The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-08-12

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or fertilizer. red clover seems to possess
no advantage over the cow-pea The
Northern farmer, in order to obtain the
mnnurial effect of clover, must forego
for that season other crop upon the same
ground, while the East Texas farmer by
planting the cow-pea with his other
crops, may harvest the latter in full, Will
this valuable legume goes on gathering
nitrogen from the air and storing 1t in
the soil where 1t VIII do the most good
He may do this in the case OF late matur-
ing crops, while, owing to our long sea
son and uniformly ample rainfall, he may
plant peas after small grain, Irish potatoe;
or other early maturing crop and secure
both feed for his stock and fertilizer fol
his land. And l may say that these OBJ
servations regarding the value OF the cow
pea are backed by the best authorities
theoretically and practically, in Texas
and the South.
Without fertilizer of any kind in the
hands of good farmers, the light, sandy
uplands of East Texas yield a third 70
three quarters of a bale of cotton TO the
acre, and half to a bale upon bottom lands
Who then among the most sanguine be
levers in the future greatness of Eastern
Texas can estimate the degree OF great
ness which will come TO her when tbs
farmers generally, inspired by the object
lessons afforded them by the example OF 0
progressive few, shall cause 10 become
general a rational system Of soil improve
ment and crop rotation?
During the long reign OF King Cotton,
small grain, and especially wheat growing
has been sadly neglected in this portion
OF Texas, notwithstanding the fact tina
our hard lands, and especially our rec
lands, are good producers of small grain
This season l have seen many crops o
fifteen to twenty-five bushels to the acr'
of wheat growing upon gray, sandy up
land, and now that people are lookinl
about the diversity of crops a great man!
of the older generation are calling t,
mind that they and their fathers used t,
grow good wheat before and even dl.rinl
the war; hence feel confident that m tn
years to come both wheat and oats vii
increase In Importance in their relation
to East Texas agriculture.
TOBACCO GROWING.
1t has been my province TO nvestigat
upon the ground the progress made 4
the growing of Cuban tobacco IN Easter
and Southern Texas. and am led to believ
that tobacco growing is destined to bes
most important relation to the agri
culture of the region under discussion
/ reached this conclusion by adding to tn
/ big talk of the boomer the wall of the fail
ure, and dividing the sum by two. /
/ grow the Cuban leaf successfully, peculia
! soil conditions and intelligence above tn
average seem to be required. Grown upo
| land adapted to its culture, by people pos
J sessing the requisite means and Skin,
is very profitable crop. and as more
grown. attracting wider attention at tn
hands of competent buyers, it VIII IN M
opinion become even more prohtabi'
Recent experiments in growing mig
priced wrapper leaf under shelter amor
no little encouragement TO hope that TN
feature of the industry may grow In IN
portsnce.
So far as my knowledge extends httl
effort has been made in Eastern feA'
or the State to grow for market oth'
than the cigar tobaceos, though In man
norttons Of the State the "old Virginia
leaf is successfully grown In small wa!
for home consumption. And from tall
with people familiar with conditions
Eastern Texas. and with the growing
OLlbT 6ldltH VI hheN
Upright" tobaccos, : am led to belieV
, that the culture Of these tobaccos woul
succeed and prove profitable over niue
wider area and upon a greater y1rle
Of soil than Is true Of cigar tobaccc'
though I agree with Hon, James Wilson
United states secretary Of agricultur
that the area In which lands may ;
found suitable TO the production ~ n
finer grades Of cigar tobaccos II decif
edIy wider than we believe Howeve
the "hriqht" tobaeoos requiring mu'
less skill in the growing ard handln
and gliding promise OF success ind
more widely VARYING conditions. won
seem to omen q broader Aela for II
Texas tobacco growers and II tho after
ton ~ our experiment station peop
has not already been attracted 70 N
subject. I hone that these few remsT'
un.r UPRIGHT" toh,ccos nav have {
offee. - anlis. the'~ Interest
TRUCK AND FRUIT GROWING.
This industry Is assuming ever increai
ing Importance in East and South Texa
having in a few centers OF producti'
become an oyer-shadowing interest Al
while the pioneers IN It's deVeiopsme
have had TO contend with the trahtporu
ton problem, the raseally commission ms
and other difficulties which would hal
caused to give up and "lie down ie
courageous people, they seem to be lea
. ing behind, or causing faYonlble mod
doation OF most OF their early trouble
They are learning Who among the con
mission men are reliable, the value
organization, ana most OF the raliw
managements show n disposition 70 .1o
, them reasonable announcement, not on
IN the matter or rates, but In other Sa}
with the result that they are mo- on
learning better what TO grow and nov
grow ana handle IT, but they are stead!
qrs surely reducing r. system the ms
, keting Of what they grow. one OF the mo
encouraging features Of this improv
condition being the tendency OF the bul