Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1923-11-10
FLORIDA CITRUS
MAN BUYS Land
NEAR WESLACO

=. :. Brewer who for thirty years was
engaged in citrus and vegetable culture
u. Nauchula. Florida. has recently pur-
chased 2c-acre farm on mile six just
north of the railroad. III an Interview
with the Weslaco News he stated ens-
phatically that the Nallsy was super 10y
IN many respects 40 Florida for a citrus
and vegetable growing section. The sooi.
he claims. j. one NJ the most valuable
factors the Valley has. Il j. the best he
has ever seen. ard ~ does not expect.
duuring the life Of the average man now
In thc Valley that fertilizer will b. nee
esssry. Fertilizer costs in Florida. he
states are prohibitive. One of the arr-
est tomato growers in his section. which
j. southwest az Tampa. has been apply
ing two tons Of fertilizer per year per
acre at cost Of SIS per ton. Some havs
even exceeded this amount in keeping
their lands productive III the highest
possible degrse.
Tho lands In that section are "cut-
over" pine timber lands. and the cost
of clearing Il three times that required
down here. Tie also states that 0ftimes
the excessive rain in Florida rendered
the applied fertilizer uselss bcause Of
tn. enormous amount falling q; stated
periods.
In 1895 NJ. Brewer los; S50.000.00
when his large orchard of orange trees
ffoze. lie cut down 2700 trees. some o
foot IN diameter. hudded them with new
stock. and in 1898 another freeze de-
stroyed his holdings. He the ncntered cx-
tcnsMcly into the truckinpg busin 80
which netted him splendid returns this
he says being due TO the splendid CO..
ocrative marketing facilities provided.
Mr.. Brewer states that our Valley
grapefruit is far superior in flavor
and that both orange and grapefruit
trees will grow A. fast IN one year ~
similar tree III Florida In two and
one half years.
He u % delighted with the Valley
that he III in correspondence with sever
Al Florida friends in recommending
their moving h-rc to enter the citrus
culture. II was last July when Mr..
Brewer made his first trip 10 this sec
tion. although he had hea-d Of the Val
ley for ten years. yet did not give any
credcnce 10 the claims made b. Valley
boo ters. 1t II needless to state that he
was genuinely surprised when he in
spcctcd our orchards and lands.
Besides setting out citrus orchard
this year, Mr. Brewer plans u DO some
extensive experimentation with ether
fruits that ar. not commercially pat
rorized here.
IIc y pleased to note that orchardists
ARE Alt putting In facilities for protec-
ting their orchards against frost.
-This III thing that would have saw
ed Florida millions Of dollars had they
Interested themselves in this plan Of
protection thirty years ago.. says Mr..
Brewer ~Today every orchardist ap-
plying business methods 10 his enter
rr - has installed some form OF pro-
lection rEainst frost" The young trees
in Florida are usually banked with sand
un 10 MS high as three feet from tho
hase and unless the season had been
warm and the zap running. the trees arc
never damaged.
Raw citrus lands in the section ~
Florida where Mr. Brewer lived sells
up 10 $500 per acre. when three times
the cost Of clearing the land is added
II brings the price Up to that Of the Val
ley. and the up-keep Of fertilixing cuts
off the net income Of the grower much
below what can he made here.