The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1892-08-18
FARM NOTES.

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expect, and rarely get rainfall ex
ceeding one inch in either July o
: August, and we manage to wiggl
through these months refreshed only
by heat and sunshine.
OF course rain is welcome, but W,
are as accustomed to our annual "dry
spell" commonly called "drouth'
by ignorant or interested outsiders
that we don't worry at little dust
dried up pastures and empty water
tanks. But when kind providence
changes the program and introduces
such glorious flood ofmoisture as we
have just experienced, we are CRATE
full and appreciative. We are now as
sured of plenty of "fall grass" which
means cattle going into winter in
good condition; but this should not
prevent farmers from making full
provisions for winter feeding, as the
records show, that an excessively wet
summer and fall are genera ly fol-
lowed by an early and
severe winter. In this section
the rain was just in time to keep cot
ton growing, and plants give prom
Use of the biggest yield in the past
nine years. OF course. it is too soon
to estimate the ultimate yield, as so
many elements enter into the deter
mination of the matter. Wet seasons
are invariably accompanied by visit
from the cotton worm, and sometimes
in such force as to greatly iniure the
crop. 1t is here now and will increase
in numbers and mischievousnes if
we don't have a speedy return of heat
and sunshine. The boil worm is re-
ported on several farms in the county;
so it won't be wise to whistle until we
are through the wood. Reports from
Mississippi and other cotton states all
concur in stating that the crop will be
very short. some authorities claiming
that it will be from 2,000,0 900 to 3,000,-
900 bales less than last year. 1t is too
soon to tell. and if the market is any
criterion, the reports are ill-founded,
as each succeeding day fails to show
any increase in values, but frequently
a decline.
L. q IF. Blnm of Galveston. a firm
largely interested in the cotton bust
ness, have just issued report on the
cotton outlook. Their report is founded
on reports of siXty-seven counties in
Texas, and it confirms statement |
issued by them about six weeks ago.
They state that the acreage in cotton |
is Is per cent less than last year; that |
it is in per cent worse condition and |
eight days later. Corn acreage is IA
PER cent more and 8 per cent better.
AS the Kansas corn crop is reported
to be injured so per cent by drouth
and hot winds the Texas corn crop
may find home market without the
of Kansas, which really
regulates corn values in this state.
Altogether the agricultural outlook is
good, and better if not prosperous
times lie right ahead.
PETROLEUM ON THE FARM.
One of the most useful things a
farmer can have is barrel of crude
petroleum, says Henry Stewart. 1t is
valuable for many purposes. 1t is q
specific against all kinds of insect ver-
min, such as poultry lice, sheep ticks,
flies which annoy the sheep and
lambs and the voracious stable flies
that poster the horses and cows. 1t is
q remedy for sprains, bruises, cuts
and gals of all kinds. 1t is a good
outdoor paint for fences and build
ings, and it is dirt cheap.
But one of the most valuable uses of
this oil is for preventing and curing
that worst of all diseases of the sheep
the scab. This is caused by para
SITE a minute insect that burrows in
the skin and causes small watery
blisters that in time break and exude
4 glutinous lymph that proves the
we'll known scab in which the wool is
tangled and matted. There is DO
more wretched animal in the universe
than sheep so diseased. The various
remedies and preventives in common
use are troublesome to apply
and costly. But crude petroleum is
,asily applied after the sheep is shorn
Dy simply scrubbing the animal with
Jhe oil, so as to reach the skin and
work the oil into the diseased spots.
1t kills the scab mites and heals the
sores. 1t is an excellent remedy for
hat other common disorder of sheep
the foot rot. Its penetrating quail
ty and its rapid absorption by the
skin, with it's active antiseptic char
,cter, and its freedom rom all acrid-
ty, thus ronder it serviceable for all
hese and other related purposes,
And, besides all these, it is good
ubricator and will not gum in any
Kind of farm machinery.
HOW TO SOW SEED.
Many garden seeds fail to grow,
'ays the Country Gentlemen, because
he soil is not pressed firmly on and {
about them, and one reason it is not
hus pressed is because it is left in too {
coarse Jumps. A small portion, or I
mere points, of these Jumps are the I
,nly places which come in contact
with the seeds; they do not receive
lue moisture through these points,
hey dry up, do not grow and ulti- (
nately perish. The remedy is fine
of the soil. This
will incase the seed on al sides
md cause them to terminate. The
noe will break the crust and cut off
and kill the weeds; the steel rake will
not only break the crust but it will re-
luce the crust to powder. and if will