18 BULLETIN 665, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



corn. Tho returns from the truck crop, cabbage, were low, the small 

 yield indicated being all that was harvested. There was little market 

 demand for. cabbage so the remainder of the crop, about 8 tons per 

 acre, was not cut. The same is true* of lettuce, the average price re- 

 ceived for the amount harvested being 50 cents per hamper, which is 

 approximately the cost of production. 



The acreage of second crops could be increased on this farm with- 

 out increasing the amount of working capital. These second crops 

 would be principally truck, other than cabbage and lettuce. Prac- 

 tically the only added expenses would be for hired labor and cost 

 of irrigation water. The overhead expenses for the farm would 

 remain practically the same. Increasing acreage of crops without 

 added work stock would increase the efficiency of the animals and 

 reduce the proportionate cost of horse labor to the various crops. 



Since in general not all of the truck crops fail at the same time, 

 crops other than cabbage and lettuce doubtless would have brought 

 good returns, so that the truck business of the farm would have been 

 profitable instead of only returning cost of production, as in this case. 



Other crops for hog feed should be included in the organization 

 and the magnitude of the hog business increased. ' The corn sold 

 would doubtless have been more profitable if fed to hogs. 



GENERAL CONDITIONS. 



Conditions of irrigation and the varied character of the soils are 

 factors which are new to nearly all who come to the region from other 

 parts of the United States. Drainage, either natural or artificial, is 

 necessary under all irrigation projects. 



SOILS. 



The soils of the irrigated district are varied in character, both with 

 respect to differences in types and to differences in groups of types 

 or series. Soils of the upland which are residual in character are of 

 loam or sandy loam, and are located approximately to the north of 

 the railroad in Hidalgo County. The soils of southern Hidalgo and 

 Cameron Counties are derived from the delta formation (river de- 

 posits), and vary in texture from heavy black clay to medium- 

 textured silt loams. These soils are affected somewhat by the tem- 

 porary overflows of the present time. A silty soil known locally as 

 "chocolate loam" is found along many of the resacas; this type is 

 one of the best of the region on account of its ease of cultivation and 

 better drainage conditions. The upland soils, on account of their 

 lighter texture, have some underdrainage. which improves this con- 

 dition materially in the western part of the region. 



Practically all of the well-drained soils contain considerable per- 

 centages of lime, so important in the production of alfalfa. All soils 

 of the region are exceptionally fertile and very productive when 

 proper drainage and irrigation conditions are provided. 



