14 
BULLETIN 665, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
utilized on the successful truck-hog farm. Truck production does not 
appear to be 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 o£ 
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 
[it 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 are 
shown as follows: 
Truck farm: Yields and sales of crops. 
Crop. 
Acres 
Unit of vield. 
Yield. 
Sales. 
Corn 
Sorghum 
Cowpeas 
Grass pasture 
Snap beans 
Cabbase 
Onions 
Green peas 
Lettuce 
Potatoes 
Miscellaneous, nursery, etc. 
50 
3* 
8" 
2 
8 
9 
8 
4 
1 
1| 
5 
Bushel. 
Ton... 
2.500 
20 (a) 
! (6) 
Bushel 
Ton 
600 
36 
2.500 
30 
350 
125 
900 
410 
Bushel 
1.192 
do 
30 
Hamper 
128 
Bushel 
215 
280 
Total crop 
Ho? sales 
99f ' 
1 3.785 
352 
Miscellaneous 
71 
Total receipts 
J 4.208 
a Feed. 
b Plowed under. 
