The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1892-09-29

Cotton is the all absorbing topic at
this time, in all the South. The ex-
tent of the crop is the problem that
taxes the brain of the man on Change,
and the price per pound the man with
the hoe.
AS spectators and manufacturers
begin to realize the falling off in this
seasons crop, as against last years,
we may look for an improvement in
prices. The advance will be delayed
as long as possible, but if present
prices do not fail we will see tempo
rary, If not permanent, improvement.
The total receipts of cotton this sea-
son up till the 18th of September
amounted to 156, 1915 against 81, 1868 for
same period last year, showing a de-
ficiency of 160,S94 bales.
Spectators are trying to persuade
themselves that this falling off is due
to planters holding for better prices,
but those in the field know that it is
caused by short crop and that a much
smaller percentage is being held than
for several years past. This fact is
beginning to dawn upon buyers, and
Saturdays Liverpool market showed
an upward tendency.
While do not advocate the keep
ing of cotton till the end of the season
with view to getting 8 or 10 cents a
pound, think it would be prudent to
hold some back now, instead of rush
ing it on the market to keep down
present price, leaving spectators to
reap all the profits at the close OF the
season.
The same advice will apply
to corn raisers. Many farmers,
under the impression that an
enormous crop has been raised, have
sold their last available bushel for
shipment to Mexico at prices ranging
from 40 to 48 cents for sheled corn.
AS Kansas has none to spare this
year it seems to me that it will pay to
hold corn for the home market.
would Judge that Travis county
has made the best cotton and corn crop
this year of any county in the state.
But the cotton yield will be much less
than promised a month ago, owing to
the prevalence of worms. Early cot
ton is not much injured, beyond being
made trashy with leaves, bat late
crops have been reduced from 25 to so
per cent. The worms came in unusual
force and swept the country OF every
green leaf, square and bloom. This
caused a shedding of young bolls, and
put an end to the development of
those half grown.
My Southern Hope long staple cot
40x +; ab nuiHnnRn
yielding bale to the acre, now looks
only good for half a bale. AS the
growth of the hollis was checked, so
was that of the lint, SO that l will not
be able to judge of the quality OF the
staple by this seasons crop, but L
have examined some of the earliest
matured bolls and the lint is long and
fine. would jadge that it will turn
out we'll at the gin, as the lint is very
bulky in proportion to the size of the
seed. 1t is very easy to pick, but
looks as if it would not stand storm.
HOG FEEDING.
Every prudent farmer raises enough
hogs to supply his family with meat
and lard, even if at a greater cost
than the same quantity of material
is justified by the assurance of whole
some food, which cannot always be
had for money. Home-fed pork gem
orally costs more than it should, be.
cause it is produced too exclusively
from corn. Corn is often the exclusive
diet of hogs, when much more valua-
BILE food, costing nothing, is going to
waste. Corn is perhaps the best of all
food for fattennig hogs, but it is not
adapted for young, growing animals
except as an auxiliary.
Young animals should have, if pos
sible, the run of pasture or grass
lot, both for exercise and the benefit
of green food. Where that cannot be
given the garden and fields should be
raided for weeds, grass and spare
vegetables, on which hogs will grow
and thrive better than on corn alone
and at no expense beyond the time
and labor. 1 have just had very
practical demonstration of this asser-
ton. bought two stunted, shrivelled
up little shoats from neighbor in
March last; they weighed about fifty
pounds and cost me 81 each. They
were put into pen and fed literally
on weeds, grass and refuse gar den
truck, with few nubbins of corn
night and morning. In about two
weeks they began to show improve
ment and put on flesh. They re-
ceived the same treatment right
along till about month ago, when
the corn ration was increased.
They had reached stage when
corn could be fed with advantage. L
sold them few days ago at 5 cents
per pound and the pair weighed 4oO
pounds.
The whole of their corn supply did
not exceed six bushels, and their de-
velopment was due to weeds and
otherwise waste vegetation coupled
with skim milk and kitchen slop.
That kind of hog raising is profit
able, but when tine feeding is confined
to so or TO cent corn the balance is on
the other side of the ledger.
1t is seldom that so cent corn can
be turned into pork at profit, as it is
estimated that it takes bushel of
corn to make ten pounds of pork under
the most favorable conditions, and
these don't commonly prevail. In
deed, it is doubtful if fifteen pounds of
corn will make one pound of pork the
- ,,o,,oIlxy ho1coH and fad