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Following a wet season there is some fever and agne; but, as wells 
are dug (affording pure water) and better houses are built, it decreases. 
Improved land sells at $16 to $25 per acre ; unimproved at $4 to $10; 
choice lots as high as $15. Probably not more than one-twentieth is 
improved ; the remainder is nearly all owned by railroads and non- 
residents. The number of inhabitants is about 3,000, and the Gulf States 
are the only ones not represented by the settlers. 
The soil and climate are adapted to all productions cultivated in the 
same latitude at the East, but especially to wheat. With fair cultiva- 
tion, in a good season, it is no uncommon thing for fall-wheat to yield 
40 bushels per acre; as many as 50 per acre have been raised here ; but 
the average would probably fall to 25, or, it may be, 20. The best grass 
is called blue-stem; a blue-joint grows in the bottoms tall enough to hit 
in the face one who is riding through it on horseback. In good seasons 
it will cut three tons to the acre; average, two tons. The leading pro- 
ductions are cattle, horses, and wheat, cattle predominating. The prin- 
cipal varieties of fruit raised are apples, peaches, grapes, and the various 
small fruits. 
PROGRESS IN TEXAS.—A casual correspondent in Washington County, 
Texas, writing January 16, reports that in that section there has been 
an unusual amount of moderately cold weather, but no snow or sleet ; 
that winter rains have been abundant, but not excessive; that stock is 
coming through the winter in fine condition for spring work, and that 
the ground is in fine condition for plowing. He states that in each of 
the years 1871 and 1872 it is estimated that Washington County pro- 
duced, in addition to an abundant supply of corn, 30,000 bales of cot- 
ton. He adds: “There has been a heavy immigration to our county, 
and farmers have obtained labor more readily this year than any other 
since emancipation. Land is advancing in price, and there will be an 
increase of 10 per cent. in the quantity in cultivation in 1873 over that 
in 1872. The bulk of this will be planted in our great staples, corn and 
cotton.” 
NEED OF A NEW SYSTEM OF STOCK-RAISING IN TEXAS.—The 
following statements are condensed from a report of our correspond- 
ent in Nueces County: The severe drought last summer left the older 
stock mere walking shadows, and the younger not much better. The 
cold weather began early in November and continued through Decem- 
ber, except that for about fifteen days either heavy or drizzling rains 
fell. This long spell of severe weather occasioned the death of thou- 
sands of cattle, and should there be another cold spell the mortality 
must be still greater. An extensive cattle-raiser states that there are 
now on the range thousands of cattle which have not strength enough 
left to travel five miles. If the prevailing system in this county of rais- 
ing cattle is not changed they will all die out within a few years. The 
county is now increasing in population; settlements are springing up all 
over it, and the farmers are endeavoring to protect themselves against 
the encroachments of cattle-raisers. Many of the latter own but few 
acres of land, and yet keep from ten to twenty thousand head of cattle, 
which they permit to roam at will. This, of course, occasions great dis- 
satisfaction, and results in great evil. It is hoped that the State legis- 
lature will soon provide an effectual remedy. 
How TO SUCCEED IN RAISING MELONS AND CUCUMBERS.—A Cor- 
respondent in Oswego County, New York, describes a process by which, 
even in that climate, be has “splendid successin raising melons.” The 
description is somewhat lengthy; but as its length results from its 
