The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1892-12-08

than compensate for the loss, as in the
case of our rich black prairie soils.
They are generally we'll supplied
with humus, especially when used
in the cultivation of cotton.
OF course if this practice of burning
were continued without intermission
for q number of years the result would
be injurious.
Whenever II is practicable to pillow
in trash, it should be done.
WASTE ON THE FARM.
The average Southern farmer does
not make the most of his opportunities
Nature is so generous in this South
land that We can have bounliiul crops
with minimum OF labor and the use
of the crudest methods. Practices
that ensure good living for the Texas
farmer would at the best guarantee
for the failure and starvation If fol-
lowed in other countries. We waste
more on our farms than would keep
Old World farmers in as good positions
as they new occupy. The waste is
positively sinful, and l am sinner.
These reflections were forced upon me
this fall when my cattle were losing
flesh by reason of failing grass and
falling acorns in my pasture. 1t
may not be known to all prairie farm
ers and stockmen that cattle love
acorns as much as do hogs, and that
the consumption of acorns will quickly
reduce the fattest steer or cow to the
condition of q "bag o. bones" That is
the main reason why our timber
raised cattle stand the inclemency OF
winter worse than those out on the
the biting blast. Timber raised cattle
are losing flesh quickest at the very
time they should be gaining, and all
the extra feed eaten during the time
the mast is available, is the same
as wasted; as its fattening properties
are neutralized by the action of the
acorns.
My cattle are thus in poor condi.
ton, though on good pasture. Now
this is my misfortune, rather than my
fault. But then it is my fault that the
mischief is not considerably reduced
by better management.
My readers may have noticed that
am not one of those agricultural au
thorities that never make q mistake
Tor never tell if they do), but only re
late their great or imaginary successes
An open confession is said to be goot
+ for the soul, and if farmers and edit
ors tell their failures as well as thei
successes, more profit might be got @
their experience.
cultivate sixty-six acres OF land
which after the pattern of other small
, Texas farms, is in one field withou
, dividing fence. On this land / thi
E year cultivated sixteen acres of cotton
, thirty-two corn, twelve oats, thre
> sorghum and the balance i'm potatoe
! and other truck. cut three crops {
sorghum and the fourth was abou
six inches high at the end of October
, My stubble and corn land was covere
a with a magnificent crop of grass, bu
a as my cotton and sweet potatoes wer
+ still unharvested and in positio
, where they could not be fenced off q
justifiable expense $50 l thought
q this grand lot of feed, which woul
have made my cattle trolling fat,
a and have taken them away from tn
q acorns; was, to great extent, wast
q ed, as the last of the cotton could nc
be got out till Dec. /. Now, If | ha
y looked far enough ahead would hav
: arranged my crops 80 that a two wiz
q fence with a post every twenty-fiv
: feet would have made my corn an
q stubble land available at the RICH
a time. My resolution is good for tn
a be- co venient to fl