New-York tribune., 1909-12-28
BOUNTY OF EARTH
NE4R "S4N ANTOINE .
Garden Spot Which Trans
forms Tourists Into Terous


Southwest seems only a step these davs
The hotels here have had a run OF sourists
this month surprising all records of former
years Intcrningied with them are persons
Ia when other thincs than the change of
weather and romance appeal. OF course
they leave their hotels 70 the Alamo
and other relics of the DAYS OF the CON
guistadcres. but the vast stretches OF gar
den and orchard lands are their real oh
3ectives.
This minEling or the modern and ancient
IS peculiarly attractive. however. There is
a certain seductive novelty in leaving a
hotel as luxurious as those Of the larger
cities. and contemplating the place where
Davy Crockett and his associates made
their last stand against the Mexicans In
The days Of struggle long ago never was ii
imagined that this country would ever be
what II is TO-DAY, winter vegetable and
fruit garden. with productivity enough to
supply a nation
As a winter resort san Antoine" as the
natives lovingly call this city has become
most popular. The tourists have in addi-
ton 10 the enjoyment of the climate and
the natural beauties OF the surroundings
much In patriotic and romantic interest 10
attract them in this place and far bevond
Its confines Those who are here on tours
of investigation make their journeys Of
~1de range. but especially 10 the south
ward. TLey come discrediting the stories
ot agricultural growth They DEPART if
they do so at all. marvelling at the deyel-
cPment evident in every direction
Where cattle roamed they have found
fourishing farms. Regions that we're
down or cid maps as arid are wide areas
CT green in vegetables, cereals and fruit
trees Old ranch houses remain TO typify
En zn-He -
''Lonehorn" may be seen, but the great
herds that used 10 roam the region roUnd
shout the San Antoine country have con.
forever But in their place has come the
settled civilization that makes for a na-
= Hons strength
ne arueSiaf wells are particularly no.
tceable, although the land is not ahso-
lutely dependent upon this method of water
supply The soil is so deep that IL retains
The rainfall in such measure that a two
crop possibility has been the rule as an
iiled "a about 80 per cent of the arabic
land in the southwestern part of Texas
But irrigation has put the farmer Of small
tracts Of land in absolute control of the
situation.
VEGETABLES OF ALL KINDS.
In the counties of Atascosa. Wilson.
h7rnes, Bee and others lying TO the south
'1H- VI Llis tlty the cutting up of great
tracts has progressed rapidly. There is no
HeSetabie used in the North that is mot
grown there all the year round Farmers
sar THAT the principal money maker is the
orion- An inquiring Texan found out that
triS staple was grown 10 perfection in Ber-
HC1a. He got supply of onion sets from
re isianc and planted IL in soil that seemed
suitable The result is considered an i'm
rroyeIllent on the Bermudan variety
They tell stories here of fortunes made in
'egetables- They sound rather extravagant,
nut it may be said with emphasis that any,
fIinG said about the agricultural possibiIi-
ties OF Texas can hardly be exaggerated
Fronts Of from 800 10 $500 an acre are
made in this region without the intense ef-
fort necessary further North Men who
have taken UP ten-acre farms have achieved
Independence. with plenty. Such easily
managed crops as alfalfa yield returns that
pay for the farm in a few years
Tire water bearing strata extend under
millions Of acres down here. The discovery
of this fact should have been made earlier,
rs tie many springs TO be found without
effort spoke Of an unceasing supply OF
water for the boring. Machinery for tap
ping this inexhaustfble means of irrigation
vas obtained nearly a decade ago. Arte-
sian wells by the thousands are now in use.
water supply that crop failure need never
hamper his prosperity. This, with the semi
tropical climate. makes q succession OF
crops possible According 10 the kind of
7egetaaie or cereal grown, II is a settled
practice 20 grow from two 10 five crops a
.car without eXlaustjng the soil
Men Of experience down here scoff at
such z thing as soil exhaustion; and they
Know what they are talking about. The
experiment stations have taught the farmer
0v 10 enrich the soil without expenditure
Of money. If enrichment should ever be nee
essary- That seems 10 be far in the future.
however The soil ranges from the light
cSt sandy loan 20 the chocolate. which
makes IL possible TO plant z wide diversity
of crops
CITRUS FRUITS FLOURISH
The black. waxy soil will grow sugar
cane and forage OF all kinds For prod
uets from cotton 10 Bermuda onions the
-i=at loans produce splendid results.
Here pears. figs. grapes and the citrus
fruits are grown with commercial success.
About eighty miles south Of San Antonio
Is a region where the citrus fruits flourish
IS hardly anywhere else. As proof OF this
the natives down here viii show the evi-
dence. The most conclusive, outside OF
tle exhibits OF the fruit itself is the fact
mat fruit growers from California and
Florida have invested large sums in lands
srd have set out great orchards The
lemons. oranges and grapefruit grown in
the southern section have competed sue
cezsfuily with The best from the old states
famous for their citrus products.
One Of the oddities noticeable has been
The evolution Of the tourist in many in
stances from q seeker after health or
pleasure 10 an investor As one Of them
said the other day. il is hard 10 resist TAX
laE money when il is thrown at you. II
IS Giflcuit 10 write moderately about the
possibilities here for the home seeker. OF
course. success depends upon the iudivid-
ual. but any man with moderate intellI-
geuce, moderate capital and moderate pa
telce viii be more than satisfied with any
venture lie may make in this garden spot
As ia other parts OF Texas. manufact-
ITing industries are not as numerous here
as The agricultural conditions warrant but
The growth has begun. To the north Of
TINS city. and not far north embraced, in
fact well within the southwestern part
of the state there is more than enough
WOOL produced 20 supply all Texans with
clothing. The sheep raising ranches turn