The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1892-05-19
FARM NOTES.
WHERE'S THE FOOL KILLER?

on the trail. Not that the peddler /
, a fool; as rule he can be better de
scribed by word that rhymes witt
brave. 1t is the peddler's victim
, that require the attention OF the zan.
exterminator. This is the peddle
season and the crop is quite up to thu
average. There are different varie
ties of the species; some of them hon
est useful members of society, whose
efforts are productive of good to the
community, by inducing many tt
plant trees bearing valuable health
giving fruit, who otherwise would
never have thought of doing so. But
honesty compels the admission that a
majority of itinerant fruit tree dealers
are unmitigated frauds. Like their
brother fakirs Of the city who live on
the dimes and quarters of q credu'
lous and sanguine public; the tree
peddler wakes rich on the dollars
of simple. minded, trusting people in
the country. The simplicity and
creduIity of tree buyers is surprising
No statement can be made too out
rageous for their belief. No real spec.
linens, even when made of wax, can
be too large or luscious looking to es-
tablish doub in their minds, and no
picture too bright or highly colored to
suggest exaggeration. The brighter
the colors and the bigger the wax
specimens, the more easily are the
astounding statements of the peddler
| hoisted in. Buyers expect to realize
lNn tnt nf
their disappointment on failing to do
so, is generally in proportion to the
height of their anticipations. These
reflections were suggested by visit
just paid to Travis and adjoining
counties by troup of tree peddlers
who have done an immense business
in peach trees, sold as California seed
lings, at 81 each. OF course the ped
dler could, and did show, some
great advantage in his trees to
the satisfaction of his customers, but
they were easily satisfied and very
ignorant of the fact that about
70 per cent of seedlings are worthless
as fruit bearers; while the remaining
% per cent will rarely embrace per
cent of trees worth the ground on
which they grow. The seedlings OF
California are no exception to this rule
and the silly people who have ordered
such trees at 81 each, would get a
much more valuable tree by planting
the seed of Il good peach right where
the tree is wanted to grow. The seed
lings are only valuable when they
grow without transplanting. Its the
deep roofing of the unmoved Seeding
which gives it merit, and that only.
Seedlings are said to be longer lived
than grated or budded trees, but that
only applies when their first roots are
not mutilated by removal. If a fine
fruit of any particular kind is wanted
it must be grated or budded, as no
tree can be reproduced from seed. 1t
is claimed that some peaches repro
duce from seed, but than can only be
when they are So removed from others
of same species during the blooming
period, as to prevent cross fertilization
by insects and the action of the wind.
would repeat the advice / have
repeatedly given; all intending
tree planters should, if possible, do
their business direct with the nurs-
eryman nearest home, and never send
money out of the state for what can
be had much better and cheaper at
home. The neighboring tree grower
is known. If his character is good
trust him, it is his interest to treat
YOU well. But the distant dealer, if
disposed, can do many mean things
without getting his reward. Even
when honest and well intentioned he
| is often unfortunate enough to employ
some INSCRIPTIONS agent who mis-
represents his goods and sells under
false pretenses.
BAG YOUR GRAPES.
While so much is being said with
regard to the spraying of grapes with
the Bordeaux mixture, says DR.. Stell
in Texas Farm and Ranch, l would
advise the bagging of part at least
[ have bagged varieties
that never before with me had ripened
one single grape to the vine and
remained so, the entire bunch Of
grapes were terfect-not one single
rotten grape in the bunch-while
punches not bagged, side by side with
those that were bagged, never ripened
a grape. Use two pound paper sacks
of best quality. They are very cheap
and easily applied. The bags should
be applied as soon as the punches are
we'll developed, say when the fruit i:
as large as No. s shot. Don't wait
until the grapes begin to rot-it i;
then too late. Slip the sack over the
bunch and tie it firmly to the stem o.
the bunch close up where it makes
out from the vine. Tie with cottor
yarn, or better still, use small wire
tree label wire. Cut it four o.
five inches long, have some gooc
paste and strips of paper
say one-half inch wide and one anC
one-half inches long ready; lay the
wire across the seams of the sacl
about thee.fourths or one inch from the
top of the sack. Apply the paste tt
one side the strip of paper, and ther
the strip of paper over the center o
the wire, which should be just ovel
the seam of the sack. When the wire
has thus been fastened to the sacks i
is no trouble for one person to sack th'
grapes. Everything about thi'
method of saving grapes is cheap anC
simple-no damage to the vines 81
soil as claimed by some to be the cas'
when the Bordeaux mixture is APP
piled. This is written for the specia
benefit of farmers and small growers
Thoaa hio fallOws are able to take cart