Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1927-11-13

ranch was revived two years ago and
. number Of plants set out, the num-
Der being increased this year. The
earlier paintings are now bearing,
producing grapes Of excellent quail
ity. and unsurpassed flavor. Both
the white and purple grapes are
grown.
Soil Adapted 20 Culture
The soil throughout the section
where vineyard development Is under
way Is well adapted 70 grape grow
ing, according to California soil ex-
perts who have made an exhaustive
survey. The surface soil is extreme
" fertile, and has a clay or sand
subsoil- Root trouble, such as has
d~eveaoped in grape tests in the lower
part OF the Valley, has never devel-
Cpd in those sections, and the growth
Of the vines Is strong and vigorous.
The Vineyards come into production
the second year. the production in
creasing each year.
Grapes require the minimum OF
water. Some Of the smaller vine
yards are being watered with tank
wagons or from ditch irrigation syA-
TENS connecting with wells. but the
greater part Of the acreage is I'M
irrigated. The soil throughout the
entire area Is very %rententiye Of
moisture, n feature which adds ma
t~erially TO its value for grape pro-
duction. Developers assert that
when proper cultural. methods are
used and efforts made 70 conserve
the moisture IN the soil the vines
devlop rapidly without irrigation.
However, where irrigation is used,
only a minimum OF water n neces-
sary, and the wells supply an
abundance.
Conserve All Moisture
The methods employed by the Red
Land Vineyard Company and the Flo
Grande Vineyards, Inc. are designed
TO conserve all moisture in the soil
and apply Il to the growth OF the
vines. Constant cultivation main
tains a fine mulch on the surface,
breaking the lines OF capilarity at
traction and preventing the moisture
from leaving the soil. The subsoil
Is Of such nature that there is very
little loss Of moisture, and virtually
the entire rainfall is utilized in the
growth OF the vines. Weeks Of dry,
hot weather have no apparent effect
except 10 make the vines grow rapid
~. The surface soil, cultivated un-
til il is almost dust, may become ex-
ceedinglv dry. but at the depth Of a
few inches the soil u moist. the
moisture increasing with the depth.
This method OF "dry farming" vine
yards Is generally practiced through
out the semi-arid regions Of Califor-
MIA where grape culture has become
n Of the most important indus
tries. Even in the irrigated Sec
tions. the amount Of water applied
TO the vines Is very small.
"Grare production in the unirriga-
ted section Of the Valley will even
tually rival citrus production, il the
prediction Of DR.. 6. y. Fairbanks Of
Brownsville who has kept in close
touch with the development in the
grape lands. 1--WE have ideal soil
and climatic conditions. Expert
mcnts have repeatedly proved that
these lands are well adapted TO the
growing az grapes; that root trouble.
such as is experienced in the lower
part Of the Valley. is virtually un-
known" DR.. Fairbanks stated. "We
can produce practically all varieties
that are grow in California, and ex-
reriments have indicated that the
Valley will have a decided advantage
in getting its grapes onto the market
ahead OF the western producers. The
effort to develop grape culture upon
a commercial basis Is q move that
will eventually add materially 20 the
production OF this section.
and will mean the utilization Of
thousands OF acres that are now
practically undeveloped."