Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1927-09-26
Control Zone Declared
In 3 Valley Counties
Measure Described AS
Forward Step In
Citrus Culture
Especial to The Heraldl


SAN BENITO, Sept. 26.-Described
by X. E. Mcdonald, chief entomolo-
gist OF the Texas Department. Of
Agriculture as the greatest step
forward taken by any horticultural
community in Texas" the establish
ment Of a control zone in Hodalgo.
Cameron and Willacy counties. upon
request of commissioners courts Of
these counties became effective
Monday with the signing of a procla-
nation at Austin by George B. Ter
reli, commissioner of agriculture
for Texas.
Announcement of the issuance of
the proclamations was received here
Monday morning by ]. z. Bell, secre-
tary of the San Benito Chamber of
Commerce. and chairman OF the cit
rus committee Of the Lower Rio
Grande Valley Chamber of Commerce
secretaries association.
"The order Is issued" Bell ex-
planned Monday, "in response TO re-
quests of the commissioners courts.
II is the counties taking advantage
of an enabling act passed by the last
legislature for the purpose of con-
trolling pests on a community basis.
BY putting into operation the terms
of this order the counties of the
citrus growing belt, the Lower Rio
Grande Valley, will completely Grad
icate the fruit fly and by requiring
the cleaning up OF orchards will DR.
a great deal towards controlling al
other pests, all of which lays the
foundation for better fruit and more
Of It'll"
Bell quoted Mcdonald as saying
"This is the greatest step forward
taken BY any horticultural communi-
ty in Texas. making the control OF
pests (Which is always necessary
cheaper and more effective by re.
quiring action.
"Instead of one man here and one
man there keeping clean and eff
cient orchards, the order will enable
the county TO compel all growers "a
maintain first class orchards IL
clean condition" Bell continued
"The order is thoroughly reasonable
nothing drastic about il. and all
based upon common sense
Terrell's proclamation gives the
commissioners complete and full au-
thority to enforce the regulations
which they recently passed requir.
ing all orchardists TO maintain host
free periods. and 20 remove all ripe
fruit from the trees after the ship.
ping season is over. Inspectors
will visit the various orchards. sup.
plementing the work OF federal in
speetors who are now on tn,
grounds.
The fruit quarantine which was
passed by the Federal Horticultural
Board after a hearing on the mat
ter, outlines the steps which mus
be taken in the Valley in order fol
fruit 10 he shipped from this sec
tion. The regulations have no pro-
vision for eradication work In cases
where shipments are not TO be made
The regulatory measures OF the
various commissioners courts in the
county carry the work one step far.
ther and provide for the removal oil
all host fruit, whether shipments are
to be made or not.
Tn no section OF any Of the regula,
tory measures IN there any clause
making the destruction Of fruit
trees obligatory. I'm all cases tn,
regulations read that the fruit trees
must be destroyed. or otherwise
pointed ont that removal of thu
rendered not nuisanres. It Il
fruit will render the trees not men
aces.