San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-03-16
PLANTING BEGUN ON
EXPERIMENTAL FARM
OF S. A. & A. P.
To Learn What Vegetation
Thribes Best Along
Its Lines.

Planting is we'll under way on the
San Antonio & Arkansas Pass Rail
roads demonstration farm at Rock
port. reports III. NJ. Madison, general
farm and immigration agent for the
road. Work of grubbing and chopping
down trees on the land and blowing
was begun on December | and plant
ing was started recently. he says.
On December l, the railroad cleared
the land of live oak trees. After this
large railroad plows were brought
onto the land and it was titled.
Plans for she demonstration farm in
that section of the country were start
ed in the early part of 1923, Mr.. Mad
ison says, but it was December before
cultivation began. At this time, the
railroad had the property fenced.
w. II. Wedge, formerly of the Royal
Palm Nursery, of Florida, was ap
pointed superintendent of the farm
Mr.. Wedge has been in this business q
great part of his life, receiving his
education at agricultural and nursery
schools. He spent year in the tropi-
cal gardens of Cuba and is thoroughly
familiar with all kinds of tropical
fruits and vegetables.
At present, the road is planting all
kinds of citrus fruits on the tract. Al
though there will not be a large guam
tity of each kind of fruit, there will
be many experiments made.
Guavas. avocad0s, mangoes, pine
apples. feijoas, and many other classes
of tropical fruits will be planted. The
fruits flourishing the most will be
grown more extensively.
The semi-tropical fruits, vegetables,
plants. shrubs and vines will be plant
ed. Mr.. Madison believes that this
class of vegetation will do well in the
territory around Rockport.
The common vegetables, fruits and
vines will also be planted. Plums,
apricots, figs, "jujubes" Chinese APP
ples). dewberries, blackberries, papyas
and probably dates will be included.
Tomatoes, cucuhbers, peas. beans. let
tuce. watermelon, eantelOupe, mush-
mellon and several other bush and
vine vegetables will be planted.
One of the main fruits to be plant
ed on the acreage will be grapes. More
than 1000 vines of seven different
kinds of grapes, including common and
rare species, will be planted in the
near future.
Planting Of these products, on the
tract will take about 80 more days,
Mr.. Madison says. Some of the plants
and trees have already been shipped,
but have not arrived at their destina-
ton and other plants have not been
ordered yet, he states.
A fall planting experiment, similar
to spring. will be made, he says. BY
this means. the San Antonio x Aran-
sas Pass railroad will soon know what
classes of vegetation can be grown
along its lines.
When ordering the citrus trees for
the demonstration farm, Mr.. Madison
sent in an order to Florida for 1000
citrus trees. which he sold to the
farmers along the road at a reduced
price. These trees were sold all along
the road and now. the roads supply
is completely exhausted.
The following towns received the
trees: Arkansas Pass. So; Rockport,
641: st. Paul. l.; Toledo. 40; Nor
mana, 100; Edroy, 40; RobStown, Is /;
Odem. 1869; Taft, 21i; Fremont. 196 /;
Beeville. n; ligleside. 116i Mathis,
142; Skidmore. So; Sinton, 9SJ; Cor
pus Christi. $50; Orange Grove, 90 :
San Antonio. 4; Yorktown, 6. and
many other places.
When the last survey was made,
there were $4,000 bearing trees in the
counties along the road. Now there
are at least $4,000 trees in that sec
ton. he saws.