The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1891-09-10

loved country, indeed! The cry is u
good one for the hungry politician.
He pirates about our glorious country
and the oppression Of the poor, and
promises that every act IF his ST. all
tend towards the betterment Of their
condition and the prosperity of his
state. The alien land law is an ex-
ample of how the promise is kept.
This law is not going to hurt the rich
mantle capitalist-whether a citi-
zen or an alien. The former will be
vastly benefited and the latter not in
jured. 1t is the poor man that will
have to bear the burden. AS great
many farmers are poor, a great many
farmers will suffer directly and I'M
mediately from the operation OF
this foolish law. And yet,
so short sighted are they, that
through the Alliance and Grange they
are endorsing the act. What good
they expect to get by the operation
the law, | cannot conceive; but L can
| plainly see that it will increase the
/ burdens they now complain so bitterly
about. 1t will drive foreign capital
out of the country and increase the
rate OF interest OH the home capital.
But" says the farmer, 81 don't want
| to borrow any money on my land, so
that wont make any difference to me"
Won't it? Just wait moment. DO
you pay cash for all you buy? If so,
you will not suffer so much as the
man who buys most Of his goods on
time.
/ That man will quickly feel where
the shoe pinches. The merchant who
has been carrying him, has in turn,
| been carried to large extent, by his
banker. When the merchant has to
pay increased interest for accommOda-
| ton, he must have increased profit on
| his wares, and when money is dear, it
| is scarce, and often so scarce that the
merchant cannot borrow enough to
carry his customer and that customer
must pay as he goes, or run a risk OF
visit from the sheriff. 1t is never
safe to engage in prophecy unless you
know, but | venture to predict that
many farmers who are now commend
ing this alien law will in a short time
be condemning it, when they find out
that it affects their pocket more than
their patriotism.
GERMAN AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIA-
TION.
The above is the name of an associa-
ton of Travis county farmers, which
organized in 1880. 1t is a farmers
club, and has for it's object the mutual
benefit of it's members in agricultural
affairs. Its membership is composed
of some of the most intelligent and
progressive farmers in the county.
The members meet once a month, at
different points, and discuss every
subject connected with the farm
experience and tell of their
failures and successes. They arrange
to try experiments with the same seed
on different soils and with different
modes of cultivation, and thus arrive
as near as possible at best varieties and
methods of culture for any given soil
or situation. Their operation have
been of great benefit to themselves
and through them to the whole coun.
try.
For example, they have been ex-
perimenting with Irish potatoes for
the past ten years. About four years
ago they tried a variety that had
made great name in Minnesota. 1t
was found to be away ahead of any
thing before planted in this section,
being much earlier and better than
the Early Re Sc. 1t keeps for months
after variet es have rotted. All other
kinds have cen discarded and many
members of the association are plant
ing potatoes as a market crop.
Once year the members make an
eXhibiti' OF the products of their
farms at some pre-arranged point
and compete in a friendly
way for the ribbons that
indicate superiority. The honor
of being first is all the reward they
covet. Last week the association
held its eleventh annual exhibition at
PflueServille and it was attended by
all who take an interest in farming
and know what to expect in the way
of corn would have been creditable to
a county show, and the samples Of
oats, barley and wheat proved that
Travis county is still in the small
grain business. Every ordinary pro-
duct of the farm was there and much
extraordinary. Mr.. Fritz Kreuger, one
of our most spirited and progressive
farmers showed sample of ramie
grown on his farm which suggested
the possibility of it's taking the place
of cotton. If such associations as the
one under notice were spread over the
state, the benefit to their members,
and agricultural in general, would be
incalculable, and there would be fewer
complaints that farming don't pay"
1t requires clever man ordinarily
To toll Tho trI1o f,n,,n tho Co lr. an;