Collegeport Chronicle

June 8, 1910
 

Agriculture in General

(Paper read at the University closing exercises by Frank Walter.)

            Agriculture is the art of cultivating all field crops, such as rice, peanuts, cotton, sugar cane, corn, alfalfa, clover and oats. The money crops of this coast country are rice, cotton, sugar cane, peanuts and corn. These have been tested and are positive to bring high prices. The possible crops are alfalfa, clover and oats. The rice industry is the most important field crop of this country. The cultivation of this crop is not unlike that of wheat, and in fact many of the largest rice growers of Texas came from Iowa and other large wheat producing states. The only difference in the rice is the irrigation, rice being a semi-acquatic plant, and in order to secure the best results requires constant flooding during the growing season. A warm, moist climate is essential. The land must be susceptible to good drainage, and the subsoil must be near enough to the surface for the land to dry out in a few days after the water is turned off. The coast lands of Texas almost universally possess this characteristic.

            The plowing for rice is generally done in January, February and March. It can be done with the land wet or dry. If the land is too dry, water is applied to soften it. The plowing is very shallow and is generally done with gang plows, often propelled by steam. The planning season is quite long, during April, May and until the middle of June. About one barrel of seed to three acres is used, water is turned on the field when the rice stalks are from six to eight inches high, usually about the first of June. The ground is continuously submerged to a depth of about six inches for about 70 to 90 days until the grain begins to ripen, then the land is allowed to dry hard enough for the harvesting machines to work upon. Rice is generally threshed within ten or fifteen days after harvest. The threshing is similar to that of wheat and costs about the same. The rough rice is sold to the rice mill which removes the hull and polish it. It is estimated that one acre will produce ten barrels which is sold to the rice mills for $2.50 to $3 per barrel.

            The second largest agricultural industry of Texas is cotton. It is almost as necessary to the human family as bread. The uses for it are constantly growing in number, and the demand is increasing more rapidly than the world’s population. Some cotton has been grown in Texas since the beginning of its Anglo-Saxon settlement. For many years it has been the leading crop of the state, and during most of those years it has been a very profitable and satisfactory crop. Cotton has been profitable crop in Texas for several reasons. The conditions of climate and soil are especially adapted to it, and the plant under ordinary conditions is easily cultivated. It is practically a sure crop, there is never a total failure, even under very unfavorable circumstances. The product is always marketable and can quickly be converted into cash. The average production of cotton on most of the land of Texas is one-half to one bale per acre and in some river bottom land as high as two bales an acre produced without irrigation. It is known that one bale of cotton will bring from $60 to $75.

            The growing of sugar cane is another very profitable industry of this country. The sugar cane is seeded by planting stalks and it produces four crops from one planting. The average production is twenty-five tons the first year twenty-two tons the second, eighteen tons the third year and fifteen tons the fourth, making an average of twenty tons per acre for four years. The cost of planting and cultivating an acre in sugar cane averages about $30, and cost of cutting and delivering about $12. The average price of the cane, which of course is governed by the price of the sugar, is $4 per ton; besides the sugar, the cane yields about five gallons of molasses per ton, which sells for sixty cents per gallon.

            With rice growing as its principal agricultural industry, and the crop very attractive and satisfactory one when grown in moderation, Texas does not class as one of the great producing states, still it is a grain producing state, the production of cereals constituting an important factor in the scheme of diversification, now the vogue. Texas is second only to Louisiana in the production of rice, although methods is a brand new industry in the state, but a small percentage of the lands adapted to that cereal have yet been placed in cultivation. The quality of wheat, oats and corn sent out of Texas is exceptionally good. The crops come on the market several weeks in advance of those of other states, and they are always in good demand at prices somewhat above the figures paid similar produce of other states. Corn has been grown in Texas almost from the day permanent settlements were established upon its soil, but not until last year’s supply did the yield become sufficient to supply the home demand. Wheat and oats have been grown in Texas for more than thirty years, but only within the past ten years have the crops been of considerable size.

Horticulture

(A paper read on closing day at the Gulf Coast University by Herman Kielhorn.)

             Horticulture treats of the cultivation of all garden products such as peas, celery, strawberries, potatoes, tomatoes, watermelons, cauliflower, beets, lettuce, etc. This part of the coast country is said to be the best for growing these vegetables in winter and summer as it does not get too hot nor too cold. The rainfall is about forty-two inches or the same as Illinois , and irrigation can be had if need be.

            The winter gardens bring the greatest profits because we can ship them up north where they have no fresh vegetables in winter. Celery is one of the most profitable crops to market except in summer and fall, when the northern people grow it themselves. To grow celery successfully the seed bed should be cultivated deep and fertilized heavily. The seed should be sown in rows about four inches apart. They should be sown thinly and covered. The land should be kept moist by keeping wet sacks over them until they show. For spring planting seed should be sown about the last of December in hot beds. The Golden Self Blanching is the best for this country. Two blanch boards should be placed, one on each side, so that no light can reach the plants.

            It is said that if celery is handles rightly it will bring about one thousand dollars net profit per acre.

            Cauliflower is the grandest vegetable of the coast country. The best seed should be selected for the Snowball being about the best. For the seed bed the land should be rich and well drained. The seed should be sown thinly and covered from one-half to three-fourths inches deep. The bed must be watered every day unless it rains. The seed should be sown about the first of August and six weeks later set out; about eight hundred pounds of fertilizer should be used per acre. The land should be irrigated before or after transplanting if too dry. When the flowers appear tie the leaves up over the flower and they will be ready for shipment about Christmas time.

            Onions, beets and cabbage are other valuable crops of the Texas coast country. The strawberries, when grown in the coast country ripen from December until May, and are shipped fresh from gardens, except from the southern country. The strawberries bring a profit from three hundred to seven hundred dollars per acre and will always be a very profitable crop to grow in this section.

            The growers of the horticultural products are learning the great benefits to be derived from organization which guarantees the best results.

            The study of horticulture as carried on in our University will mean much in the future to this section of the coast country.
 

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