FARMING IN THE LOWER RIO GRANDE DISTRICT. 15 
The principal items of expense were as follows: Labor, $1,445; 
seed, $163; crates, hampers, etc., $433; irrigation water, $451; taxes, 
$55. The depreciation of the buildings and machinery for the year 
was estimated by the operator to be $90. The total expenses of all 
kinds for the year's business to the operator, except the value of 
his own labor, amounts to $2,671. 
As has been shown, the total receipts from all sources amounted to 
$4,208. When the expenses are deducted from the receipts the farm 
income is $1,537. The operator valued his own labor at $600 per 
}ear, which is deducted from the farm income. This shows a net 
income of $937, which is 5 per cent on the total investment of $18,513. 
The degree of double cropping could be increased with profit on 
this farm. Only 35 per cent of the crop land produced a second crop 
during the year, and 8 acres of this land was in cowpeas. Crops that 
might increase profits by increased acreage are lettuce and potatoes. 
An increase in the hog business doubtless would be profitable, pro- 
viding slightly better management of the enterprise were provided. 
The farm supports seven brood sows producing two litters each per 
year. With this increase in hogs would follow the production of 
some other crops as hog feed, such as stock beets and oats for pas- 
ture. Greater profits would be made if the $630 worth of corn sold 
had been fed to hogs for the market. 
The increase in acreage above suggested would not require the 
addition of further equipment. The acreage of crops per work ani- 
mal was less than 17 at the time of this study. 
A HOG FARM. 
The following data show the business of a fairly successful hog 
farm located near the Rio Grande in Cameron County. 
The farm consists of 71 acres, of which 59 acres is crop land, 7 
acres permanent Bermuda grass pasture and 5 acres waste land. The 
real estate investment amounts to $14,200, of which the dwelling 
represents $800, barn, $200, and other buildings, $50. At the begin- 
ning of the year's business (1914-15) there was stock on the farm 
valued at $1,160, distributed as follows : Two cows and 2 calves, $80 ; 
6 head of work stock, $527; 15 brood sows and boar, $250; poultry, 
$38 ; and 53 stands of bees, $265. Machinery and tools were valued 
at $734. Feed on hand at the beginning of the year was valued at 
$260, and the cash on hand for running expenses, $600. The total 
investment was therefore $16,954. 
