The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1892-08-04


communications for this column should be ad
dressed.
LAWN GRASS.
Agricultural Editor of The Statesman.
Ihave at length prevailed upon my
husband to allow truck garden
patch in front of our house, TO be con-
verified in a grass lawn with flower
borders; and would like you to advise
me which is the best grass for a lawn,
and when the seed should be sown.
Some friends have recommended
Bermuda, but l think L have read
that it is pest and we have enough
of them around the farm without in
Producing more. l have confidence
that you will advise me right.
E. B.
am glad to learn that my fair cor
respondent has prevailed, and that
the unsightly though useful truck
patch, is to be relegated to more Sc
Guided portion of the homestead.
There may not be "money" in lawn
and flower garden, but there are
pleasures that many milliouaires
don't know anything about, and
which their money could not buy
them, as they lack the abil-
ity to appreciate them. The
character and refinement, or other
wise, of the owners of a home in city
or country, can be accurately judged
by it's surroundings. But must re-
stra my inclination to moralize and
give reply to the very important
query, (Which is the best grass for a
lawn?" L have no hesitation in say
ing Bermuda. But while it is a per-
feet lawn grass for this climate, and
when away from a cultivated field,
garden or flower bed; it may easily
become a "pest" that will try the pa
thence and temper of those having to
combat its aggressiveness. Bermuda
makes beautiful turf and flourishes
under the hottest sun, and with less
moisture than any other grass. But
its fourishing is not confined to the
lawn, for it has tendency to extend
it's domain, and will soon take posses
sion of adjoining unprotected terri
tory. And projection against it's adj
vance is very difficult matter and
can only be accomplished by eternal
vigilance, backed up by careful labor.
1t sends out runners which root at
every joint, every root sending up new
shoots, hence the secret of its being
such sod-producer.
Where a flower garden is contem-
plated near the lawn some other grass
might give good turf without being
so troublesome. Seed men advertise
lawn grass seed, but il is doubtful
how they would succeed in this eli
mate.
Next to Bermuda l would think
that Buchloe dactyloides buffalo
grass, commonly in this section called
running mesquite, would make the
best lawn. 1t is of spreading habit
like the Bermuda and makes fine
turf. 1t is a summer grass, stands
any weather we'll and loves sunshine.
While it increases by stolons as we'll
as by seed, it is easy to keep in check.
L may be planted any time after the
fall rains start till March or April.
ED.
TURNIPs IN TEXAS.
Mr.. w. S. sherwood gives some
timely instructions through The Texas
5tockman and Farmer oil the cultiva-
ion of turnips. He says: Take
good, rich piece of land and
plow it up thoroughly this
nonth-July. After blowing give it
! good narrowing and let it lay until
jhe last of August, and then pillow it |
,rossways. After the second blowing
harrow it until it is thoroughly pull
verized, Lowing the surface as level |
and smooth as possible, and then SOW
your seed. The old way is one pound |
to the acre, which if the seed is good |
and the ground prepared as it should |
be is entirely too much. My opinion
Is that under favorable circumstances |
one half pound to the acre is quite
They should be thinned out |
so that no two sets be nearer each |
other than from six to twelve inches. |
Sow the White Globe or Purple Top |
Globe for early growth. Mix in about |
Dne-third of the Yellow Globe when
y on sow, as these will stand the cold |
and you can use them through the
winter. From one acre 1 sold $40
worth of turnips at % cents per bushel,
besides feeding large amount to my
stock. Where the ground is properly
they are good crop to raise
as we'll as a paying crop. You will
ind them an excellent feed for your
milk stock, as we'll as the cheapest
feed you can produce. Try it and be
COTTON OUTLOOK.
There was slight improvement in
he cotton market during the past
week, which received check on Fri
lay; and possibly before this is read
The advance will be changed to
retrograde movement. At this stage
of the crop the market is mainly in
iuenced by the weather and worms.
AS there has only been one slight
shower since June Goth in this section,
cotton is suffering from lack of moist
Ire. Crops that two weeks ago
promised to yield half a bale to
acre. have shed their squares and
small bolls to such an extent as to
vastly change the prospects.
Unless we soon nave a good root
'oaker the crop will be an abbreviated
me. This will be hard on cotton
growers and the army of merchants
md others who depend upon the
armer for their living; but would not