26 THE TEXAS RICE BOOK. 



of the machinery, which was about $3,000, and a net profit of 25 

 per cent on the original investment. Mr. Borden planted Japan 

 rice. He finished planting his crop June 20, and his rice was 

 about ready to harvest when the September storm struck it. It 

 weathered the storm all right. The experience of Mr. Borden 

 this year will no doubt benefit the people of this section very 

 much. Mr. Borden is going to increase his acreage this coming 

 season. He says: - "We have the land, water and climate, and 

 all we need is people and capital to cultivate it." 



In the vicinity of Eagle Lake there was this year about 5,000 

 acres of rice in cultivation. The lowest yield I have heard of per 

 acre was five barrels, and from that up to ten and twelve barrels 

 per acre were made. The storm damaged the crop considerably 

 in this section of the country, but even at five barrels to the acre, 

 and $3.50 per barrel, which is the price received, makes a return 

 of $17.50 per acre, which is not bad, all things considered. I un- 

 derstand the acreage in rice in the Eagle Lake district will be in- 

 creased the coming season. 



Convenient to Chesterville, in Colorado County, Mr. Linder- 

 holm has been experimenting in the growing of rice by the deep 

 well system and he is encouraged enough to increase his acreage 

 this coming year. Mr. George Vick, living two miles east of 

 Eagle Lake, irrigated last season (1900) from one well, 150 acres 

 of rice. This year, being a wet season, did not require as much 

 water as would a dry season, but it is pretty safe to say that in 

 a dry year this well would supply water enough for at least fifty 

 or seventy-five acres. Mr. Vick uses the traction engine that he 

 uses to run his rice threshing machine for pumping purposes. 



It is proper to state that portions of the counties named are 

 well adapted to some kinds of fruit and nearly all kinds of vege- 

 tables. Melons, etc., do well, and when our Texas truck and fruit 

 growers are organized and stand together marketing their pro- 

 ducts at the depots instead of consigning, the products of the 

 orchard and garden will add considerably to the wealth and pros- 

 perity of the people of this section. We have soil, seasons and 

 climate, and if we can reach the consumers with a profit to the 

 producers we can secure practical gardeners to locate on these 

 lands. 



The firm of Vineyard & Walker of Eagle Lake had 200 acres 

 of rice this year. The storm damaged their crop considerably. 

 The lowest yield they had, however, was five barrels to the acre, 

 which is equal to $17.50 per acre. They turned a lot of hogs in 

 on the rice stubble, and Mr. Vineyard informs me that the hogs 

 are doing well on the rice that was beaten down by the storm. 

 Vineyard & Walker will increase their acreage in rice this coming 

 year. They secure their water supply from Eagle Lake and have 

 the Colorado River to draw from should they need more water. 



I learn that among recent enterprises in Matagorda County 

 are the following : 



Moore-Cortes Company, 20,000 acres, East Texas and Lou- 

 isiana capital. 



