The Texas Almanac for 1867 with Statistics, Descriptive and Biographical Sketches, etc., Relating to Texas. Page: 12
360 p. : ill. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this book.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
12 TEXAS ALMA1AO.
APRIL.
THE PLANTATION.
ArRr and May are, to the planter, decidedly the most important months of
the year. Upon his judgment and energy now depends much of his prospect
for the future. Let, therefore, no chance be neglected for forwarding season-
able work. All of the corn being now planted, unless it be some of the new
or wet ground perhaps ; finish cotton-planting also, as quickly as the weather
will admit of. The great advantages of having had the breaking-up done
well and early, the soil in fine order, and of having proper implements and a
strong team, will now be proved. A crop well planted, in good season, and in
soil carefully prepared, is half made. Much depends upon the season; so
much, that it behooves the planter to look well ahead, and be prepared, as far
as possible, for unfavorable weather. As soon as the cotton is in, or even
before, commence upon the corn, and give .t a thorough working; if at all
,practicable, give a second plowing and hoeing before the close of the month,
so that this crop may be laid by with safety, until" after cotton-scraping is
over; by using a good cultivator, this work is; better done than with the
plow, as it leaves the middles perfectly clean. But do not neglect the young
cotton, to give the corn a second working before the cotton is cut out;
if slighted at this stage of its growth, it receives a check which no after care
will remedy. Continue to set out sweet potato sprouts, when large enough,
and the weather permits. About the last of the month, sow millet; if sown
sooner, it is apt to hit a dry time when heading; whereas, when sown about
the time named, we have found it do much better. A bushel of clean seed
will sow four acres of good land. Continue to sow corn in drills, at intervals.
during this month and the next. Plant pumpkins, melons, squash, peas, etc,
SHEEP.-If the spring is a mild one, shear sheep. They should previously.
however, be washed, at same time picking out what brs may be in the wool.
It will pay to pick them out, even when the sheep aW as thoroughly coated
with them as is but too frequent in the South, from theb getting access to
the corn-field. It makes a good wet-day job ; and they are more easily picked
from the sheep than from the wool after it is shorn. We have found no crop
so profitable as the small crop of wool one choice little flock yields; and
no stock pays, altogether, so large an annual profit, in lambs and wool, in
mutton and manure.
Sheep-breeding has become i very extensive business in this State, and
well it may. In no other portion of the world combine so many advantages
for conducting it pleasantly and profitably.
The hints given above are intended for the care of small flocks kept on
arable farms. The subject will be found more fully treated of, as a separate
subject, in this ALM~Aa c.
GARDEN CALENDAR.-APimL.
CEW-ERAL TEXAS, ETc.-Continue as in last month. Plant melons, squash,
cucumbers. Set out tomato, pepper, and egg-plants. Plant beans, the lima,
seewee, and other pole sorts, and also dwarfs. Melons thrive best in a piece
of sod ground, ,broken up long enough bfore planting to allow of a partial
decomposition of the soil. If manured, it should be of a compost formed
mainly of sods from old pasture, mould from the woods, and cow-droppings,
saturated with the soap-suds, etc., from the house. A good covering of coarse,
half-rotten, stable manure, laid around the hills to the depth of a couple
of inches, just before they begin to run, will be found very beneficial.
Cucumbers do best planted in a bed, say 8 to 10 feet wide, opening a trench
and filing it with a rich but cool compost.
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This book can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Book.
The Glaveston News. The Texas Almanac for 1867 with Statistics, Descriptive and Biographical Sketches, etc., Relating to Texas., book, December 1866; Galveston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth123772/m1/14/: accessed April 27, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.