116 
SOUTHERN CULTIVATOR. 
TEXAS ITEMS. 
We fi.nd the following items of interest in lateiiiumbers 
of the Texas State Gazette, and other journals : 
gythe apples of Arkansas and Missouri are among 
the imported and costly luxuries of interior Texas. We 
have paid 60 cents per dozen in Austin. The Editor of 
the Tdegro.pk, while at Palestine, writes to his paper : 
= T noticed in town yesterday three wagon loads of Ar- 
kansas apples, which had been brought about 400 miles 
to be disposed of here at 50 cents per dozen. It is about 
time that the people of Texas were rendering themselves 
in this respect also independent of foreign produce. Ap- 
ples can be grown here as well as in Arkansas.” 
We desire to see the experiment fully tested at least. 
Corn! Corn!! — The enormous prices given for corn 
in this city, being as high as $1.50, per bushel, should in- 
duce farmers to bring in supplies before the price falls. 
Now is the lime for a fine harvest. We learn that parties 
are about proceeding to Eastern Texas, to buy up for this 
place. They intend to shell the corn and send it in sucks. 
I^^he Galveston Civilian says: — “We have on vari- 
ous occasions announced the fact, that the trade in Texas 
cattle, horses and mules, with Missouri, was growing 
mto importance. Last spring a friend of ours drove 560 
horses and mules from southwest Texas to Missouri, and 
sold them. On Tuesday last, he ngain passed through 
this city with fifteen thousand to invest in another drove. 
In all, he has driven caballados tlirough four or five differ- 
ent springs.” 
|^“The Nueces ValUy thinks it too hazzardous to at- 
tempt sheep raising in "Western Texas on a large scale. 
The flocks will perish with disease. The Valley has chief 
reference, we think, to the lower or Gulf portion of West- 
ern Texas. Higher up the country, several experiments 
have been successful. We believe that among these, we 
may mention the sheep ranch of Col. Kendall in Comal 
county. 
ll^^The steam Plow attracts much a^^tion at present 
and some of our agricultural friends advise us that they 
intend trying it in Texas. By recent improvements, this 
machine is also used for ditching, trenching, planting, 
hauling out and spreading manure, hauling farm products 
to market, &c. By throwing the wheels out of gear, ma- 
chinery is propelled by it, a pump is worked; a thresh- 
ing run, corn sheller, stock mill, feed cutters, &c. This 
is all comprised in Hussey’s late patent. 
Manure. — Experiment shows that the same amount of 
manure which has been covered nine inches deep with { 
earth so that no evaporation can escape, will produce four 
bushels more wheat to the acre than that which has lain 
exposed to the weather. Keeping manure covered, then 
when wheat is a dollar and a half a bushel, will add six 
dollars to the value of the products of every acre of land 
growing wheat, 
Halamara, has purchased mowing ma- 
chines, horse power presses, annealed wire to bale with, 
&c , and proposes to commence the making of hay on the 
Corpus Christi prairies on a large scale. The musqnit grass 
grows on these prairies, and as we all know is one of 
nur most nutritious grasses. It is thought the investment 
will pay. If it does, we can ship from Texas an indefin- 
ite amount of the article. 
g^^It is greatly feared that the severe frost on the 18th 
inst.j has injured the stubble cane in our sugar region. 
We hope not. Our sugar planters already have had a 
hard lime of it. 
REPORT ON COTTON. 
BY HON, JOHN P, KINARD. 
This great staple, which is continually increasing in 
importance, and ascending step by step, with gigantic 
strides, has well nigh attained that high position which 
has been claimed for it, that “Cotton is King.” Its influ- 
ence is felt everywhere, in every department of trade, in 
commerce, in politics, in Government, and in every 
branch of human pursuit. It claims and possesses a direct 
or indirect power, and thus it is that “Cotton maybe call- 
ed King.” A few years ago, its production was only a 
bantling, a small speck in the agricultural horizon. Who 
would have believed thirty-five years ago, that the produc- 
tion of the then insignificant, but now great staple, should 
hare increased from a few hundred thousand bales to equal 
to five millions of bales, as compared with the size of bales 
then packed for market 1 It has gone on gaining power; 
developing the resources of our country ; building our rail- 
roads, ships, steamboats, and, in fact, every enterprise, 
either North or South, East or West, owes its success, 
in some way or other, to cotton ; and, notwithstanding 
the rapid and unparalleled increase in production, the 
price has, with a very few exceptions steadily paid tb« 
producer remunerating rates. 
Unlike any other production of agriculture, time and 
experience has shown that cotton possesses the singular 
characteristic of creating its demand. It is a singular 
fact, and worthy of important note, and a fact too that has 
never been satisfactorily accounted for in the commercial 
world, and, we believe, it has never been attempted by 
any other class, save commercial men, that the more cot- 
ton produced, the higher price is obtained for it. This 
fact has been fully demonstrated by all the hugest crops 
that have been produced, that higher prices have been uni- 
versally the result, unless effected by extraordinary coun- 
terbalancing influences, such as war or revolutionary dis- 
turbances. 
The present crop, [1855] islikely to be largest ever pro- 
duced in the U. S., and will doubtless reach four millions of 
bales, and yet we see Fair Upland rulhig at the higL 
figure of 12 cents per pound. This part of the subject 
might be discussed at great length. We shall, however, 
content ourselves at present w'ith the above facts, leaving 
our agricultural friends to deduct from it wiiatever of truth 
or interest it may contain. Another view of the subject 
presents equally strong points upon almost the opposite 
premises, and which, to my mind, is the most reasonable 
and most probable to take place. It is the following : 
It is a fact undeniable, that there is but a small portion, 
of our globe, upon which cotton can be successfully 
grown; and when we take into consideration the rapid 
annually increasing consumption of this great staple, and 
the absolute circumscribed limits of culture, is it not rea- 
sonable to suppose, that within a very yeai*s, con- 
sumption will have gained so much upon the production of 
cotton, that the world will be astonisiied to find that they 
have as yet known nothing as to its true value 1 I re- 
peat. then, that the strong probability is much in favor of 
a very large increase as to price, even within our day ; 
and, should we be spared the lot of three score years and 
ten, to see the ruling rates of cotton quite ns common at 
from 15 to 20 cents, as are the current rates of to-day and 
of last year. So much then as to the probabilities of the 
course of prices, — now as to the mode of culture, best 
seed, &c.; and, 
1st. There can be no general rule that will apply to the 
cultivation of cotton ; for what will suit one year, will not 
suit the succeeding one. Much, very much, depends upon 
seasons. But the successful planter !iiu.>t make showers 
and sunshine all subservient to his mode of operations. 
2nd. If a farmer will watch his crops closely, he wil 
