Typed and spelled as written:
Kay Cunningham
The Daily Democrat
Marlin, Texas August 25, 1931
Around About Marlin
And Falls County
~~~~~
Cotton was
opening rapidly At Blue Ridge and Stranger Wednesday. Picking and ginning began
a few days ago and will be in full swing within a short time, according to
indications.
Farmers interviewed Wednesday had prepared for anything which might happen
in a demoralized cotton market. They had raised plenty of feed, stocked their
pastures with dairy and beef cattle and sheep and produced an abundance of
fruits and garden products, anmy of which have been canned for future use.
Chickens, turkeys and hogs were plentiful. Whether the receive a big price for
cotton or not, there was little reason for pessimism, and none was in evidence.
Conversing with Dan Clinton, agricultural agent, who made a tour of the Stranger
community Wednesday, Mrs. Luther Arney expressed sentiments typical of the
people in that community when she said, "We're going to make a fairly good
cotton crop and, of course expect to sell it for a low price. But our other
crops have been a source of great satisfaction to us. We raised plenty of feed.
We have cows, chickens, and will go in for more of them. We raised a lot of
fruits and vegetables and have just finished canning them, 462 cans in addition
to some larger containers. We expect to can some meat later. Everything is
going to be alright regardless of what cotton sell for."
For the past two years Harold Mitchell had included dairying, or milk
production, in his farm programs, and this year's crop was planned to
co-ordinate with it. His herd consists of from sixty to eighty Jersey's, of
which thirty-five to fifty cows are in production continually.
A large part of the farm is used for pasturage. Pasture improvement has
received attention in past years and will receive more when the next season for
planting grasses and legumes arrives.
Higera, kaffir corn and maize in rich creek valley produced a crop which Mr.
Clinton estimates will make ten to twelve tons of sileage per acre. According
to Mr. Mitchell's plans the crop will be harvested, cut with an ensilage cutter
and stored in silos for the stock. A hundred and fifty-ton silo was
approximately two-thirds full Wednesday. Mr. Mitchell is feeling this ensilage
to his dairy cows while pasturage is low.
Work on a trench silo was in progress. A trench approximately fourteen feet
wide, thirty feet long and eight or ten feet deep was dug on the top of a hill
where drainage is good. It will be walled with brick or wood from bottom to top
and to a few feet above the ground to form a silo. This, together with the
upright concrete structures, will be used to store the kaffir corn, maize and
higera after they have been harvested and run through an ensilage cutter.
Speaking of silos Wednesday, Mr. Clinton said, "If Falls county continues
its stride in milk production, silos will be built and used to bridge the gap
between pasture seasons. Silos are almost indispensable to good dairying.
There seems to be some prejudice against these in this county, but it is
without foundation. For cheap milk producing of fat producing feed there is
nothing that will beat good ensilage.
"Of course, making good ensilage is as much a business proposition as any
other phase of farm work. Judgment must be used as to the best crops to convert
into ensilage as well as the method of doing it. It has been demonstrated in
Falls county that higera, maize and kaffir corn will make fine feed, and by
simply running it through the cutter and storing it in the silo the cost is
nominal. The cost is as low as 75c a ton to harvest a crop, cut it and put it
in a silo. Of course, if the higera or cane is run through a hammer-mill the
cost is more -- but that is not always necessary."
Bryan Mitchell, whose farm adjoins the Harold Mitchell farm, was
constructing a silo Wednesday. Asked, "What for?" he replied, "Because I
believe it is the best way in the world to provide cheap feed. I've seen what
can be done with one, so I decided to have one." The silo, about finished, is a
concrete structure and will hold approximately 100 tons.
Mr. Mitchell's faces south on the Marlin-Bald Hill-Kosse road and the farm
extends in the rear toward the north, down the long incline to Big creek. Land
in cultivation on the hillside has been terraced. Some of it is used for
pasturage. Crops are good, especially on the rich valley land. It was
estimated on field of higera will produce ten to twelve tons of ensilage per
acre. A field of corn (yellow dent with some early red-yellow dent planted for
a tryout) was exceptionally good. Cotton will apparently produce more than a
half bale to the acre.
In addition to several hundred cans of fruit and vegetables put up in cans
and jars, Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Price made several gallons of grapejuice this year.
Mr. Price said Wednesday they will came some beef later--when the warm days are
over. A quantity of sorghum-cane syrup was included in their live-at-program.
J. B. Brothers, who for the past several months has been unable to engage in
farm work and has remained at home, said he was very much interested in the work
of the agricultural agent. "The agricultural agents are doing a fine work." he
said, "and a lot of good. I believe in them."
H. K. Brothers, a son was visiting Mr. and Mrs. Brothers. He was
recuperating from a recent operation.
"Sigin' Skule" is the title of an
entertainment which will be presented by home-talent players at the Stranger
school house Friday night. Mrs. G. P. Reeves is directing. The program is
given in celebration of the building of a stage in the school building for use
in school and community.
"This is going ti be good," said T. F. (Sport) Brothers, "who was in Marlin
Saturday and incidentally gathering material for a "stunt." "Some of our folks
can certainly sing -- and dance, too. It is free and everyone is invited."
S. J. Gilbert and J. B. Walling of Waco, highway patrolman, stopped a few
minutes here. "At this time there are forty-one officers patroling the
highways," said Mr. Walling. "Naturally it is quite difficult to keep up with
everything on the thouswnads of miles of busy highways. However, we find the
people as a rule very considerate of the rights and safety of others and our
work is not difficult. Additional officers will go on duty soon."
Mr. Walling called attention to a new law which came into effect August 22,
in which drivers of all trucks on one-ton capacity and more must have a truck
driver's license. "This means ALL drivers" he emphasized, "whether the truck is
used for hire or not."
"How about advertising a bale of cotton for sale?" said Albert Tomlinson
Friday. "I sold all my peaches and grapes by advertising in the Democrat --
maybe if I advertised my cotton I can sell it, too."
Copyright Permission granted to Theresa Carhart and her volunteers for
printing by The Democrat, Marlin, Falls Co., Texas.
Copyright Permission granted to Theresa Carhart
and her volunteers for printing by The Democrat, Marlin, Falls Co., Texas.
