FARM PRACTICE IF THE CULTIVATION OF COTTON. 59 



tivator and a 2-horse 2-row cultivator equipped with sweeps instead 

 of shovels. The cotton is usually chopped to a stand after the first 

 or second cultivation and again gone over with a hoe at the fourth 

 cultivation to chop out any weeds or extra cotton stalks. During the 

 season four to six cultivations are given. 



Many varieties of cotton are grown. Some of the more popular 

 varieties are Russell's Big Boll, Miller's, King's Improved, Cook's 

 Improved, and Triumph. 



The most prevalent and troublesome weeds are crab-grass, John- 

 son grass, nut-grass, cocklebur, and morning-glory. 



SURVEY IN BEXAR COUNTY, TEX. 



Bexar County is located in the southern part of Texas, just on the 

 edge of the semiarid regions of the western part of the State. The 

 soil is mostly black clay loam and sandy loam. The subsoil is clay. 

 The tillage records of this county are shown in Table XXIX. 



The country generally is rolling or hilly, with broad level bottoms 

 and plateaus. The farming is mostly on the bottom lands. The 

 hills are irregular and rocky, with scant vegetation. Few trees are 

 found in the area except along the streams. The rainfall is very low 

 and is the principal limiting factor in crop production. The soil is 

 of such a nature and the rainfall so scant that no drainage is required. 

 Artesian wells have been drilled near San Antonio, and irrigation 

 is practiced by truck farmers, but it has not been profitable for 

 general farming. 



In general, the county is prosperous, and many improvements have 

 been made. Many of the leading roads have been macadamized. 

 Fairly good country schools are maintained. The farmers have 

 exceptionally good farmhouses and outbuildings. Telephones are 

 found in many farm homes. Most of the farmers work their farms 

 and hire what extra labor is needed. The people are largely of Ger- 

 man and Bohemian descent, but the hired laborers are mostly 

 Mexicans. 



The farms are rather large. The average size of the farms surveyed 

 is 295 acres, but much of this is rough waste land. An average of 

 only 130 acres is cultivated. 



No rotations are practiced. The principal crops grown are cotton, 

 corn, sorghum cane, oats, and milo. Feterita is becoming an impor- 

 tant crop. Cotton is the prmcipal money crop. Hardly enough 

 grain is grown to feed the farm animals. Feterita and milo are grown 

 for grain. One of the most important crops is sorghum cane sown 

 broadcast and cut for hay. Often two crops are cut a year, with a 

 total yield of 3 or 4 tons. Much of this hay is baled and sold. Only 

 enough fruit and vegetables are grown to supply home demands. 

 Very few cattle and hogs are raised for market. 



The principal sources of farm income are corn, hay, and cotton. 



