The Texas Almanac for 1868 Page: 28
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26 T'EXAS ALMANAC.
DECEMBER.
THE PLANTATION.
IF there is cotton still to pick, push ahead with it without reference to
trash, as. that will be removed in passing through the trasher. If cotton
planters studied their own interests, they would never gather a fibre after the
first day of this month. They would then have leisure for the improvement
of their plantations, thus giving them a permanent value they do not now
possess. It should be borne in mind, during the eager striving after large
crops, that but a very few years have elapsed since the markets of the world
were glutted, and prices below the cost of production ; and that the same state
of things may exist again, though years will be required to supply the present
lack of labor. All of the land that was in corn the past season should be
broken up this month. It gives an advantage that is felt through the whole
year. If the cotton is all gathered, or the weather such as to prevent picking,
commence clearing up for another crop; grubbing out under-bush from the
woodland pastures, planting scraps of Bermuda grass sod in permanent
grazing grounds; preparing for hedging, and even planting out cuttings of
Cherokee rose, or two-year-old plants of Croetagas Pyracantha, or of Osage.
orange; trimming and weeding hedges, getting out timber, repairing gears,
tools, implements, etc.; collecting material for compost heaps, and littering
stock-yards and stables. Attend carefully and well to every kind of stock.
Be sure they have salt regularly; they will not thrive without it. At the close
of the year, every planter should examine closely into his affairs; make all the
necessary entries in the plantation account-book, and strike his balance; look
carefully over his plantation, examine carefully into the improvements made
during the past year, and determine upon those to be carried out the next,
and not enter upon he new year without duly weighing both the past and
the future
HEDGING CowrNi ED.-Under this treatment plants will make a strong
growth the first season. At some time during the fall or winter, carefully cut
off with a sharp knife or pair of rose-shears, every sprout or shoot to within a
foot of the ground. Early in the spring clean out the hedgerow thoroughly,
digging out all briers, grape-vines, cane-roots, etc. ; top-dress the poor spots with
any convenient manure, then bed to the plants with a good turuingp-low, dress-
ing up with the hoe and spade. If there be any missing places, fill them up
with stout plants from a small nursery, planted purposely at same time with the
hedge. Once during the summer let the shoots, which will be numerous and
quite strong, be laid up lengthwise of the hedge, using light forks, and pressing
the shoots down on the hedge. This must be done again in the fall or winter,
when the ground on each side should be again plowed.
To give the plants sufficient strength to resist our high winds, it is neces-
sary, the second fall, to drive a stout oak or locust stake every-five feet along
the centre of the hedge-row, firmly into the ground, standing three or four
feet high.
GARDEN CAL NDAR.-DEcEmBER.
CENTRAL TEXAS, ET.-Continue to transplant during favorable weather
Sow peas, cabbage, onions, radishes, lettuce, parsnips, carrots, turnips, beets,
spinach, parsley, and sweet herbs. Plant a few Irish potatoes, also horse.
radish and artichokes. All of the seed-beds and many young plants will
need protection %ring very cold weather. Manure and prepare the ground
for all spring crops.
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The Galveston News. The Texas Almanac for 1868, book, December 1867; Galveston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth123773/m1/32/: accessed April 19, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.