The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1891-08-20
TRAVIS COUNTY.
HER RESOURCES AS SEEN BY AN mr..
SERVANT STRANGER.
Letter From Feed Farmer"-The Dairy.
A Model Difference Between
Writing Farmer and
Farming Writer.


L
think the only wonder is that in some
branches the failures are not more
numerous than they are. One of these
is dairying. | think l can Justly
! claim fairly wide acquaintance
among those who are engaged in this
branch of agriculture in Central and
Western Texas, and feel am safe
in saying that not more than one in
five understand even the elementary
principle of the business they are at
tempting to carry on, and also that
not more than one in five of the hal
ance even attempt to do as well as
they know how to do.
Those who take no pains to post
themselves on the modern improve
ments in dairying, and think that the
practice of their remote ancestors
loosely carried out, is good enough for
them, are always ready to express
doubt as to the veracity of those who
practice more modern methods, and
with a desire to benefit their brethren
take the trouble to report the results.
They never saw a lot of gilt edged
butter, and wouldn't know what it
was if one were shown them. Those
who know better than they do are
satisfied with expressing a doubt of
the difference in profit being common
surate with the difference in trouble,
and so are content to work along on
half profits, and after a while go out
ofthe business with the excuse that it
is overdone.
But the dairy business in not over
done in Texas. 1t is said by the wise
that in every business there is always
room at the top, and the dairy bust
ness has broader top than almost
any other at the present time. This
is by no means hint that would adj
wise general rush for the dairy field
as means of lettering the condition
of those who failed in other branches
Of agriculture, but rather as an en-
enlargement to those in the business
to try and do better by it in order
that it may do better by them.
Among those whom L have met on
this trip who seem to be meeting with
success in the line of butter dairying
are ID. G. Miller and Mrs. G. A.
Graves, both near Austin. Mr.. Miller
is young man, full of vim, energy
and love for his business; qualities
which will be sure to bring him sue
cess. He has some thoroughbred and
grade Jerseys, and will soon be in the
market with thoroughbred stock as
we'll as butter.
Mrs. Graves is already pretty well
known as a writer for the agricultural
press. She has built up her dairy
from very small beginning and de-
serves great credit therefor. Her eX-
ample might be followed with profit
by many farmers wives who are as
well situated for the business as she.
Mrs. Graves is now Offering some of
her stock for sale in order that she
may further fit herself up with the
necessary conveniences for the more
profitable prosecution OF her business.
Her advertisement will be found in
another column. This is the only dairy
| have found in the state managed en-
tirely by a woman, and must say that
it's appointments and general manage
ment are superior to many / have
seen managed by men.
John Edgar, agricultural editor of
The AUSTIN STATESMAN is one of
those men whom it would do a certain
class of men good to visit. 1 refer to
the class of men who think that a
writer on agricultural matters is not
capable of practicing what he
breaches. / had hut short time to
spend with Mr.. Edgar at his farm
near Duval, but it was long enough
to convince me that if the class re-
ferred to are right as to the general
rule, had met one of the exceptions.
Both his home and his farm have the
appearance of belonging to a man who
pushes his work rather than allow his
work to push him.
In speaking of weevil in corn |
found Mr.. Edgar shared my opinion
that the remedy to be effective must
be applied in the field rather than in
the crib, and to this end he is expert
menting with variety of corn whose
ears seldom push beyond the husks,
the theory being that the grain in
such cases is less accessible to the in
sect. Except that a variety of this
kind can be found / believe heating
the grain to sufficient degree to kill
the germ is the only sure remedy.
The egg is laid in the grain when the
the corn is young and soft, and if the
laying Of the egg cannot be prevented,
to prevent the Matching is the only
way; whatever will do this will prove
successful and whatever will not is a
failure.
If the parent insect enters only at
the exposed end of the ear and never
through the husks, 1 see no reason
why by always selecting for seed such
ears as have the longest husks the de-
vastations of this may not in time be
greatly diminished. The corn with
which Mr.. Edgar is experimenting
has this habit already pretty well es-
tablished. He has several other vari-
cites of corn, as well as different vari-
cites of cotton; in fact his is an expert
mental farm, such one as most men
,rouId coon find thap,calvac cIUanonad