The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1890-02-20

Edited by John C. Edgar, Duval, Texas,
| 70 whom all communications relating to
this column should be addressed.
TRAVIS COUNTY ROAD ASSOCIATION.
SO much has been written about
the Importance OF good county roads,
and their necessity is so universally
admitted, that it would be like paint
ing the lily or purifying refined gold
to add one more word on that phase
of the subject. But there is side OF
the question that will bear good
deal of talking about, and that is,
how can we secure the much needed
improvement.
On this point there is room for
much difference of opinion, but any
scheme calculated to give us relief, if
not unreasonably extravagant, should
at least be given a trial.
The last legislature failed to pass
any measure comprehensive enough
to meet the requirements OF the case
and, after tinkering with two bills,
either of which in its entirety would
have solved the problem, left us still
sticking in the mud, where we must
remain unless we make some effort to
get out.
Recognising the gravity of our posi-
ton, several gentlemen met and Or
ganiZed an association having
for its object the improvement
Of our county roads. They consulted
with the commissioners and that au-
gust body undertook to add 5000 to
every 500 subscribed privately for the
improvement of any particular road.
By this plan, citizens living on any
bad road can have said road improved
by subscribing IN money, material or
labor, one-t third of the cost. We can
never have a complete system of mac
adamized roads by such a plan, but if
the people are in earnest about better
roads, this scheme will give consider
able relief and deserves fair trial.
This is farmers question and
should have their serious attention.
FAST HORSE FOR FARMERS.
In purchasing or hiring a pillow
horse stake off a mile of road. Mount
the horse and see how many minutes
it will take him to walk the mile. A
horse that will walk three miles an
hour is worth at least three times as
much as horse that walks but two
miles. The three mile horse not only
does as much work in two days as the
two-mile horse does in three, but he
enables the man behind the pillow to
10 80 per cent more work in a day
than he can behind a twO-mile horse.
And the man and horse consume with
the slow team so per cent more ra-
tons in doing the same work that the
fast walker does. In twelve months
the man would do no more carting
and blowing with the slow horse than
he would do in eight months with the
fast walker.
Suppose farmer to hire a man and
two-mile horse to do an amount OF
blowing and carting that it takes three
months to perform, and pays S3
month for the horse, $3 for his feed,
ana $lS for the man, who boards him
self; S23 a month, three months, $72.
If he hires the same man at $lS a
month and pays $3 for feed and "a for
fast walker, he can do in two months
what the slow team would do in three.
Two months, fast team and feed and
plow-man, at $25 month, $50. Di-
rect loss by slow horse, $50. Besides
work done by the slow horse is not 50
well or seasonably done-the seed may
be put in the ground too late, the
grass may get ahead of the pillow, and
the indirect loss by the slow team may
be serious; besides the $22 loss as
stated above.-Picayune.
SEED FOR PLANTING.
The Importance of sound seed is
by all who have given the
matter any thought. UnsOund or i'm
perfect seed will give at best a weak
and sickly plant, and often fail to
give a plant of any kind. Farmers
are often heard to complain that they
did not get "a good stand" of corn or
cotton and blame bugs, slugs and
other pests for the deficiency when
often the fault is due to their own
,arelessness. A healthy, vigorous
plant cannot spring from shriveled
up damaged seed any more than TO-
Dust and healthy child can be the off
spring OF diseased parents.
The common practice in corn and
cotton planting is to take the seed
rom crib or cotton seed bin just as it
$ wanted and without selection.
This haphazard method does not pay,
my better than breeding scrub stock.
Yet there are farmers whs take great
,ains in improving their cattle and
lorses who give no attention TO the
or selection OF seed
1t may not have occurred to them
hat there may be the difference oi
% and 30 bushels ol corn
r half and three-fourths of Il
Dale OF cotton to the acre, between
we'll selected and promiscuous seed. {
Good seed may cost more in money or ,
abor to secure, but the outlay will ne
more than repaid by increased Yield,
md the cost of cultivation will be 10 ,
more than when a small crop is made. I