The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1892-05-05

n
communications for this column should be ad
dressed
FRUIT TREE CULTURE.
A correspondent writes stating thai
his peach trees which made luxuri
ant growth last fall and started early
this spring appear to be more injured
by the March freeze than those of a
neighbor which did not make such
rapid progress, and asks the cause.
The luxuriert growth in the fall is
doubtless the cause of the mischief. II
the growth of the tree is continued
till late in the fall the young wood is
immature on the arrival of frost, and
is injuriously affected. The profes
sional fruit grower knowing this, en-
courages the early growth and ma.
turity of the wood aud discourages
late growth. The former is done by
the application of manure duringwin-
ter and early and thorough cultiva-
ton during the spring and summer.
No summer or autumn fertilizing or
blowing is permitted, and as conse-
vuence the young wood has better
chance to mature. When the soil is
naturally rich and has been made SO
by a liberal application of manure.
growth is likely to go on till late in
the fall, even when blowing
has not been practiced late
in the season. In such
case there must be risk of immature
wood when winter comes.
Stable manure is the most com plete
fertilizer for an orchard, but it is not
so quickly available for plant food as
chemical fertilizers, and this is why
its application to an orchard will keep
up growth longer.
Chemical manures are more readily
available for plant food, are quicker
manure is applied during winter and
no cultivation given in the fall there
will not be much risk of damage by
winter killing in this latitude.
THE BUNCH YAM.
j. B. Burkett, writing in the South
ern Cultivator, has much to say in
favor of the vineless or bunch yam,
and if even half of his praise is justi-
fled the potato is we'll worth trying.
I1o says. ln0I0 OIL uNO NdIlOulcS vi
the bunch yam, viz: The Chinese 30
day, General Grant, EARLY Golden,
Peabody and the labor.saving yellow
yam. This is the most profitable and
prolific to those interested in garden
ing and farming in the south. 1t ex-
cells all bunch varieties in yield,
and in keeping and eating qualities.
1t is not only ornamental, but one
of the most profitable crops to the
amount of labor required, that we can
plant. This potato will grow on any
soil that other varieties of sweet pota-
toes will grow. With half the labor
that you may grow the vine potato,
will transplant, cultivate, gather and
house the "vineless yam.". ...... 1t is
a pleasure to hoe and cultivate the
vineless potato; it is always clean and
you can work them like cotton or
corn; have no vines to handle and re-
handle like the old vine potato; you
can work them late, and at digging
time your ground is clear of grass and
weeds. I cut the vines in June,
transplant like the vine potato, but
you must cut near the ground. .......
The extra expense you will have in
raising the "bunch yam" is larger po-
uato house and extra team and wagon
to convey them from the field to your
potato house, as they will double the
yield of any other potato. Il find
this potato sweeter and smoother than
all other potatoes. 1t is more uniform
and grows more tubers to the hill and
cleaner of strings, ridges and vines.
1t is not the earliest, but you can have
70 civtry HaUc aftnp francnIant,
ing, if the seasons are favorable and
they have been W. IL cultivated.
FARMING DOES PAY.
A correspondent of this paper, says
the Texas Stockman and Farmer,
writes us that he made 81 200 more
than living last year on an eighty
acre farm. This statement from re-
liable farmer proves that there is
''money in farming" if properly con-
Quoted. Inquiry on our part showed
that our farmer friend planted about
twenty acres to corn, ten acres to sorg-
hum, twenty acres to cotton and the
balance was used for pasturage. He
also raised and sold during the year a
couple of good horses, five good COWS,
twenty head of hogs, besides market
ing almost enough butter, eggs and
poultry to buy his groceries. In fact,
he practically lived at home, cultivat-
ing a fine garden, and raising enough
fruit from his orchard for his own use.
His cash outlay for living expenses
was very small, his receipts from pro,
ducts and stock sold being all profit
except small amount paid out for
labor. What this one Texas farmer
has done others can do, if they will
work as diligently and employ the
same methods. The statement that
there is no money in farming is not
borne out by the figures. The farmer
who goes at his business with pluck,
intelligence, and a progressive spirit
is bound to succeed.
FARM SHEEP.
The long wool, mutton breeds of
sheep are coming into great favor,
their admirers claiming that they
possess a double advantage over the
fine wool, Merino breed; but the latter
are not without friends. The Home
stead says: "They are the only breed
that can be run in the large fiOcks or
will bear crowding, and right here is
where the mutton breeds will strike a
snag. They will not thrive if kept in