The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1893-09-14
FARM NOTES.
Edited by John G. Edgar, Duval, to whom all
communications for this column should be ad-
dressed.l
Editor Statesman:

ARIlCulIurdl 0ldteSmaQ.
The spell was broken on the evening
of the 9Th when the first rain since
May the 18th fell, in this immediate
neighborhood. The precipitation
though light and of short duration
was welcomed more heartily than ever
was the return of spring after long
and dismal winter. The rain gauge
showed barely Sd of an inch, but the
ground was so thirst that it drank it
all in. 1t came too late to be of any
benefit to cotton, and was too scant to
be of much permanent advantage to
any kind of vegetation, but it was
enough to test the vitality of grass,
sorghum and other crops that appear
ed to be dead. Two days after the
rain the country suggested thoughts
of the resurrection day, when, we are
told, the dead will arise and be
endowed with a new life. 1t
is true that much of
the vegetation though apparently
dead, was only sleeping, and awaiting
not Gabriers horn, but the sum-
mons of Jupiter Pluvius. The re
Spouse was prompt. Pastures that
were guiltless of showing one green
blade of grass any time in the past
two months, but had the appearance
of having been burnt with fire and
trampled by myriads of hoofs till they
resembled deserts rather than pas
lures, at once began to don a coat of
green, and in 4S hours wore the faint
verdant smile of early spring.
Texas is truly wonderful country.
1t is a country of extremes, and it has
passed into a proverb that extremes
meet. 1t is the driest and the wettest;
the hottest and the coolest place on
earth-at least so says tradition, and
that is endorsed by most people with
al experience here and in other parts
of the globe But the natural laws that
produce these extremes of eli
mate have produced soil
and seasons that offset the climatic
effect that would be fatal in less
favored countries. We have occasion
al severe drouths, but their effect is
very temporary and removed with the
first rain; as the great bulk of our soil
is of a consistency that conserves
moisture and holds it available for
plant sustenance during long dry
terms; while heavy floods that would
wash away the surface or carry it's
nutritive elements away down below
the reach of plant roots, on Texas
black lands, only tends to Increase
their fertility. 1t is true that the
blackland farmer is sometimes worried
with heavy rains which keep him out
of his field, while the grass and weed
fiend is working night anG day to de-
YOUR the desired crop, but little extra
energy and few extra ticks generally
suffice to rout the enemy before much
damage is done. The farmer no
more than other mortals, has
a right to expect to live in country
without any drawbacks; but he whose
lot is cast on good black
land farm in Texas comes as near liv-
ing in Eden as anyone since the time
of old man Adam.
The financial cyclone which has
swept the continent and demolished
the fortunes OF so many commercial
and speculative monarchs has en-
braced in it's course every class, down
to the ill paid day laborer. There is
hardly being, outside of state in
that has not in some de-
gree felt the pinch of "hard times"
but the farmers have passed through
the storm and shown fewer signals of
distress than perhaps any other class,
and those of Texas less than those of
other states. Last year saw Texas
make a large cotton crop when other
cotton stat IS made failure. Most OF
the crop was sold as it left the gin at
profitable prices. The general result
of last years farm operations must
have been favorable, as this year finds
a great falling off in crop mortgages,
arguing that farmers have enough
cash to carry them through till the
new crop is made, But the best proof
of the Texas farmers sound position is
found in the fact that he is now
holding his crop for better
prices. Everything points to this sea-
sons crop, in Central Texas at least,
being so per cent short of last year.
But on the other hand it has been
three ourths harvested and ginned,
but not more than one-fourth of it
sold. 1t is held with hope for better
prices. Whether this hope will be
realized no one can tell for certain, but
it is a good sign when farmers are
found in position to do the holding.
The government report issued on the
10sh gives the cotton averages in the
different states as follows: Virginia,
90; North Carolina, rs; South Caro-
lima, SO; Georgia, II; Florida, 90; Ala
bama, rs; Mississippi, Is; Texas, Us;
Arkansas, 80; Tennessee, &c.
1t is thus seen that Texas is away
below all the other states and as she is
looked to for one.fourth of the total
yield by nothing short of a miracle
can the present crop be more than
equal to that of last year and in all
probability far short of it. This re-
port shows decline of seven points
from that of August, and is the lowest
September condition since 1881. IL
there is anything left in the old prin'
ciple of supply and demand regulating
prices, we may fairly look for an adj
vance.
Posted.
New corners to Texas seldom fail to
notice and ask the meaning OF the