The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1893-05-18
Weather and the Crops.

cannot refrain from noticing the
change from excessively dry to ex
cessively wet weather, which we have
recently experienced. While Texas is
one of the finest countries in the world
it is a country of climatic extremes
and sudden transitions. A tropical
heat and an arctic cold, a months
drouth and a sixdays flood, follow
each other with but a few minutes in
terval. Nature does nothing by
halves in Texas.
The much desired rain is here and
may possibly remain with us for some
time, causing those no Wing most
! loudly tor it to cry as Justify for its
cessation. We are dissatisfied NOR.
tails God almighty is credited with
being all powerful, but there is one
thing beyond the power of the AL
mighty, and that is to give weather
that will satisfy every body
The farmer is perhaps more directly
affected by sudden and excessive
changes of weather than anyone else,
and ii not something of philosopher
and look-ahead man, is liable some
times to think his fate hard one.
when he finds his crop burnt
up or drowned out and buried
i'll grass. The fact is that Texas farm.
e?s nave more to fear from too much
than too little rain. The first may be
injurious to a crop, but the other is
often fatal and always injurious. For
tunately the long dry spring we have
just passed through has enabled farm
ers to get their fields into fine condi-
ton and the rain finds them freer from
grass and weeds than for many sea.
sons. The lazy, slipshod farmer who
neglected his opportunities, will now
find himself in place so tight that
he will not be able to squeeze out of it
this season.
Corn will now 60 off on a hoom and
it may be said to promise full yield.
Whether that promise will be fulfilled
depends upon future conditions. the
principal being dry weather and sun
shine till the beginning of Ju-e, and
then two or three good rains during
the blooming and fruiting stage.
Oats not already ripened Will be
greatly benefited. The earliest plant
ed may be too far advanced to make
more straw, but will fill out and make
tair grain, while those put in the
ground later will have chance of
making tirstclass crop.
Cotton will be variously affected
On dry clean land not affected by
washing the rains will have done |
good, buI in low badly drained or
Daddy washed fields good deal of
damage will have happened. Wheth-
er the damage can be made good de
ponds upon the weather that followp.
sweet potatoes and those with the
prefix, which were plant
ed late, are just in condition to bs
greatly benefited. The same applies
to sorghum, clover, grass, and nearly
every other form of vegetation.
The early fruit crop will not be 30
bountiful as at one time expected.
The earliest peaches are every scat
tering" on the trees, but later varie-
ties are more abundant. Plums are
scarce. Apples and pears are full
crop with me. My LeConte and
keffer pear trees are worth a journey
TO see, and prove the adaptability of
hose varieties to this section.
At this writing, although the rain
mas heen excessive. the crop outlook
: still good, and every body in this
section has reason to be thankful
nat we have escaped the wind ter.
'Ors that have visited other parts of
he country.