Shiner gazette. [volume] (Shiner, Tex.) 1893-current, 1908-04-30
Not Mere TiIIerS Of Soil.
Some of the Unrivalled Oppor-
tunities to Advancement.

cultural pursuits, ana, III man.
instances, relying eInltt ifffef UPON
the products 9tfhe soil and it's
aoJuncts -foT a means of liveli-
hood IF it were truet hat there
is no profit in agriculture, how
can we account for so many men
abandoning other industrial
pursuits and engaging in farm
ing? The success of these men
of business ability and foresight
should be an example to every
farmer who is dissatisfied with
his outlook. These men of prom
inence in agricultural affairs
are not mere soil tillers, they
arc conducting their farms upon
business principles and with an
eye ever keen to the demands
of the market. Call it business
foresight if you will, but the
fact remainst hat the gentlemen
are doing only those things that
lie in the reach of every average
intelligent farmer in theState of
Texas. Teh farmer who is eager
to learn and improve will soon
find his place in the agricultural
world. The farmer who is stub
born and who will not permit
himself to become improved can
not expect to be other than a
failure, or at least only barely
paying his way through the
world.
The farmer must raise those
crops which the market de-
and insist upon a first
class price for a prime article.
The consumers of this State are
demanding first class domestic
agricultural products. All they
ask is that it be clean and fresh.
They are willing to pay a good
price, and more often a fancy
price for prime goods. No seller
need to offer his products at the
same price of the imported arti-
Gle. Take, for instances, peaches,
Strawberries, celery, asparagus,
etc., and how invariably the
price is advanced on natives
and how quickly they are snapp-
ed up by the consumers. The
industrial classes in Texas earn
and receive good wages; they
are good livers, SO to speak, and
they seek the best in the mar
ket.
1t is possible for the Texas
farmers to compete with the
growers of our greatest sister
States. In many sections OF our
State corn can beg rown to adj
and profit. So far as
yield is concerned, there are
thousands of acres of corn
grown in Texas which surpasses
the average yield in Kansas and
other Western States. Let us
briefly some concrete
of Texas possibilities,
with the hope of inducing our
readers to strive for the highest
attainable success in cultivation.
Not the least of the POSSIBLE
ties is the more extensive grow
ing of potatoes, one Of the great
staple crops of consumption by
an Industrial people. Texas soil
is admirably adapted for the
culture of the tuber. We need
to study the fertilizer needs OF
the potato. We have been taught
bulletins how to sprinkle to pre-
vent disease and insects. The
farmers of Texas need only to
raise potatoes in sufficient guam
titles to supply home consump-
ton.
Then why not raise more tur-
keys? Farmers have gotten the
impression that the turkey is
difficult to raise. 1t is not. They
are as easy to raise as any do
nestle fowl. Why not raise
more sheep and goats? Some
farmers deride the idea.
Why note nlarge our hay in
dustry? Native hay is always
in demand and generally the
price is good.
Why not raise a few colts or
Every farmer in this
State ought to be turning into
market each year one pair OF
harness broken colts valued at
5000 to $500. Horses are IN
great demand and the prices DO
not fluctuate.