Shiner gazette. [volume] (Shiner, Tex.) 1893-current, 1909-12-16
CITRUS CULTURE IN TEXAS
REPORT OF FLORIDA EXPERT DE.
PARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.
Conclusions Much More Favorable
Than Had Been Hoped for.
Great Field In Texas.

Great Field In Texas.
Austin, Tex.-Prof H. II. Hume. the
Florida expert employed by the de-
partment of agriculture to make a
thorough investigation of the POSSIBLE
tiles of citrus culture in the Texas
coast belt, has filed his report. 1t is
a very thorough discussion Of the
problems confronting the Texas or
ange flowers. Prof. Hume gives a
brief description of the sections Wis
tied while in Texas, with profuse notes
regarding the orange groves visited.
His final conclusions regarding the
possibilities OF orange culture in Texas
are very favorable-much more so
than the most hopeful had any reason
to believe would be reached. But he
bases there conclusions on facts
CLEANED direct from the owners of Or
ange groves and individual trees, and
the United States weather bureau re-
ports giving the temperature for the
orange growing section during the
post twelve years
Prof, Hume devotes chapter of his
report to the climate of the different
sections of the United States where
oranges are grown, in which he shows
that no mainland section is entirely
free from frost damage. In conclud-
ing his chapter on climate he uses this
significant language: 1T does not ap-
pear, judging from the condition of the
old trees in many sections of Texas.
that the climate has been more severe
or injurious to them than in many
parts of Florida where the industry
still survives, and the writer in con-
WINGED that in so far as the Satsuma
orange or citrus trifoliata stock is con-
cerned that it is reasonably free from
risk of injury by cold In fact, in the
district in which it can me grown on
citrus trifoliata stock, no temperature
has been registered since 1899 which
would injure this tree if properly bun
bled."
Every phase of orange growing in
Texas is discussed by Prof. Hume in
his report. His conclusions are ex-
pressed boldly and entirely without
evasion. In his concluding remarks
he says:
Basing conclusions on the informa-
ton at hand and considering the whole
matter in relation to climatic condi-
lions, citrus fruits have been. are be-
ing and will be grown in the gulf coast
region of Texas.
Satsuma oranges on citrus trifoliata
stock can be produced in unlimited
quantities Fruit of high quality of this
variety can be grown, but it can not
be done on any other stock than on
citrus trifoliata; it can not be done
by the use of stable manure or other
rank organic materials as fertilizer
and it cannot be done on each and ev'
cry piece OF land in the region. The
land must be selected with reference
to good drainage and general adapt
ability. In the lower gulf coast coun
try, in the section already indicated
sour orange stock is recommended, and
tree, yet if intelligently handled it will
go through the most of the winters in
good condition. In this region provi
sion must be made for protecting
the trees during sudden drops of tenn
perature, but this can be done, just
as 1t has been done in Florida and else
where. do not believe that the mair
dependence of the people should be
placed on citrus fruits in Texas any
more than believe that this should be
done in Florida, but planting of cit
rus trees can be added to the planting
of other fruits or crops to good advan
tage. That there is an element of risk
in the work no one can deny, but dc
not believe this element of risk /:
greater than 1t is in any other agri
cultural or horticultural undertaking
in the same region. The main crops
of oranges grown in coastwise Texas
will be Satsuma and other early or me
dunn early varieties.