The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1892-06-16
FARM NOTES.

According to the monthly report Vi
tho department of agriculture, pub
lished on the 10th inst, the state per-
centages of actual acreage of cotton
compared with last year are as fol-
lows: Virginia 70, North Carolina rs,
South Carolina "a, Georgia "a, Florida
81, Alabama "a, Mississippi S5, Louis
lana so, Texas So, Arkansas 81, Ten
nessee SO; average SO $40. Core
spondents report planting late and
termination retarded by low temper
allure in the entire belt. The average
condition in the consolidated report is
IS 9-1O, lowest with one exception since
1874. State averages: Virginia 70,
North Carolina 88, South Carolina 81,
Georgia 81, Florida 80, Alabama 81,
Mississippi 81. Louisiana 81, Texas 81,
Arkansas rs, Tennessee 80.
This report is based on the condi-
ton of the crop on June /, and as there
has been little if any Improvement in
the average condition Of the crop since
that time, the indications are for a
short yield, over about IL per cent.
less average than last year.
This gives cause for hope that the
coming seasons crop will not fall be-
low the rates now ruling, and that
there may even be an advance. But
as one swallow does not make sum-
mer, one short cotton crop and ad-
vance in prices would not prove the
wisdom OF increased acreage next sea-
son.
CURE FOR TICKS ON CATTLE.
Ticks on cattle and horses and lice
on swine are tremendous drain on
the vitality of animals infested with
these blood sucking pests; and how to
get rid of them has been an unsolved
problem till the present time.
Many remedies have been tried but
none with unvarying success until
kerosene emulsion was discovered.
Prof. Cook of the Michigan Agricul-
tural station, who has tested its virtue
very thoroughly, strongly recon-
mends its use. He says: "Kerosene
emulsion not only kills all the lice,
but also nits or eggs, and if the stable
be well sprinkled at the same time
the animals are treated, the applica-
tion will need to be repeated only at
rare intervals" Again, brushing the
animals thoroughly with soap seems
to cleanse the skin and make the coat
more bright and glossy. Without any
question the kerosene emulsion barrel
should find place in every stock
mans barn.
The soft soap emulsion is the best for
this. The more livuid nature makes
it easy of manipulation in cold
weather, and the lerge quantity of
soap is very cleansing and wholesome.
To apply, we use common brush in
case of cattle, horses or hogs, and in
case of sheep, dip the onimal right
into the warm diluted emulsion. The
cost of material for an average COW is
about three cents, and the time re-
quired for treatment less than five
minutes.
The following is the best formula for
an emulsion for stock: Dissolve one
quart of soft soap-one pint will do
well, or one-fourth of pound of hard
soap in two quarts of boiling water,
then remove from the fire and add
one pint of kerosene oil. The mixture
is now stirred violently by forcing it
back into itself by use OF force pump
or syringe. This hard stirring is alb.
solutely necessary. 1t can not be done
with stick. In these days every
farmer must have a spraying pump;
one OF the cheap ones costing but $l.00
does well. 1t takes about three
minutes to emulsify the oil, and when
complete, the whole looks like rich
cream.
WATER MELON CULTURE.
In reply to the enquiry of CORES
pondent In the Rural New Yorker,
Prof G. G. Butt says the best soil is q
friable loan that will allow the heat
to penetrate to the roots of the melons,
and receive water freely without be-
coming stiff. A very rich soil is to be
avoided because of the tendency to
produce much vine and flavorless
fruit. Cultivation does not mean the
planting of seed and gathering of
fruit, but an intelligent care of the
growing plants A liberal supply of
nourishment should be given the
melon vine to induce healthy and
vigorous growth, which should be
checked at the time for maturing the
fruit Manuring in hills, therefore,
have found produces the best results.
The roots of the melon extend often
five feet from the stem, and if they
continually find rich food, the vine
grows luxuriantly at the expense OF
good and early fruit.
This excessive growth of vine neces.
states pinching the tips of the vines
although L do not find it generally
practiced) in order to force the devel-
orment of fruit. The practice of pinch.
ing does not, however, accomplish the
purpose as successfully as does the
manuring in hills. The truth of this
statement l have seen strongly sup.
ported by my experience with grape
vines, having grown them on rich
and poor soils with the best and sweet.
est fruit from the latter. If pinching
is to be practiced on the melon il
should be done when the first fruits
are as large es apples, taking away
about one foot of the tip of the vine.
soMNAMBULIsTIC HORSE.
The chief reason why mule can
nearly always wear out horse
when it comes to trial of endurance
is that the former can always lie
down to sleep, and in large number
of cases sleep standing up. The habit
seems to have come to horses which
have been hurt, especially when in