Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1931-07-12
BARREN LAND
TRANSFORMED
BY IRRIGATION
Markets Own
Fruit, To Build
Shipping Shed
By HARRY FOEHNER
HERALD staff Corresnondentl

one OF the most unique develop
ments in the Valley.
II is unique from several stand
points but Mr.. Smith Is prouder OF
the wonderful showing made by his
trees since they were cut back
because Of the freeze year before
last than any ether feature OF the
development.
Young Trees Bear
He has three and one-half year
old trees with as large a growth
and bearing as heavily as trees
much older than these. They not
only put on new growth but fruit
ed heavily and Mr.. Smith expects
to harvest 10000 boxes Of fruit
next winter.
All the trees planted on the
Hidalgo sandy loan are doing ex-
ceptionally well, only those planted
in a tighter soil being behind II
their development. Most Of the
tract consists OF the sander soil
There is a sharp divergence be-
tween the growth of the trees
where one soil ends and another
begins.
There are three wells on the
Smith hacienda which Mr.. Smith
prefers 10 call La Joya es ae.
Only one OF these IS necessary 70
irrigate the 800 acres OF trees. 1t
can be pumped TO produce 1000
gallons Of water a minute. Part Of
the water Is pumped into a $4,000
gallon steel elevated reservoir and
the rest into a concrete reservoir
resembling a swimming pool. This
concrete reservoir is 275x175 feet
and - feet deep IN the middle. II
will hold 2,000,00 gallons Of water,
according to Mr.. Smith.
Water Piped
Water Is led down the middle OF
the orchard in pipes. Long hose
are attached TO the pipes at con-
neqtionS which ~ available al
intervals. Over 1900 feet OF hose
r necessary 10 reach down the
rows on one side and over l.40O
feet OF hose down the other. The
earth Is built up around each tree
and the enclosed space filled with
water from the hose. About $50
gallons OF water are given each
tree. Later the earth is pulled to-
wards the trees so that the wet
soil will not bake and the water
will not evaporate quickly. A lev
trees are irrigated daily in this
manner until the entire tract has
been taken care OF and then the
process IS gone through again. The
rounds are made about three times
a year and Mr.. Smith estimates
that 1t costs about a cent per tree
per watering for the irrigation.
Most OF the paintings in the
orchard are Marsh seedless grape
fruit although Mr.. Smith has about
5000 trees OF Foster Pink grape
fruit and some Valencia oranges.
Plans Own Shed
He expects TO do his own mar
keting OF fruit. eventually con-
structing a large packing plant on
the grounds. He is considering
planting 1900 acres more or fruit
IN which case a big plant would be
necessary 10 handle the production
Both oranges and grapefruit Will
be shipped 10 HCrlston TO some
extent where the juice viii be ex-
tracted and delivered 70 the house
wives by milk routes. What luice
Is not sold in liquid form Will be
frozen for storage or for sale else
where. The quick freezing method
by which flavor and other quail
ties are retained will BE- used.
. Mr.. Smith said that he has had
no difficulty III dispoSing OF his
~ r., getting as much as 6 cents
n pound for his pinks. He prob
ably will adopt la Joya. The
Jewell as She trade name for his
product.
Part Of the orchard IS irrigated
by an overhead system which Mr.
Smith calls his plaything. There is
a nozzle near each tree and in the
evening the water IS turned on 10
u perhaps all night. The trees
being irrigated In this manner have
not been doing as well IS the 9TH
ers but Mr.. Smith believes that the
difference IS due to the soil rather
than the way the water is applied.
The fact IS that there are sprays
al over the place. Nozzles pro-
trude everywhere, watering grass
shrubs and trees. Part Of the es-
tate has been parked and nozzles in
the ground sprinkle this also. The
earthen slope on the concrete re-
.servoir. which is elevated about
seven feet. is planted 10 grass and
watered IN this manner.
Reservoir Built
There Is considerable concrete
work on the place but Mr.. Smith
said that Il was done al 4 s-n.',
cost because gravel and sand for
the work we're available on the
spot. All that was required was
cement and labor to build the con-
crete reservoir. concrete walks.
pump houses and other structures.
The water contains some sui
phur but not enough 70 be often
sive TO the taste or smell
Mr.. Smith at n time had thous-
.nds Of ducks which swan on the
reservoir. Their dung fortified
the water which was piped to the
trees, benefiting them II a man
ner both easy and economical !
Most OF these ducks have been
sold. Only enough for home con-
sumption remain. "A pair Of swans
make their home on the water and
recently Matched out several young.
Mr.. Smith says that he expects
10 make his home some day on this
tract which Is in direct contrast I,
the desert looking country (
surrounds IL a glorious exam I