54 



tliorongh preparation of the soil during the fall and winter, 

 which consists in — 



1st. Deep breaking np. 



2d. Underdrainage on moist flat land. 



3d. The jndicious manuring. 



4th. That the first work should be deep ; subsequent 

 work shallow and level. 



5th. The roots of the corn should not be disturbed after 

 it bunches to tassel. 



Under the old method of culture, the question has arisen 

 whether or not corn can be made a remunerative crop. I 

 should say on our old plantations it cannot. On the other 

 hand, by improved culture, the effects of drouth or scald- 

 ing from too much rain can be overcome, and instead of 

 harvesting fifty per cent, less than an average crop, as is 

 the case the present year, there would, doubtless, be an 

 increase of fifty per cent, over the average of past years, 

 on the same area of ground. The question would then be 

 responded to afiirmatively, and demonstrated by evidences 

 everywhere of increased prosperity and domestic comforts. 

 Fat stock of all kinds would give evidence of full barns, 

 and the old adage would be verified: " It takes corn to 

 make cattle and cattle to make corn." 



J. W. PAIiKEU. 



The census report for 1870 gives Texa,s 20,554,538 bushels 

 of Indian corn ; the United States Agricultural Report for 

 1874, 28,016,000 bushels. 



OATS 



Are extensively grown in Texas, and their cultivation is 

 increasing largely. A gentleman of Travis county raised 

 last year from eleven acres upwards of one thousand 

 bushels of oats. Similar yields have'been realized ih some 

 of the northern counties of the State. _ According to the 

 Agricultural Department for 1874, Texas then grew 1,118,- 

 000 bushels of oats. 



BARLEY 



Is grown and does well in Tom Green county ; also in Pre- 

 sidio and El Paso counties. It does well throughout a 



