The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1890-09-04

To the Editor OF the Statesman:
SIR-During the last month | have
read in your paper and others, differ
ent remedies to keep the weevil out O
corn, but have failed to see the one
consider the best of all. l have triet
it and know there is nothing better
Gather some JerUsal' m oak, a weed
nearly every farmer will find growing
around his lots, as you throw you
corn in the crib, throw in handful O.
this weed occasionally, and you vii
never have any weevil in your crib
Respectfully, T. G. F.
THE COTTON MARKET.
The past seven days has seen a sud.
den and decided fall in prices. Dur
ing that time the market has recedet
one cent pound on middling and
other grades in proportion. This de-
probation is not the result of any
combine or action amongst local buy.
ers, as some disgruntled farmers de
clare, but is the infallible
consequence of glutted mar
k9t. The high prices ruling
at the opening of the season, had the
effect OF inducing every cotton raiser
TO pick and market every available
pound, and we thus witness the
anomaly of more cotton in sight to.
day by 237,055 bales than on the same
day last year, although the most con.
servative estimates place this seasons
cop far short of the last one. This
rush OF cotton may be taken as an
evidence OF large crop, or it may be
held as an excuse for spectators re-
ducing prices. The latter is the most
probable cause, and 1 venture to
prophesy rise in price, if not as
sudden as the decline, at least more
permanent.
L have not found it profitable, as a
rule, to hold cotton for a rise. Loss OF
weight and condition will generally
more than offset any advance in price
but think this season furnishes an
exception, and the farmer who holds
his cotton will get his reward. Such
is my judgment and it may be taken
for what it is worth.
VITALITY OF SEEDS.
Last week I referred to planters
using two and three year old cotton
seed in preference to that grown the
previous year. This was not intended
to convey the idea that cotton seed
increased its terminating power with
age, but that weak seed entirely lost
its vitality and only the strong
terminated. The same applies
to every other seed, the vi
tality varying with different
species of plants. in some cases a
very small percentage of new seed
will grow, while in others very large
percentage will terminate when five
or six years old. On this subject
Texas Farm and Ranch gives a list
of seeds that are as good at five
years of age as any other. Amongst
these are classed the cabbage, turnip,
beet, cucumber, pumpkin, squash,
melon aud tomato.
Now my experience tells me that in
most cases two year old cabbage and
turnip seed is of no value, whatever,
and anyone wishing to raise either
vegetable should be sure to get new
seed. The same advice applies to
peas, beans, onions and okra.
KANSAS CORN CROP.
Upon the success or failure of the
Kansas corn crop largely depends the
value of the Texas supply in the
home market. Since the advent of
railroads prices are not regulated by
the extent of the home crop. No
matter how short the Texas crop may
be, the price per bushel is never
more than Kansas price plus trans
portation charges. With not more
than 70 per cent of an average crop
in Texas and not more than 30 per
cent in Kansas, the signs point to
big prices till another crop Is made.
This section of the State
has made nearly if not quite an aver
age crop, and the prudent farmer will
not rush his grain on the market at
once, but wait for the good time COM
ing. Now is the time to exercise
economy in feeding. With corn at 81,
PROBABLE price before Christmas,
horses should not be fed more than
enough to maintain strength and
growth, and every advantage should
be got out of grass and roughness in
feeding so as to increase the amount
OF corn for sale.
There are many leakages on the
farm and much valuable food wasted,
and this is particularly true of corn.
1t is not often that the Texas farmer
gets any advantage from the mis-
fortunes of his brethren in other
States; it is generally quite the other
way. Now is his opportunity, and il
| wise he will make tho most of II