Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-06-10

sturdiness Of the trunks and branches
the unsurpassed fertility of the soil.
Every acre Of citrus also bears q
cover crop Of cowpeas, which is daily
adding fertility TO the soil and has
tening the growth Of the young or
chards. Over 1000 acres have been
with fruit which indicate a record
crop. Every acre Of the thousands
under cultivation attests the superior
quality Of the soil and the efficiency
of the deep tilling methods which has
become the accepted practice in con-
nection with the development.
Citrus Rows Two Miles Long
Rows Of citrus fruit trees, many
two miles or more in length, extend
in three directions from the club
house located on a small knoll on the
south side of the acreage. Uniform
cultural practices are followed in
handling the entire acreage of citrus,
deep tilling machines, chisels and
heavy cover discs, all drawn by trac-
tor, forming the only tools used in
the orchards. The entire acreage
is in the unirrigated section, but will
oon have an irrigation system of its
own. The growth of the trees and
their dark foliage attest the effici-
ency of the cultural method
ployed which conserves all moisture.
The trees passed through the dry
est winter in recent years, and I'M
der what are considered the most ad-
verse weather conditions have made
rapid growth.
planting of trees continued UP
to May, every acre being deep titled
and chiseled before the trees were
planted. Tank wagons were utilized
to water the young trees, ell moisture
being retained in the well loosened
soil, the surface Of which is main
tanned smooth and loose to prevent
evaporation.
"We have adopted deep tilling and
use nothing but deep tilling tools,
L. l.. Harwell, farm manager, who
supervises ali activities in connection
with the preparation and planting Of
ground, said. "We have ascertained
by tests that il tends to conserve
the moisture, keeps the ground in
proper condition for maximum
growth of trees, and is more conom
ical than the old methods" This
opinion was also voiced by A. i.
Cramer. local manager, who takes
as keen interest in the development
as does Mr.. Engleman.
Will Irrigate Acreage
water for the entire acreage, is ex-
pected to be completed in a few
months. A huge S-yard dredge is now
~n~&rvs~&s-- ra..I wrkfrL fnwp,r a
drainage outlet for the Donna and
Pharr-San Juan-Alamo irrigation
systems. A large reservoir with a
capacity of 1900 acre feet will be con
structed on the southwest corner Of
the tract, and the system will utilize
the drainage waters from the two ir-
rigation districts and surplus waters
from the Rio Grande which will be
supplied through the Donna system
canals. The reservoir will be ample
TO assure a sufficient supply for the
1000 acres in the tract at any time
surplus waters from the river or
drain water will not be available.
Connections with the main ditch Of
the Donna drainage system has been
made and the huge s-yard dredge Of
the Callahan & Crawford Company,
the largest dredge ever brought to
the Valley. Is now engaged in dredg-
ing the main canal TO the reservoir,
and will construct the reservoir rs
soon as the canal is completed. The
reservoir site comprises low ground
surrounded on two sides by ridges,
and the maximum depth of the water
will be about 10 feet. Plans for
utilization of the artificial lake in a
comprehensive Identification pro-
gram have been made by the devel-
opers.
Plan Concrete System
All mai ncanals Will be lined with
concrete TO prevent epa and
damage to the lands. and water will
be carried to all parts Of the tract
through concrete pipes. The entire
acreage will be developed as a citrus
PROJECT, end it is the intention of the
developers TO have no open field
bitches, concrete pipe to be used
throughout the entire development
for connection with the main canals.
A system very similar to the n
proposed for the Engleman acreage
has been installed on approximately
500 acres within the Edinburg ir-
riEation district adjoining the En-
-ieman holdings on the south, and
the efficiency Of the system. both as
TO prevention Of seepage and con-
venience in handling irrigation water
has been amply demonstrated.
I'VE expect to be able to put irri-
CATION water on part of the land in
: few months" Mr.. Cramer said.
All the water will come either from
the drainage systems of the Donna
and Pharr-San Juan-Alamo districts
or will be surplus water from the
Rio Grande. The impounding res
ervoir will assure that an ample sup
ply will always be available.
"All irrigation water will be de-
iivered through concrete. We con-
slider il useless to plant this land TO
citrus fruit and then permit the soil
to deteriorate as the result of seep-
age. The time is coming when every
irrigation system in the Valley must
install concrete canals or pipe, and
We propose TO do this at the outset,
thereby assuring maximum beneficial
Use of water, convenience in delivery
and the elimination Of loss and dam
age from seepage. BY deep tillage
we are conserving all the rainfall.
The run-off during the heaviest rains
- very SflgnL, pFacIlcaiiy every drop
of moisture going into the ground
here il is conserved for the benefit
4 the trees or cover crop. This will
greatly reduce the amount of irriga-
on water necessary to maintain the
orchards, but we propose to have
that water ready for delivery when it
il needed, and can depend upon the
reservoir in the event there is not
sufficient surplus water in the Rio
Grande."
High Efficiency Maintained
The reservoir will impound the
surface waters as well as the canal /.
seepage from the large acreage in the
L onna and Pharr districts. ard the
developers are confident that very
little water from the river will be
though eleven months of
the year surplus waters would be