Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1915-10-29
CITRUS FRUITS IN CAR LOTS FROM
THE MAGIC VALLEY.
(Hous ton Post.)

The press note of Saturday that the
car lot of grape fruit To leave the Magic
Valley, and the first ear ever shipped from
the state was sent ont of McAllen, i
worthy of special comment.
The grape fruit of the Valley j. Of cx-
ceptional flavor: better than that from
either Florida or California. Many peo-
pie think il superior to that Of the Isle
of Pines. In addition to this fact, the
fruit ripens early. and thus reaches the
first market. Besides grape fruit. il has
been found that lines, lemons and oranges
also do well. One man at San Benito has
sold this year $l4 worth of lines from
two young trees. besides those needed for
his home use. 4 grower at L.yford has a
tree bearing lines ~ large n the average
lemon. The oranges grown are not the
Satsuma, but the standard commercial
oranges Of the best varieties-Pineapple.
Parson Brown, JMfa and Washington
navel.
Several ear lots Of citrus fruit will be
shipped from the Valley this season. One
grower at Mercedes has five acres of grape
fruit alone. These trees are four wears
old and al heavily fruited. Another
grower at RaymondviIle has fourteen acres
in oranges and grape fruit together which
it is estimated will average 80 fruits To
the tree. There are other commercial
orchards at Lyford, Raymondville, IIar-
lingen, San Benito and Mission.
Most of the farmers are setting out
small orchards around the home for family
use. The number Of commercial orchards
is being enlarged and multiplied. 1t Sharv
Land a combination of orchards comprises
$50 acres. These trees are in 4 thriving
condition and promise u crop of fruit in
1917.
1t is possible. of course. that these or
chards, where not properly protected by
wind brakes and Smudge pots. may nj in
~tervals Of years be killed back by the cold.
In 1895 groves twenty years old on the
peninsula of Florida were totally de-
stroyed. The same thing happened in
California around Los Angeles. III 1912.
But one great advantage the Valley has
is the rapidity with which trees recover
when injured BY the cold. and the remark
ably quick growth md development Of
young trees. This j. due not only 10 the
climate. but To the wonderful fertility Of
the soil. IA Mission. on the farm of J. X.
Robinson. "A grape fruit set in May bore
sixty fruits the following year.
The possibility of the citrus industry in
the Magic Valley j. but another ~illustra-
ton of its wonderful resources. Its adap-
liability to the live stock industry. and the
supporting staple farm crops has been
amply verified. IT. power to produce a
great variety of truck crops in immense
quantities Is well known. and the citrus in
dustry is only another illustration Of it,
latent resources. And yet our government
is allowing this section "a BE- overrun by
bandits and it, citizens plundered Of the
fruits Of their toll. the very existence Of
the garden spot Of the state MANAGED.
Robbers. thieves and murdererS from
Mexico. fred by race hatred. nave already
delayed temporarily the development of the
beautiful and fertile Valley. but even their
high handed methods can not permanently
mar its wonderful future.