136 American llorticnltnrdl Society. 



planted, tended and harvested at certain seasons, leaving the planter free at 

 ju.->i the proper time for taking care of a small fruit garden, and giving hint 

 ample time as well to grow an abundance of fresh vegetables for home con- 

 8Uini)lion. To remedy the evils which have eaten up the i)rolits of cotioii- 

 growing in the past, it is necessary to economize labor by keeping it steaddy 

 employed. Why not, then, let us ask in all seriousness, why not encourage 

 to the fullest extent the growing of fruit by southern farmers for home cim- 

 8umj)tion. More than this, let the farmers once appreciate the benelits 

 from such a course, and become familiar with the simple operations on which 

 successful fruit-growing depends, and they will create a home market which 

 must surely increase the yearly income. Canning and evaporating estab- 

 lishments are steadily increasing in number, and the great southwest is re- 

 ceiving her full quota. 



Texas, with her one and a half million bales of cotton, representing an 

 annual value of over $55,000,000, is slowly but surely turning to mixed farm- 

 ing for relief from the tyranny of " King Cotton," while fruit and viticulture 

 are as surely pushing forward to a prominent place in the future operations 

 of the farm. The peach, the pear and the grape lintl a congenial home on 

 Texas soil, and there is no excuse for neglecting to proliL by the cordial readi- 

 ness of nature. 



The system of farming in that greatsouthwest area known as the " tlrouth 

 region," has, heretofore, been too extensive to admit of costly methods of 

 improvement. Soils, nowhere excelled for richness, have been clussed as 

 " grazing lands," for the simple reason that necessity had not yet forced ui)on 

 our people the practice of close, intense farming, which demands a greater 

 outlay while permitting the same percentage returns. Much of this so-called 

 drouth area has an abundance of rainfall, but coming a? it does during a f'^w 

 months only of the year, its effects are not lasting, and, indeed, a large por- 

 tion of its bulk is rapidly carried away by ravine8,creek-<and rivers. If this 

 body of water which is annually lost could be stored up and drawn upon as 

 needed, we should have a section of country dotted with small, diversified 

 farms, each one showing a considerable portion for fruit and garden use. 

 "Will irrigation pay?" is a question often asked. We can only answer: 

 Look around you a^. the places where irrigation ilx's pay, and satisfy your- 

 selves as to its value. 



The great bugbear which has prevented a more general appreciation of 

 the natural resources of the great plains, is the fear of investing capital 

 which will not give immediate returns. Farming is like all other business 

 ventures; capiUil intelligently placed will surely yiclil a go(Kl interest on 

 long investments. Do not understand that we would advocate an expensive 

 system of irrigation for a crop which occupies the ground only during a few 

 months of the year; but we do claim that irrigation from tanks, in a small 

 way, for fruit and garden products, and for some of the lei^s hardy crops as 

 well, will yield abundant returns. The subject is just now being strongly 

 pushed with the hope of securing appropriations from the general govern- 



