14 



Ml I LETIN 665, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



utilized on the successful truck-hog farm. Truck production Joes not 

 appear to bo generally successful where any considerable dairy busi- 

 ness is conducted, although there are not sufficient data to make this 

 conclusion definite. 



FARM BUSINESS ILLUSTRATED. 



For the purpose of showing the methods followed by farmers of 

 some experience in the region, the actual operation of farms of three 

 types is described, with some detail as to the character and extent of 

 crops, receipts, expenses, and profits. 



A TRUCK FARM. 



The first farm is one on which truck production is the main enter- 

 prise. It is located in Hidalgo County and comprises 83 acres, of 

 which 74 acres is crop land. On this 74 acres of crop land 100 acres 

 of crops were harvested, 26 acres being double cropped, from March 

 1. 1914. to March 1, 1915. This farm represents an investment of 

 $16,600 in real estate, or $200 per acre. Of the real estate valuation. 

 $1,100 covers buildings. The stock on the farm was valued at $913 

 at the beginning of the year and consisted of 6 work animals, worth 

 $450; 1 cow and 1 heifer, worth $145; hogs, worth $280; and poultry 

 valued at $38. 



For the operation of the farm there were machinery and tools to 

 the value of $150, consisting of wagon, buggy, plows, cultivators, har- 

 rows, hoes, spades, etc. This equipment was estimated by the opera- 

 tor to have an average working life of about eight years. The amount 

 of cash required to be kept on hand for current expenses was $800. 

 Various crops were produced, the yields and sales from which arc 

 shown as follows: 



Truck farm: Yields and fairs of crops. 



Crop. 



Aero?. 



Tnit of yield. 



Yield. 



Sales. 



Com ... . . 



50 



3 1 . 



I 



s 



9 

 8 



4 

 1 



13 

 5 



Bushel 



2.500 

 20 



$630 





Ton 



(a) 







II.) 













Bushel. . 



600 

 36 



2, 500 



30 



350 



125 



900 



Ton 



410 





Bushel... 



1.192 



Green peas 



do 



30 





128 





Bushel 



215 







280 













992 



3. 785 





352 





71 















4.208 







a Feed. 



i> Plowed under. 



