San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1926-04-18

totals .......... .12,3 3S Al
Approximately 1.35 per cent of all the
fruits and vegetables shipped in the
United States last season came from
the Lower Rio Grande Valley. In other
words, it would take only 14S counties
like Hidalgo and Cameron to supply the
whole United States with all their fruits
and vegetables for the entire season.
Someone may raise the question HAS
the Valley reached the limit of produc-
ton of fruit and vegtables?' Those
who are familiar with Valley conditions
would undoubtedly answer this question
in the negative. While we have no ac-
curate figures showing the acreage plant
ed to truck each season, it is doubtful
whether more than 20 per cent of the
land area now under irrigation is planted
10 truck each season. There is also a
tendency to farm small acreage and to
farm more intensively. A recent in
spection Of the sales record of one Of
the large land selling organizations Of
the Valley showed that out of 100 sales
made, AZ of them were for ten acres or
less, As for 20 acres or less, 5 for 80
acres or less and for 40 acres or less.
THE Lower Rio Grande Valley of Tex
as is justly famous for its fine climate
and fertile land, and it is generally con-
ceded to be the most productive agricul-
tural section in the world. Much Of
this region is especially fine for grow
ing citrus fruits and especially grape
fruit, oranges, lemons and lines"
1t is estimated that this section has
now at least $1,000 acres that have been
planted to citrus fruits and this area
is being gradually enlarged. The first
carlot shipments Of citrus fruit were
made in 1922, when IL cars Of grape
fruit and oranges were shipped out OF
the Rio Grande Valley. The next year
about 70 cars were shipped out and the
192+2j shipments were increased to 225
cars. The record for the 1024-2j sea-
son, which closed May !, was $50 cars,
and the 1886 season will witness the
movement Of more than 1900 cars Of
oranges, grapefruit and lemons from the
Valley.
In fact, the acreage already planted
indicates that within another decade,
Rio Grande Valley fruit shipments will
equal or surpass those of Florida. The
superior quality and flavor Of Valley
grapefruit and oranges make them COM
mand a premium in the larger CONSUME
ing markets, giving Rio Grande Valley
growers a distinct advantage over pro-
duction Of California and Florida. 1t
is said that fruit sold last season
through the Texas Citrus Fruit Growers
Exchange, which has packing sheds at
Sharyland, Mercedes and Harlingen,
brought growers a pennium of from IS
cents to $50, box. Missouri Pacific
Agricultural Development Bulletin, July,
1925, Page 8.
On July l, 1926, the nurseries Of the
Valley had a total of 6,OS2,OOO young
sour orange seedlings growing to be
budded for future planting. With the
trees that are now planted in the Val
ley, and assuming that these trees will
come into bearing at five years of age,
and using California and Florida pro-
ductiOn records as a guide, it seems
safe TO predict that by 1880, our ship
ments Of citrus fruits will have in
creased to 1850 to 10000 cars per sea
son. This assumption is based on the
present paintings and no one familiar
with conditions would agree that the
Valley has reached the limit of planting
citrus trees.
Cotton production has increased from
year to year until this season the Val
ley has produced 10000 bales Of cotton.