The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1892-05-26

rlgn6 thlng at the right time.
CORN CULTURE.
III Nearly every farmer has certa'
rs well defined rules for the cultivatio
n of each crop, and while the wise an
r. progressive man changes his plan {
- suit changing circumstances the vas
IL majority follow in the old rut year il
n and year out. Herein lies the secre
~ of the success of one aud the failur
~ of the other, though they have farme,
), next door to each other, on the sam
II soil and with the same climatic ad
8 vantages. Their broad cast crop
c will vary according to time of plant
:, ing, condition of soil and method 0
seeding, but there is a wider margin
: for difference in cultivated crops.
L have noticed forty bushel corr
= crop right alongside one of twenty
five bushels, and the latter had re-
ceived as much labor, was planted Oh
, the same soil and at the same time as
, the other. The difference was caused
by the different treatment during
growth. Judgement was not used in
blowing, either as to time or depth.
The condition of the soil as regards
moisture and compactness are the
| hiuih AoOJOlo III Juc UI0dl-
ment of corn, or indeed any other
hoed crop.
Moisture is essential to plant life,
but only in needed quantity, if perfec-
| ton is to be attained. An excess of
moisture is as fatal as q deficiency.
In this section we are seldom troubled
with an excess for heightened
period, but we sometimes suffer from
a shortage. Corn has keen appetite
for water and porous roots which ex-
tend widely and deeply in search of
needed nourishmeIt. In dry season
these roots are strong and pene-
trating, while in wet season they
are much more numerous and feeble,
ending, as they do, their supply near
the surface. 1t must be clear that one
system of cultivation will not apply
to both cases. Deep blowing in dry
season, which breaks the roots, must
injure the plant, as the feeding ma
chinory is destroyed and cannot be
replaced without rain. When the
soil is moist the breakage of surface
roots Is not of material consequence, |
as small feeders soon form in the loose, |
moist soil. There is one rule that will |
apply to every farmers case, no mat
ter whore located or. circumstanCed,
and that is to keep the surface
soil in every cultivated crop
loose and free from grass and
weeds. The best way to produce
that result must be left to the judg-
ment of the operator There is right
and wrong time to perform the OPP
GRAFTON and here lies q field for the ex-
ercise of good judgment. Flowing
when the land is too dry or too wet
should be avoided. The happy med
ium should be aimed at. Some soil if
too dry will tear up in chunks and in
lure the crop more than if left I'M
touched. If too wet and pasty the
lpturned soil will bake hard and
every spot pressed by the horses feet
will form into solid clod. There is a I
common belief that corn only needs ,
three plowings and many having CIV
en it that number quit, no matter
what may be the necessity of the crop.
have given reason why this rule !
should not be followed.
1t is doubtful policy to pillow after
corn is fully tasselled; up to that time
d cannot have too much, if properly
lone when the soil is in fit condition.
RIVER BOTTOM GRASS.
L have had request from a CORES
pendent to write an article descriptive ;
Of our river bottom grass and the best
way to plant it. Also cost of seed and
where it can be obtained. / am quite
familiar with the grass and its value
for hay, but don't know anything
obout the cost of the seed or where it
can be purchased. If any of my
readers can supply the information.
would be glad to have short article
on the subject.
PEDIGREE NOT EVERYTHING.
One of our live stock exchanges
says the Texas stockman and farmer
very properly calls attention to the
fact that pedigree..Ss is not
sufficient. 1t says that for the past
few years the leading agricultural pa
pers have been urging the farmers to
get nothing but thoroughbred males,
and where possible, to start with full
blood females also, and then breed up
the remainder of the herd. This point
is so important that it has been urged |
to the sighting of most other points.
1t is exactly as important now as it |
was decades ago, and it will have to
be urged for some time to come. When |
one sees 2-year-old steers weighing |
1911 pounds and selling ON the Chicago
market at $3.50 per hundred, as they |
did ON the 10th of January, and on the
same day in the same market,
sees other 2-year-old steers sell |
as low as So hundred he |
will remain convinced that there
is still need of preaching. But there
is perhaps some danger Of thinking
that just so an animal has a regular |
stem winder of a pedigree that he is
all right.
TEXAS STATE FAIR.
The public will be pleased to learn
that the cloud which hung over the |
Dallas fair has been dispelled, and
that the annual exhibition will be
held. The abandonment or failure of
the enterprise would be a loss not only |
to Dallas, but to the whole state; for
it has come to be looked upon as a
state institution. The fair has done
much to advertise the state and
develop the agricultural and stock
interests, but the field is |
xx,;Jo a,d ,No,, 60, o..aat