Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1927-12-11
VALLEY FARM
PAYS YEARLY,
TANDY Says
Local Brothers Make
Study of Soil And
Culture Methods to
Improve Yield
BY n L. SEXTON

over 1000 acres and who ship pota-
toes every spring by the dozens Of
carloads.
Some years are, Of course, more
profitable than others, but there has
been no year during the twenty the
Iandys have been farming in the
valley that their lands have not pro-
oaced a profit-and when Clyde
fandy, farm manager. figures profit.
II means he cas- deducted all costs
entering into tie production OF a
crop.
Occasionally they have had crop
failures. poor cotton years, or low
cabbage and potato markets, brt
they have never failed 20 "hit the
market" with ore or more crops, and
derive sufficient revenue therefrom
10 more than cover loss which
night accrue from a poor crop or a
low market for other commodities.
The TandyS are potato farmers.
For fifteen years they have increased
their potato paintings year after
year, and through careful study Of
soil conditions, cultural methods and
research work. have steadily ~increaE-
ed their per acre production. They
arc among the first on the potato
market. ard are marketing as long as
the demand continues.
No Hsphazard Methods
Clyde Tardy, manager OF the
farms which are now operated By
himself and his brother Cleye, is a
practical farmer in every sense Of
the term. There are TO ~haphazard
methods employed in planting and
cultivation. Market reports are
scanned daily; they know the plant
ings and probable production in all
competing sections, and their plant
ings are governed accordingly. Their
production is almost invariably ready
TO go onto the market when the mar
ket is at its peak.
They also believe that every effect
has its cause. IL any part Of their
lands - not producing normally they
Immediately seek the cause. They
know the peculiarities and properties
Of every acre Of their iand-which is
best adapted for potatoes, which will
grow cabbage the most prolifieally,
and which is best adapted TO cotton.
If certain elements are lacking in the
soil. those elements are supplied.
This year they are using over 100
tons Of fertilizer-aeid phosphate-to
supply the PHOSPHORUS lacking in
the Valley soil. n which is essen
tial to maximum production.
Approximately 200 acres on the
Tandy farm in the western part OF
the Los Fresnos tract has been tiled.
and the remainder will probably be
tiled within two or three years.
Clyde Tandy IS now conducting eX-
periments TO ascertain the proper
depth and distance between lateral
tile lines in order TO assure maxi
mum efficiency OF the drainage
system.
Thing and Deep Tilling
"Every year VIC learn something
new concerning cultural methods and
soil properties" Clyde Tandy said.
Owe maintain a careful cheek on
every acre. II il fails to produce
normally. we Immediately seek the
cause. | have reached the conclu-
sion that tile drainage Is essential on
most of the land in the lower part Of
the Valley and n large part Of the
lands IN the upper section. As soon
as our research work is completed.
We will probably tile practically all
lands we own
This year Mr.. Tandy discarded his
plows and adopted the deep tilling
method. Every acre Of the land is
being titled u a depth Of % inches,
and then crossed with the deep til
ling tool. This tool does not turn up
the subsoil. Its point penetrates 20
n depth Of % inches, cracking the
suhsoil and breaking the surface
sell. The ground is Their thoroughly
oisccd. and - ready 20 prepare for
planting.
Deep filling u not only cheaper
than blowing. hut / am convinced
that ID will increase production IS "a
80 per cent Mr.. Tandv said. "The
principle az deep tilling is essential
IN correct ana there Is probably no
place IN the world where IL will prove
Of greater value than in the Valley
This year We are deep filling both
ways next year and each succeeding
year We viii deep till only once
crossing the lands each alternate
year. Win The subsoil well broken,
greater quantities of plant food are
generated, better results are obtained
tion from irrigation, and the planting
ard cultivation is handled more
economically and efficiently"
Peculiar Soil Type
The Tandy lands on the Los Fres-
nos tract comprise 1000 acres. being
divided into two farms. one on the
west side NJ the tract and the other
on the east, both fronting on the
recently completed highway. The
farm on the west side Of the tract
has been owned NV the TAndys for
many years, and is noted for its
ability - produce enormous potato
crops. or the 400 acres in this farm
approximately $50 acres has been
planted 20 potatoes year after wear.
the yield occasionally running as
high as 400 Bushels per acre. with an
average over q long period OF years
exceeding 200 bushels. This year
approximately SEQ acres will be plant
ed "a potatoes on the two farms.
One 81 the most peculiar. and. in
ridcntaiiy. one or the most fertile
soil types in the Valley il found on
the Tandy farms soil which great
ly resembles the Harrington clay. the
resemblance being So similar thst
they cannot he told apart except ia
noting crop production. On the west
farm approximately ESQ acres Of this
soil il found, believed 20 be the
largest BODY in the Valley: and on
the east farm there Is about twenty
acres of The peculiar formation. TIL
boundaries 81 this soil on the east
farm are clearly defined by the dif-
ference in color. II IL Of reddish
hue. whereas the rest 81 the soil OF
that farm Is the black loan. On the
west farm. which e composed almost
entirely n this soil ard the Harlin-
gen clay the boundaries Of the super-
fertile soil cannot be defined unless
q crop Is growing. This soil Is too
rich FOR cotton. and ~ also unsuited
for several truck crops. But il
nrodycss potatoes 81 excellent DUAL.
ity and in great quantities. LIS pro-
duetive qualities are being further
enhanced this war kr thn MAMMALIAN