Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1931-07-12

LA&MAk0 ~ VIZ
1t 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 other 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 no.
only put on new growth but fruit
ed heavily and Mr.. Smith expects
10 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 IN
their development. Most OF the
tract consists of the sander soil.
kThere is a sharp divergence be-
FtKeen the growth Of the trees
I where one soil ends and another
begins.
There are three wells on the
Smith hacienda which Mr.. Smith
prefers TO call La Joya eSt.se.
Only one Of these Is necessary 10
irrigate the 800 acres Of trees. II
can be pumped 10 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 275xi75 feet
and - feet deep III the middle. II
Will hold 100000 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 az con-
neotions which are available at
intervals. Over 1900 feet of hose
are necessary 70 reach down the
rows or n side and over i.400
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 viii not bake and the water
will not evaporate quickly. "A few
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 10 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 q large packing plant on
the grounds He Is considering
planting 1890 acres more OF fruit
in which case q big plant would be
necessary 70 handle the production
Both oranges and grapefruit Will
be shipped 70 H0lston 10 some
extent where the Juice will be ex-
tracted and delivered 10 the house
wives by milk routes. What Juice
Is not sold IN liquid form viii 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
fC difficulty IN disposing o. his
frkit. getting as much as S cents
a Bound for his pinks. He PROB
aEly will adopt la Joya, The
Jewell as the trade name for his
product.
Part OF the orchard IS irrigated
by an overhead system which Mr.
Smith calls his plaything. There Is
q nozzle near each tree and in the
evening the water Is turned on to
run perhaps all night. The trees
being irrigated IN this manner have
not been doing as well as the 9TH
ers but Mr Smith believes that the
difference IS due 70 the soil rather
than tie 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 at a small
cost because gravel and sand for
the work were available on the
spot. AL that was required was
cement and labor 70 build the con-
crete reservoir, concrete walks,
pump houses and other structures.
The water contains some sui
phur but not enough to be offen-
sive 70 the taste or smell.
Mr.. Smith at one time had thous-
ands OF ducks which swan on the
reservoir. Their dung fertillzed
the water which was piped 70 the
trees. benefiting them in q man
ner both easy ard economical.
Most OF these ducks have been
Only enough for home con-
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 il direct contrast
with the desert looking country
surrounds II a glorious exani-
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