FARMING IN THE LOWER RIO 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 farms 
supplying the cream are generally fairly profitable. At 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 75 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 
s- 
1^^^"^ . - - **"&&.- ■;«** 
-"-■"' 
Fig. 9. — A cheap and satisfactory shade can be provided for the protection of hogs in 
summer by means of posts, cross poles, and hay or straw. 
