The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1891-10-01
CUT YOUR STALKS.

CUT YOUR STALKS.
There is no stronger evidence Of a
farmers unfitness for his occupation
than bonfires of stalks in his fields
The time was when fire was the only
means of getting rid of corn stalks
that had not been removed for fodder
but that day is past and stalk cutters
are within the reach of poor men. The
time and cost of cutting stalks is not
more than half so great as that of log
cling down, raking up, and burning;
and cutting would pay if there was no
other saving. But when to this so per
cent saving is added very large, if
not easily determined, profit in the
increased fertility of the soil, we have
an unanswerable argument in favor of
stalk cutting and blowing under.
The stalk of corn takes from the soil
Il very large percentage OF fertility:
If, therefore, the stalks are removed
entirely from the field, the soil is i'm
poverished to just that extent. If
burnt, the ash, which represents the
inorganic matter taken from the soil
remains, and goes to enrich the spot
where the burning was done at the
expense of the balance of the field.
But the ash is not equivalent in fer
tilizing properties to the cut and
buried stalk; for not only does the lat
ter give back to the soil all the ash
taken from it, but adds humus, with
out which the inorganic matter in the
soil would not be available for plant
food to it's fullest extent.
If all stalks, weeds and grass were
plowed under, instead of burnt, our
black lands might be cropped for
time without any appreciate falling
off in fertility.
THE BEST TYPE OF DRAFT HORSE.
There is great difference amongst
horsemen as to the best type of draft
horse: some contending for the long
bodied and long legged animal; while
others stand by short coupled, short
legged, blocky horse.
Those engaged in horse breeding,
for sale, should produce just what
their market calls for. If buyers want
a leggy horse, let them have him; II
the demand is for the other kind,
breed them.
They pay their money and take
their choice. But, as rule, the horse
that hits the happy medium, between
the before mentioned extremes, WILL
be found most popular ana
The Inland horse WIN
a lot of daylight under him may get
over the ground quicker than one
with short limbs; but a long legged
horse in front of heavy load will play,
out sooner and is liable to be strained
in the knees OF curbed in the hooks.
The short legged horse would Ger
tainly have the advantage in pulling
heavy loads if he had speed enough,
but that is where he is generally de-
ficient.
Perhaps the most useful draft horse
for Texas is the grade produced by
crossing the Percheron,, Shire OF
Clvdesdale with our native stock.
This gives a 1900 to 400 pound horse
Is to Is hands high, which is big
enough and heavy enough for draft
purposes in this climate.
TO PICKLE BEEF.
a,Fall or early winter is good time
to nut up barrel or two of "corned
beef.u This is "our" process: Kill
GOOD fat steer, skin and quarter as
usual The meat should be cut in
pieces not larger than four pounds
each. Cutting the hind quarters the
natural Examinations of the muscles
should be followed as nearly as pos
sible; loins the same. All large mar
row bones should be sawed across.