The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1891-08-06
FARM NOTES.
A FEW IDEAS ON TOPICS OF INTEREST
TO FARMERS.
How to Handle Pears-The Williamson
County Farmers INSTRUMENTATION
Ringing Chapter on Country
Roads, Etc.
HOW TO HANDLE PEARS,

SIR-In reply to your query, "When
should LIE Conte and Keiffer pears be
pulled?" l would say that the general
rule is when they are ripe. That time
is very hard to tell; indications gen.
orally point the time out. A slight
changing of color to a more golden
hue is a good indication, and when
you lift the bottom of the LIE Conte up
slightly and it's stem readily parts
from the branch, that is another sign
that they are ri pc. Near Galveston
they pulled them last week and in
Florida two or three weeks ago. My
time here (Kaufman county, is the
first and second weeks in August, this
year perhaps week later, as all OF
my fruit is from one to two weeks
later this year than usual. pulled
the last of my six earliest varieties OF
peaches on July l, and my total crop
will not exceed two bushels from
$50 trees. The LIE Conte pear
rots about as quick as it
gets good and mellow, it should there
fore be picked and ripened-mellowed
up-in the house and watched very
closely to see that they are not rot
ting.
The Keiffer pear ripens here late in
September, and it will keep quite a
while after it is ripe. This alone
makes it a very profitable pear for
Texas, and it bears transportation the
best of any, although it's quality is
not of the best. The Keiffer is the
pear for all purposes in our hot elm
ate.
The Duchesse de Angloume is a
fine pear with me and does we'll here.
Try it if you have not tried it. 1t fills
a place between the LIE Conte and
Keiffer, and it's meat is as solid as the
Keiffer, it is large and good, and bears
transportation well. From fourteen
varieties and $50 trees will only get
about eight bushels this year.
Grapes are still an enigma to me;
out of thirty-fve varieties one-half of
them are dead and the other half
sickly. The Concord and the Della
ware, and Norton's Verginia class
seem to do best. My grape crop is
small this year L hope you are MAX
ing more profit out of your fruit than
/ am this year. Yours truly,
MATT STEVENS.
WILLIAMSON COUNTY FARMERS IN
sTITUTE.
Williamson county will hold it's
second annual institute at George
town on August 4th to 18th, in the
Chautauque Temple and the pIo-
gram gives promise of a pleasant and
edifying time to all interested in ag-
riculture and stock-raising.
Tuesday, 4th.-Address by the
president and election of officers.
2 p. m.-Address:-" value
of Farmers Institutes" Hon. J.E.
Hollingswort't, State Commissioner
of Agriculture.
SIP. m.-Address:-"How to make
farming pay" John G. Edgar OF
Travis county.
Wednesday, August 4th, 10 a. M
Address:-"Cotton Culture" Mr..
Jeff Wellborn of Bowie county. Adj
Dress" Education of the agricultu-
raj classes" Professor - of the
A. and M. College.
Up. m.-Address:-"Alfah :" Mr..
w. III. Farley, Hutto. Address,
"Wheat Culture,n Capt. j. A. Rum
sew. Address:-''Relation of tenant
and land owner.n Mr.. 7. A. Evans,
Hutto.
Essay: "Sanitary Matters on the
FARM Mr.. p. B. Saffold, George
town.
Sp. m.-Address: practical Irriga-
ton" Capt. w. G. Walsh, Austin.
Address: "Why are Farmers as a
Glass not Prosperous" Col. Norton
Moses, Burnett county.
August 6, 8 a. m.-Stock show.
10 a. m-Address: Improved
Cattle.n Hon. J. d. Savers, Bastrop.
Essay: "Horse Raising.n Messrs. ID.
H. and J. w. Snyder, Georgetown.
Address: "Hog Raising in Texas"
Mr.. M. r. Hoxie.
Address: Feeding Beef Cattle"
2 p. m.-Award Of Premiums on
agricultural, horticultural and other
exhibits.
Essay: Seeding VS.. Grated Fruit"
Mr.. f. II Ramsey, Burnett county.
"Jersey Cattle.n Addresses by Hon.
A. w. Terrell of Austin and Mr.. S. l..
Burnap, Williamson county.
8p. m.-Essay: "Bees and Honey"
Mrs. S. f. Sherman, Salado, Bell
county.
August Z, 10 a. m.-"Poultry on the
Farm" Addresses by Mr.. II. G.
Richey and Hon. w. p. Hancock,
Salado.
Address: "sheep on the Farm"
w. J. Elliott, Gabriel Mills
3 p. m.-Award of premiums on
stock.
Address: "Resolved, That all stock
should be kept in enclosures or owners
be responsible for damages, Mr.. II. A.
Evans.
Address: Is the present system of
arm labor efficient?" Mr.. j. II. Nc
t'utcheon, Rice's Crossing.
Address: Economy on the farm"
apt. A. M. Kellar, Temple.
A full report of the proceedings OF
the institute will be published in THE
STATESMAN.
GOOD ROADS A PROFITABLE INVEST
MENT.
A wealthy prospector, says the
Journal of Commerce, who was look
ing for a rural home in which to give
a safe and pleasant summer outing to