FARMINO IN THE LOWEB BIO GRANDE DISTRICT. 13 



profitable whole-milk dairy farms in operation, generally close to 

 the towns. 



Several creameries are in operation in the region and the f:inns 

 supplying the cream are generally fairly profitable. A I the present 

 time large quantities of dairy products are brought into the Lower 

 Rio Grande Valley from northern sources, so that there should be 

 a place for further development of this type of farming. Farms 

 selling cream do not appear quite so profitable as those selling whole 

 milk. 



STABILITY OF TYPES OF FARMING. 



From the foregoing discussion it appears that certain enterprises, 

 such as the production of truck crops, are decidedly risky in this area. 

 When the farms are properly organized, however, the total risk is 

 reduced, since the success or failure of any one enterprise is not de- 

 pendent upon or associated with another enterprise so far as market 

 conditions are concerned. 



Stock farms and staple crop farms are more stable, but not gen- 

 erally so profitable as farms producing considerable truck properly 

 diversified. It appears that where the farm is so operated as to have 

 from 40 to 50 per cent of the crop acres (including double-cropped 

 land) in truck crops, better returns are made than when less truck 

 is raised. On these farms about 40 per cent of the crop area is double- 

 cropped and from 60 to T5 per cent of the total farm receipts are from 

 the sale of truck products. Practically the whole farm produces 

 staple crops during the summer and about one-half of it is in truck 

 during the winter. 



Hog raising in connection with truck production appears profitable 

 and justified. A very large amount of otherwise waste material is 



Fig. 9. — A cheap and satisfactory shade can be provided for the protection of hogs 

 summer by means of posts, cross poles, and hay or straw. 



