Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1915-12-01
CITRUS ORCHARD,
BOUGHT FOR $400
BROUGHT $4,000
M'AlLEN MAN WILL REALIZE NICELY
OFF 10 ACRES ORANGES AND
GRAPEFRUIT AT MALLEN
HAS SOLD 3 SOLID CARS GRAPE
FRUIT OFF TRACT. WITH 2 CARS
ORANGES TO GO VERY SOON.

How A. P Hall. McAllen groccryman.
last summer bought the crop Of grapefruit
and oranges on l0-acre tract Of appar-
emily ''played ont grapefruit and orange
trees for the sum Of 500 and ha- already
realized about $1,000 Oh hiS investment
with two ears Of oranges yet To 20. was
told in Brownsville today by Eltwced
Pomeroy. Donna horticulturi~t and prob
ably the best posted man in the Valley on
the raising Of fruits ii this section.
The crop wae taken over late IN the
summer hy Mr.. HALL II was not in good
condition. not having been cared for not
plowed, nor irrigated \ half acre Sf the
tract was an entire loss. Ont of iye'acre~
of grapefruit on the tract he has already
shipped three solid car loads of grapefruit.
from 800 to 400 boxes ID the ear. bringing
him approximately SI.05 the crate. The
gross receipts ont the shipment of the
three solid carloads. about $1,000. hc con-
siders profits, n the cost Of picking. pack
ing, shipping. etc. probably wa~ taken
care OF by local ~ale~ and express ship
ment,. There were also great many
cull,, due to the lack of cultivation and
irrigation Mr. Pomeroy was of the
opinion that had the crop been properly
taken care of at the time of blo~-oming
the yield would have been astounding.
Mr.. Hall still ha- four and half acres
Of oranges, from which he expects t. ship
about two solid car loads ot the fruit m
few days. He H. also selling oranges To-
cally and by express. and the receipts from
this end of the orchard will be consider
able. adding to the grocer'> profits on hi~
original investment of S400.
McAllcn had the honor this year Of
shipping the first ~olid carload Of grape
fruit 10 the market. the product going to
a Houston firm The town viii also send
10 market the first solid ear oad Of orange
that ever went forward to harlct from
the Lower Rio Grande Valley
Mr.. Pomeroy said that TO the best of his
knowledge-and he j. perhaps best IN po-
Stion 10 know-there are approximately
10000 grapefruit trees ia the lower val
lev, extending from RaymondNillc south to
Brownsville, and west along the Valley line
of the Gulf Coast Lines to Mission. lie l.
among those who believe in the future of
the citrus industry that seems To- have
gained a good foothod in the Valley thi-
year, but along with many other men inter
c-ted IN the industry. who warns the grow
crs that they must keep down the citrus
canker. Mr. Pumeroy said growers IA this
section realize the necessity OF fighting the
disease. and many are cooperating IT,
states that unless the disease H. killed IN
its incipency every tree on which i has
grown will eventually have to ~ taken M
and burned. and he called attention to tn,
fact that Florida grower was forced to
destroy 10000 citrus fruit trees, and moi
only that. the department of aericultur,
prevents the shipment Of any Of hl~ stock
80 great have been the inroads Of the dis
ease in his orchard
With careful cultivation Mr. Pomcro,
saws grapefruit trees IN the Valley vii
bear in two years after planting. III
states that many trees will be put out thu
coming january. The trees that are nov
bearing were planted from three to fou
and five years ago. while one orchard. tha
of DIR. A. RI. kalbflei~ch at Mercedes
planted seven years ago J. producing won
derfully. This orchard was not cared 20
early in its growth, and was rehabilitate,
Nv DIR. Kalbfleisch two years ago. The re
suits have been gratifying.