Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1927-10-16

the surface which has retained all
the moiture in the soil.
THE outlook for record breaking
cotton and onion crops has never
been better" was the verdict Of Mr..
Harding. There is an abundance OF
moisture in the soil, the farmers are
preparing and maintaining their
fields in better condition than ever
before, and with normal weather con-
ditions the unirrigated lands will
break all previous production rec
ords. 1t is hard to estimate what the
total acreage will be, but will prob
ably run from two TO three times
that Of last year.
The Delta Cities Company owns
25,l40 acres on the Mestenas tract
and east Of Raymondville, prac-
tically all of which is cleared and
will be planted this season. OF this
amount the company is placing APP
proximately 10000 acres on the mar
ket, but will retain $4,000 acres
which will eventually be developed
as a citrus fruit and grape project.
Huge Citrus Orchards
A citrus orchard in which the
rows are two miles in length is one
Of the unusual sights in the new de-
velopmcnt on the Mestenas tract.
This orchard is located on the Engle-
mar lands in the southern part Of
the tract. Over $4,000 trees are now
being set out by parties who have
secured a large acreage from the
Delta Cities Company. and il is es-
timated that over half a million
trees will be set out in the unirri-
gated section during the winter
months.
Al the f. W. Goss orchard Just
west Of Raymondville, grapefruit
trees less than two years old are
bearing, n tree having "a fruit.
Despite adverse weather conditions
during the summer the orchard has
grown rapidly and presents A very
thrifty appearance. A decided i'm
provement has been made in the cul-
tural methods which are designed to
retain all the moisture in the
ground.
Mr.. Goss came to the Valley less
than two years ago from Oklahoma.
and during his brief residence has
transformed his acreage into one of
the most beautiful farm homes in
that section Of the Valley. There
seems to be no limit TO what the
Valley soil can produce" was the
way he summed up his experience.
Il did not think il possible to grow
such IN orchard az | now have. The
past summer has been the dryest in
ten years. old timers state, but
there was not a day those trees did
not put on new growth. OF court IL
required work. ! have found that
cultivation Il the basis Of
success here. and my orchard has
Y lacked for care. Grapefruit
trees bearing when less than two
years of age would make the growers
OF Florida and California rub their
eyes. The trees received no water
except the normal rainfall. and by
maintaining a fine mulch on the sur
face ! have succeeded in utilizing
every drop Of hat moisture.
Grapes Are Thriving
Experiments In grape culture con |
Quoted by Mr.. Harding indicate that
grape growing will eventually be-
come one Of the big industries OF
the unirrigated section west Of Ray
mondville. Ten acres Of Carmen
grapes, planted from cuttings less
than " years ago, produced over
10000 pounds Of fruit this year.
had a ready sale Mt 40 10 Is
cents per pound. The vines have de-
veloped runners" averaging from
20 10 30 feet in length and present
the appearance of four and five-year
vines Of California.
The grapes ripeEed in June and
onto. the market at least three
weeks ahead Of the California pro-
duction.
This is more or less In the
Of an experiment" Mr.. Hard
ing said in discussing the grape
possibilities Of that section.
" However. the success this season
would indicate that grapes can BE
grown politically and profitablv. /
year the production OF the vines
should be doubled, and in two years
they viii come into full bearing. i
am making preparations TO plant a
acreage 10 grapes on the Mes
tract, and | predict that within
five years the volume OF citrus ana
grapes that will be shipped from
and the new towns On
Missouri Pacific extensions will
be tremendous.
The soil on the Mestenas tract Is
a very uniform sandy loan, easily
worked, and when prepared for
planting presents a picture that can
not fail 70 appeal 20 Northern farm
ers who are accustomed 70 broad
aereages. The deep loan retains
moisture, when properly cultivated.
10 a degree unequalled in any other
part Of the South. The average an
nual rainfall is IS inches, and the