Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1914-05-06
AMID FRUITS AND BLOSSOMS
Thayer Basks in the Warmth of Tex
as Suns and Luxuries
RAYMoNDvILLE. TEXAS. January 81

EDITOR CENSOR: Yesterday took a
trip through the irrigated section lying
directly south of this point and running
from San Binite on the east through
Harrington, La Feria, Mercedes, Donna,
Pharr, MeAllen, and winding up at
Mission on the west. This covers the
towns and country mostly interested in
the truck growing of South Texas, and
directly along the RioGrande. made
this trip with the president and secre
tary of tie South Texas Horticultural
Society, and had an excellent Opportu-
nifty to study the agricultural resources
of the irrigated belt. Their work was
arranging for an April straw berry fes-
tival at Mission. where, by the way,
we ate of the luscious fruit which was
ripening well on year old plants IN full
fruitage, with October plants also car
rying very good crop, ripening rapid
~ and asslarge and perfect as it has
been my lot to sample. Plants set in
November also blossoming and all show
ing that an abundance may be raised
al, the winter season By proper care.
We saw considerable acreage, all doing
well, and the crop that is expected I'M
der full bearing is enormous
In nursery at Donna, owned and
conducted by New York man, we saw
three acres in peaches. hlossoming at
present, AMI several acres devoted to
grapes, figs, etc. Also about FIVE acres
devoted to flowers and Towering shrubs,
including many tropical p,ants, many
of them in blossom. We had at our
luncheon tomatoes, lettuce and papaya
right fror1 the garden, also figs, grapes
and peaches canned from the last sea-
sons production. The tomatoes were
perfect in form and in flavor. The pa
paya is large fruit growing on trees
of one and two years growth which
grow large and bracing from the ground
like a banana tree, and the fruit is of
the shape and size of the larger musk
melon varieties, and is very similar in
its color of flesh aid also in its flavor,
leaving one to decide that it is real
tree melon. From six to ten of these
melons will be found clinging to the
stalk, which is leafiess except few
just at the top and have very queer
appearance, and very unlike anything
to be found in the north, and because
of its great yield on stalk, 5 to6inches
through at the butt, and running ur
about is feet in the air, give good evi.
dence of the productiveness of the soil
in this section, We saw considerable
good corn still in the farmers hands,
and as large and sound as Wisconsin
grown. Returning to San Binite we
found the freight agent an enter.
tanning fellow, and from him secured
the record of the shipments for the
year in farm produce on his books az
follows: 200 cars Of corn up to Janu.
airy /, $50 cars Of cabbage and lettuce
f, last year, with l04 cars Of cabbage and
40 cars Of lettuce 30 fer this year IN
January, which is only touch, as (here
are 5000 acres of cabbage around Sar
Binite alone, and will give on a consery-
stive basis s tons per acre Lettuce Is
about one-half shipped out. There is Q
canning factory starting which put out
this year car loads Of canned toma
toes. The cattle shipments were q
cars, hogs 8, showing that irrigation
section is turning mostly to truck fam
ing.
On the whole l find that the average
irrigation farmer expects to succeed il
prices keep up on the crops raised and
transportation companies can furnish
cars to move the immense weight TO
the north. However, only a small part
Of the irrigated land is cropped, and 80
IL is fast being resold to ward off the
expense of irrigation, which is usually
collected whether the land is cropped
or not. On this account dry farming
lands are being bought by those who
wish investment in large quantities, and
the average farmer Of the same is well
pleased with his returns, which are
largely in cattle, hogs, hay, corn and
cotton, with melons, grapes, oranges,
lemons. peaches and figs for side is
sue. The big business is done in the
irrigated sections, as that was worked
out before modern methods of dry
farming had gained footing, but the
returns of the latter are most crafty
ing.
This is very great country of wond-
erful productiveness, ana eli seemingly
depending on the labor and money ex-
pended. 1t is field for great study
and the festivals and stock, fruit, grain
and truck exhibits are arranged at
great expense about four times yearly
at different points along the valley and
attended by nearly all the farmers and
supported by a mutual contribution
from the different towns that run into
thousands of dollars, and growing larg-
er and more productive in influence all
the time with railroads and the great
shipping concerns. Ii a shipper has
grievance it is put up by the CONNER
cial club of the whole valley and be gets
his deserts.
AS winter home think this section
Iill find its place in the very near fu-
ture with California and Florida and
will give all great pleasure in it's devel.
opment. j. w. THAYER.