been considered
sure crop here, yielding often from
so to 100 bushels per acre. 1t has
partially failed for few years past,
but surely that is no good reason
for abandoning it. There is of late
good home market for all that can
be produced, and it comes at q time
when the proceeds are most welcome
and beneficial, What O Godsend
would good oat crop prove the
present season! And the same may
be said of other small grain crops
1t is said that wheat can not be
proftably raised here, but we regard
such conclusion as altogether pre-
mature. The soil is perfectly adapt
ed to it, and with the proper selection
of seed and careful sowing and cul-
tivation 1t yet remains to be seen if
wheat growing may not prove sue
cess. Some wonderful yields were
reported in this county in 1882, and
what has been done may be done
again. five only had here at San
Marcos, what we ought long since to
have had-a good merchant mill
we believe wheat would have been
successfully grown, and steady
market in it been established.
In consequence of new developments
as to the profit of growing sorghum
for sugar manufacture, as well as its
proved value for fodder-two crops
being grown in a season-a 'boom
may be expected in the cultivation of
this product. In view of its product
iveness and general certainty in
Texas, it does seem that there ought
never to be a scarcity of feed, for if
any difference it beats any sort of
hay. And then, if there should be
an overplus produced, there seems to
De an inexhaustible demand for it
out west, just as there is for hay, oats,
corn, etc.
We heard it suggested few years
ago that Nicaragua wheat-always
sure crop-would be a profitable one
even for feed, and good substitute
for corn in case of the failure of
the latter. With feed assured, hogs
could always be raised, sufficient at
least for home consumption of bacon !
and lard. And as winter feed for cat !
tie, especially milk COWS, turnips.
which do so we'll here, would certain
y be far preferable to the barbarous
oarbed prickly pear, and really less
trouble and cost.
In short, everything capable of be-
ng advantageously used at home or
oroftably marketed should be
oe carefully cultivated by our farm
ers. And cotton should be only one
If their crops, and raised only to the
sxtent that it could be cultivated and
gathered with as little extra help as
possible, just rs with other crops.
Then 1t would pay. We quote again
rom a Panhandle paper, the Guam
ii Advance.
If our people would turn their at
ention to the growing of fruits, veg
stables and grain, and make their
,wn meat, this could be made pros
porous country. There is no coun-
ry on earth that is not subject to
ONE drawback, and when one arti-
lie is depended upon failure and
want are sure to come sooner or
ater. Now that we have a railroad,
market for all farm products will be
{ the doors of the producers. In
france the people make living and
AVE become rich on small things,
uch as grapes, chickens. md eggs,
nd until our people learn to utilize
uch things, they will be in a contin-
al strain. Cotton has been the bane ,
+ the South. If the farmers would !
row all they need at home, and
lake this product a surplus, they
'ould do far better. If our farmers
'ould make a change, they and the
ountry would soon become indcpen-
emit
Such is our sword in season"
or not we have talked
anse." we submit to the judicious