Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1913-12-12
LOCATION FOR WI
FARM SELECTED
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF
AGRICULTURE WILL HAVE IRRI-
CATION EXPERIMENT FARM UN-
DER WAY IN VALLEY JANUARY 1
ANNOUNCEMENT OF SELECTION
WILL BE MADE By ENGINEER
ROC tkWELL UPON \ RETURN Wis
IT TO VALLEY IN \ FEW WEEKS

The United States government will es-
tabliSh an irrigation investigation and
experiment farm in the Lower Rio tfran-
de Valley" said w. l.. Rockwell. of San
Antonio. irrigation engineer connected
with the United States Department tif
Agriculture today. Mr. Rockwell re-
turned last night from a trip UP the Val
ley with Rex T.. Willard, of the farm
management division Of the Agriculture
Department. The points visited includ
ed Olmito San Benito. IIarlingcn, Nc
Allen Mercedes and Pharr
As result of his trip up the Valley
four farms were Offered and 4 guarantee
by each community that all the require
mcntS of the government for the eStab
liShmcnt of the experiment farm were
met. Out of these four one will he Sc
lcctcd tor the site of the government
farm. and work will commence promptly
on the first crops. including sugar cane
corn, cotton, peanuts and possibly one
or two other crops.
Mr.. Rockwell left this morning for
San Antonio to complete arrangements
for the proposition. He expects to re
turn to Brownsville after two or three
weeks. after which the announcement Of
the farm that is to be selected for the
experimental purposS. will be made.
Within two or three DAYS after that time
the actual work will begin The first
thing to be undertaken. stated Mr.. Rock
well. will be the making of q topographic
survey, and then the twenty-five or thirty
acre farm viii be plated out. 50 much
space being given to each product upon
which irrigation experiments are to be
conducted.
The primary purpose Of this farm will
be worked out with each crop grown in
this section, and the rotation of crops
will be another investigation that will
be worked out Soil typical Of the Val
ley has been selected. and Mr. Rockwell
states that the farms now in view are
!splcndidlv located and highly desirable
for the purpose.
Il am glad to be able to take up this
work in the Lower Rio Grande Valley. "
stated Mr. Rockwell last night. 1T will
take three or four years to make a com
plcte experiment on the Valley crops
after which it is probable the government
will enlarge on the proposition and in
cludc other work Next year we will
n take M The work at other points: that is
we will select farms in various parts OF
the Valley and will have the farmers
grow small crops under the direction. Of
our department We will thus be ablC
10 educate the farmers in the use Of irri
CATION, and conduct the great experiment
on the farm selected at the same time.
"A man who has broad experience il
irrigation farming will be appointed by
the department to have Immediate direc
tion Of the experiment. while 7 will give
it general supervision from my head
quarters in San Antonio I will max,
occasional visits to the VALLEY to not
the progress and to make such suggcs
tons as may be necessary Once the worI
is started we expect to push it. and b,
: next fall we expect TO have compiled in
formation thot will be of much value t.
the farmers of this section.
There will be portions Of our wor1
which will come under the head of Mr.
Wizards department AMI he Will wor1
in conjunction with our experiment farr
on these"