The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1890-06-05
TOO MANY ACRES.

TOO MANY ACRES.
The rainfall this spring, while no
excessive in this county, has been so
distributed and timid as to hinder
field work. AS consequence many
of the most industrious and hardwork-
ing farmers are still badly in the
grass.
Ninety per cent OF them are in this
position because, in addition to RAIN,
they h. attempted too many acres,
relying on hired help that cannot be
had.
There should not be one idle man
or boy in the county. In some sec
tions many acres will be abandoned
for lack of labor and much that is
saved has been in crippled condition
and at cost altogether out of proper
ton to any profit that can be reason
ably looked for from the crop.
1t is worse than swapping dollars
for any farmer, especially any renter,
to pay from 81 to SO day for help in
the cotton field when one-third to half
an acre is the most that can be cleaned
out.
The dirtier the crop the dearer to
clean and the least value when
cleaned. Every practical farmer who
has gone Through the mill" will adj
NIT this, and also that it is worse than
foolish to plant more than he has re-
liable labor to cultivate.
He has understood this for many
years but still keeps up the old suici-
dial plan, hoping that he may have a
favorable season or be able to get help
when required.
Isn't it time to make resolution
that will stick never to do so more.
Labor is so scarce when needed, so
dear and 80 unreliable that it is fool
hardness to attempt any crop that
must depend upon casual labor. He
acts wisely who regulates his acres to
his ability to do them full justice.
Five acres thoroughly cultivated will
give bigger return, especially of cot
ton, than forty acres with the atten-
ton given to the average crop. The
yield will be nearly as large and the
expense of production lnfnitismal,
compared to the larger area.
This is an old doctrine and true as
gospel, but, like it, wants a lot Of
preaching to make converts. The
sooner farmers seek the mourners
bench, the sooner will they be saved.
CULTIVATION.
Seed and season are of the greatest
Importance in the crop problem, but
cultivation plays an equally potent
part. 1t is generally admitted that
land in good state when seed is
planted is more than half cultivated.
No amount of after cultivation will
compensate for lack of thorough prep
aration. A loose surface soil isthe
one thing needful for grow
ing crops. This prevents evaporation
and cracking OF the soil. If this loose
covering can be preserved through the
dry hot days of July and August, cot
ton, which loves heat and sunshine,
will get along with very little rain,
and the shedding of squares, so fatal
to the product of q full crop, will be
greatly reduced.
This fine loose surface soil can only
be produced and maintained by shall
low and frequent stirring. The intro
duction of the two horse cultivators,
while boon to the man who knows
how to use them, has been the ruin of
many a promising crop. They are SO
Constructed that it is easy to put and
keep them deeply in the soil, and the
operator generally feels that he is not
cultivating unless he is stirring and
turning over fresh dirt every time.
Little and often should be the motto
of the cotton cultivator, and no imple-
ment should be used that will stir
more than about two inches of soil.
Deeper cultivation will injure the feed
ing rootlets of the plant and turn up
clods that are no protection as a mulch.
The best implements l have tried are
the sweep and fine five tooth one
horse cultivator. Where the rows are
close, once to the row is enough, and
the soil is left in the best possible shape
Keep the surface clean and loose and
we can defy anything but the severest
drouths. Cultivate shallow and often.
SORGHUM.
In ten days or two weeks the first
crop OF sorghum will be ready to cut.
There is always strong temptation
to delay this harvest till it is too late.
June is perhaps the busiest month iii
the year for the general farmer. Oats,
barley and wheat ripen in the first
two weeks, sorghum is ready for the
mower and cotton wants his attention
all the time, to say nothing about
corn which ought to be run through
for the last time.
1t is simply impossible to give every
thing all the attention it ought.tO
have, unless the acreage is within con-
troll OF labor available.
Something has to suffer and
sorghum is generally the victi m as it
is not considered TO be taking harm
by waiting. This is mistake. To
get the best results sorghum should