Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1923-01-26
SPRAYING VERY
ESSENTIAL F OR
VALLEY CITRUS
Expert Finds Several Va
rie.ies of Scale Prevalent,
as Well as Rust Mite and
"Trip in Valley Orchards

spraying IS very essential III the
Valley is TO develop the citrus induS.
try. was tse statement made thi. morn
ing By A. I. swallow. extension hctti-
culturalist OF the Texas & N. Col.
iege, who in connection with County
Agent Louis Alsmcyer has been making
number of spraying demonst raiious
IN Cameron county this week The dem
onstrationS started az a Fcria Monday
afternoon. and have been held each af-
ternoon in the northern part of the
county. a demonstration Is ia uro.res.
today near San Bcnito and the last OF
the series will he given AZ the Banker
orchard near Brownsville tomorrow.
The citrus industry IN the Valley IS
menaced by the condition prevailing in
many of the groves" Mr. Swallow CON
tinued. "and | am pleased 70 note that
the growers realize that they must
spray their trees If they expect to make
their citrus profitable At practically
every demonstration large crowds at-
tended. and they have manifested their
interest by asking numerous questions
We have cndeavorcd TO impress upon
them the recessity Of spraying. demon
straiinE the most effective methods
and unless they d. this they can never
expect 10 place the industry upon a
profitable basis"
In their investigations the experts
have found that mary citrus orchards
in tho Valley show the effect II red
spider. rust mite and thrip. Scale ii
also prevalent throughout lhe Valley,
and Mr. swallow declares that the
belief that scale will rot destroy treas
is q falacy. White fly is very pro
rounred. especially In the Brownsville"
district. and immediate steps must he
taken for It's eradication. California
rod scale j. most pronounced in ihe
upper Valley. none being IN evidence H.
the Brownsville section. FlordR rcs
scale il prevalent from Hariingen south.
and soft scale. purple scale and chat.
scale can b. found in all parts of the
Valley. Tfn same control measures are
used for al varieties Of scale and a .
for white fly.
"The Nailey citrus sf9wcrs sus' aimed
severe losses this year hy r.asor 80 ths
various diaeaTes and insects Mr. Swal-
low gaid. "but their losses This crph wilt
he slight In comparison with what fhcg
will lose next year and in successive
wears as 'he Industry develops The Val
ley citrus Industry is now IN is nfan-
cy. and if IL il 10 hepFope rlyfiercioped
cv. and II II Is 70 b. propariy developed
the growers must take prOnrr care of
their trees. ! am np alarnist but I cnn
say that unless the trees are properly
SPRAYED the Valley citrus trees VIII
never hear prolifically nor can The
fruit attain proper market value. Ciirus
fruit must be attractive in appearance
If II is 10 sell readily. Tho Valley grow
ery know that II the fruit has The quail
ity. but the buyer does not. ~ trusts
10 his sense of sight. ard II thr frn't
is specked by rust or mites. or from
other Diseases or insects that fruit
will not coll readily ard the grower
loses his profit"
y. A. Hickman. manager nf 'hc Citrus
exchange stated yesterday that a ear
load Of grapefruit which had been prac-
tically destroyed hy thrip. is now stored
at the E!arlingcn prckipc plant This
fruit would have snid ~ top pr'ce had
II not been for the fact that ihr.p had
SO hadiv marked he skin that tnIch ~
il has already begun 20 soften. Part %
the fruit may ~ Sold. hu' II will nec-
essarily bring n verv low price