Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1917-06-26
The Valley

Ii was my privilege TO spend the sixth,
seventh and eighth of the present month
in the Lower Rio Grande Valley. This
was my second visit and the favorable i'm
pressions of the first were fully confirmed
by the second. In many particulars it is
one of the most wonderful countries | have
ever visited. IT. agricultural possibili-
ties seem unlimited.
First, it has q climate that will permit
some sort of farming for almost twelve
months in the year. Practically every
farm product can be grown from Irish po-
~tatoes TO citrus fruit and sugar cane. Its
advantages for growing winter vegetables
the winter garden for all the large cities of
the middle and northern Mississippi Val
ley. Florida is the only rival of the lower
valley in this line of farming; and Ftori-
da has all she can do to supply the large
cities Of the Atlantic seaboard. Florida
by one of tn epoorest of soils, while the
soil of the valley is one of the most fer
tile.
TIE valley trucking advantages are, it
possible. exceeded by her ability to grow
the staple field crops. | have never trav-
eled in the corn belt, but am safe in say
ing | have never seen larger nor better
corn fields any where in the South. The
cotton under normal conditions is good for
n bale OF cotton 10 the acre. Bermuda
grass furnishes grazing tor at least ten
months out Of twelve. This trip was an Of
fetal visit 10 investigate the possibilities
of Rhodes grass a n hay and pasture
grass in the gulf coast counties of the
state. do not have To believe all | heard
about the wonders of this grass. just half
Of il will suffice. Unquessionably, il il one
Of the greatest forage plants that can be
grown in sections where il will thrive. The
same remarks apply to the broom corn
and other field crops that can be grown
there. Ii ought to be one of the best live
stock countries. Bermuda grass for graz
ing. Rhodes grass for hay and grazing,
corn for silo filling. bur clover, he winter
small grains and other hardy winter forage
plants for winter g~razing-there is nothing
TO prevent this becoming a great dairy and
stock country. Why enumerate further:
The soil j. fertile. the climate coneonial.
the permanent citizenship intelligent and
progressive. ANY thing wrongi
Yes; there are some handicaps to be
overcome. The first and most serious is
the lack of a dependable water supply.
Farming operations here depend upon irri-
CATION and irrigation depends upon an am
pie and continuous water supply for sat
Iisfactory success. The valley can never
develop into the great agricultural see
'tion nature designed il To be till this prob
lem Is satisfactorily and permanently set
tied.
The second j. he problem that always
ARISES on irrigated lands and demands an
immediate settlement. This is the drain
age and alkali problem. The two are sep
arate and distinct, but the remedy is prac-
tically the same for both, so for this rea-
son they can W. treated n a single prob
lem. The simple remedy j. a ditch to ear
~ of the surplus water and at the sane
time the ditch will furnish facilities for
washing the alkali out Of the soil.
The third j., more people. Every acre
of tillable land under the ditch should he
cultivated by a bona fide farmer. None
should be in the hands of land spectators.
Then and only then can be organized CO.
operative creameries, marketing a~ssocia-
tons. live stock organization, and the
many other organizations for community
uplift and social betterment.
The day | spent in Hidalgo county Mr..
". 4. Miller. the county demonstration
agent, was my guide. Ny previous asso-
citation with Mr.. Miller had impressed me
that the right man was on the right job.
Again. former impressions were confirmed.
That night by invitation of their president
! attended a session of the farmers insti-
.tute at McAlien. An unusually intelligent
audience greeted "a. Among other things
they discussed was a raise Of salary for
their county demonstration. Then we were
convinced that Mr.. Miller is making good:
for a lot of as intelligent men as these
would not voluntarily discuss an increase
Of salary for a public official unless he
deserved it. And he does. The county
agent j. the most important man in all
the extension service organization. lie i
the soldier in trench No. | and when he
fails the generals and the colonies in the
rear will automatically be out of commits
sion. lie j. the man who carries the adj
yanced ideas Of improved farming right
ont to the farmer and helps him to put
the mworking in the field, the only place
IN the world they can do one bit of good.
This is Mr.. Miller's mission and he is fill
inc II faithfully ON a comnaratiyely small