The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1892-02-11
FARM NOTES.
Edited by John c. Edgar Duval, to whom all
communications for this column should be adj
lrnCSp1

L always reau al tulDS SAW duuuu
killing weevils in corn, but have tried
so many things that have failed l be-
gin to think it can never he done,
DR.. Hachenberg gives new plan,
and seems confident that it is a "per-
feet cure.n know the deadly effect
of bi-sulphurette of carbon, but fear
that it will be dangerous to use it in
the corn crib. 1t ignites when ap-
preached with fire, and it would be
risky to go to the crib with a lantern.
Perhaps DR.. Hachenberg will tell us
whether my fears are are we'll founded,
and if so, what should be done TO re-
move all risk.
If we could store our corn as safely
as they do in the North and East
farmers would raise more corn and
less cotton; but the weevil lessons the
value of corn kept till the spring
fully so per cent, and it pays no better
than cotton. Respectfully,
E. SNEED.
Agricultural Editor OF The Statesman,
was much pleased with your re-
marks about the Importance of rota-
ton of crops, and though l have not
practiced it so much as ] ought, l am
certain that it is the foundation of
successful farming. If farmers would
change round their crops year by year
and plow in all trash instead of burn
ing it, they would make better crops
and keep up the fertility of their soil.
You say that salt is poison to veg
citation, if applied in sufficient guam
tity. Well, it occurs to me that salt
would be remedy for Johnson grass.
| have killed small patches of it by
keeping sharp hoe going whenever
a leaf showed above ground, but have
not been able to kill it with pillow,
as it buried the turned up roots and
they kept Oh growing. Where there
is much of the grass it would cost too
much to kill it with the hoe.
Now what do you think of my try
ing salt? Do you think / could kill
the grass without killing the soil?
JAMES o. SMITH.
| think the cure would be nearly as
fatal as the disease. Johnson can be
KILLED by an application of salt, but
that remedy is open to two serious
objections, the cost of the salt and its
fatal effect on the soil 1t requires so
much salt to destroy the grass, that
the soil is rendered practically sterile
for the present generation. No, the
game isn't worth the candle.-ED.
We are apt to consider our methods
far ahead of those employed by our
ancestors, and as rule, this is a just
conclusion. But honesty compels the
admission that in many ways we have
degenerated.
The stock raiser and dariymen of
today honestly believe that they
handle better specimens of the beef
and butter breeds than were ever
known in years past. But Bell, in his
history of the short-horn, gives figures
which show that his breed of cattle
was as great success at the pail as
on the block. He mentions one cow
that gave G2 IL quarts of milk
at each milking and of others that
gave 10 IL quarts twice a day, fed on
grass alone; of a cow called Barforth
that gave is quarts of milk twice a
day and her milk produced twenty
four pounds Of butter a week. The
first of the now greatly valued
Duchess family produced milk which
Welded 1-2 ounces of butter from
each quart of milk, and twenty-eight
quarts of that daily.
Many other instances are given OF
the milk and butter value of what
are now only accounted beef breeds,
and it is noticeable that the yields
mentioned above were not the result
of high feeding, such as is now the
practice, with 6 view to make a
record"
While we have advanced in many
departments we have degenerated in
others, and the field for improvement
is wide and inviting.
About two weeks ago q convention
of merchants and cotton planters met
at Atlanta, Ga. The object of the
meeting was to discuss plans for the
reduction of the cotton acreage.
After a long discussion, it was
resolved that the enormous extension
of acreage cheapened the product be-
vond the profit mark and caused wide
financial depression, and that the leg
islatures of the cotton states should be
memorialized to enact laws that would
compel the following results:
First-The adaptation of the Aus
tralian, or some similar system, for
the registration of lfnd titles and
transfers.
Second-rO secure mere effectually
than at present all rights and privil-
eyes appertaiEing to or in any way
belonging to land.
Third-That all agricultural lands
be classified and permanent valua-
ton fer taxation fixed upon them, and
that therefore, for period of thirty
three years, no provements of agri-
cultural lands be subject 80 assess
ments and taxation.
Fourth--That to meet the present
and prospective depreciation OF cotton
a moderate license be placed OF cotton
acreage for a period Ct four years.
The three 1irst propositions are not
omen to much objection; but when it is
nropesed to regulate the production of
cotton by taxation, the kicking will
he Of a vigorous character, although it
is a difficult matter to suggest any
means short oftaxation to perceptibly
emf short the production Of cotton: