The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1893-02-09
FARM NOTES.
Edited BY John C. Edgar Du.sl, tn whom a.!
communication, for tnis co una should be "u-
dressed.

Z
The month OF January 1898 was in
very decided contrast with the same
MOI tn in the preceding 5 years. III
was rema kable ior its high mean
| temperature, and total absence OF
rainfall. These remarks are based on
my observations at this place, but
they will, l believe, apply to the
whole of Central TeXa-, except few
spOts where an occasional shower tell.
The deficiency in rainfall was 10
/ draw back, but decided advantage,
aft or the heavy precipitation in De-
cember and gave farmers a nance TO
overtake arrears. IL is lUna time
since the soil was in such good condl-
ton for blowing and grain sowing at
this season and the prospects for fu-
ture crops is excellent. The high
temperature during the latter part OF
the month caused old fruit growers
to lear bad results, as fruit buds were
swelling preparatory to blooming.
Fortunately the cold snap on the
End inst. came just in time
TO check early blooming
and il we can but have cold weather
tor two weeks more we may fairly
look Tor a good fruit year. Oh course
there is no certainty about ii after last
year experiences, but, as rule, when
early blOssUming trees delay the opel
anon TIL Feb. ~ the chance OF dam.
age ny "a late frost is greatly reduced
amt very small. AS the peaches lat
esi in bIOOmlng are the earliest to
rILen, we may have early peaches
eVeI with "a very late IrOst, as hap
pened after the freeze OF March Is,
last year.
~
The papers daily publish state
menls about the acreage OF the COM
ing cotton crop, aud the majority OF
them tell US That the Coming crop Will
be grown on fewer acres than that ut
last year. Ii is a. contamination do
v"utly TO be wished, tor upon the mum
Der OF bales raised will certainly de-
penu the price paid Tor said bales. a
lew minimizing farmers will nc
doubt Increase their acreage with the
idea that tLey will have u big lot OF
bales 10 sell while the price is good
by reason Uf q general short crop. ~
tow might reap slight advantage
10y such course, but ii 1t were widely
practlced, failure would be the newt
able result. Every reading ana
thinking farmer knows that even last
y ears acreage, with favorable sea
son, means reduced prices, ana will
ACT accordingly. He also knows that
the advance III price since the open
lug OF me season was not altogether
due TO the shOrtness OF The crop, but
largely and perhaps mainly 10 the
operations Of spectators. 1t is true
prices are now at Il point Mat would
leave the producer profit, il he had
cotton to sell: but 80 per cent OF the
producers sold rh-i" produce before
The advance, and the profit is made
by the ahrewd speculatur ana not by
The producer. SO IL is always. MIR.
Spectator is even INV specializing
ON another haul next season, aud
will make it, unless The
y
There viii certainly be another al
vance in cotton before April |, which
IS cur time for beginning planting.
lhat advance is expected TO catch
fl its and will hook some. 1t IS eX.
peGIed TO Increase the acreage, and ii
hat can be- assured then Gown will
drop the price, while yet the plants
are barely above ground, ana the de-
ludtd tanners who banked on getting
9 or 10 Cents for their first bales will
lind thaC culture" dealers have fixed
heir value al 5 or 6 cents, and "spOt"
buyers will pay no more till the sim.
pie producer has sold mis- crop Then
the usual methods will be resOrted To
1t is safe TO back the Spectator every
time Now aud again he will over
ride hims and bust" but he soon
gathers himself together and "gets
there with both feet" But farmers
are not helpless, though they have
been in the habit of allowing them.
selves to be used rs puppets. They
hold the game in their own hands ana
nave but to play right to win. The
right play is to reduce cotton acreage,
fewer bales and more of everything
elso good to eat or will sell for money.
~
| am in receipt OF a copy Of Good
Roads, the illustrated monthly magi.
zine devoted to the improvement OF
public roads and streets. THIS nun
Der deals specially with the roads OF
Illinois and the articles are from the
pens OF eminent and practical men OF
that state who are interested in road
improvement. 1t is good reading and
should convince aud convert the most
unbeieving, as te the economy, AS
wei as pleasure of sound, good thor
ughtares,
1t does however, strike me as waste
of time to advance arguments in favor
of good roads in place nf bad ones.
Every body except the hopeless and
helpless idiot must be fully aware Of
all the advantages that can be named,
and it is needles to attempt to cure
the incurable.
What is wanted is to educate the
people in the best methods of road
construction and devise ways and
means for getting The work
done. There is an almost
unanimous desire for bet er highw
but an utter ignorance as to how they