Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1927-11-20
BY ARR L. SEXTON
Herald staff Writer

American homes; the naval orange
seedless, and with a flavor that no
fruit can urpass the lime which
produces a refreshing drink, ana
even the modern lcmon-are pro-
ducts Of years OF scientific research
cross breeding and experimentation
New groups Of citrus fruits are
constantly being created BY the
scientists Of the u. S. Department
81 Agriculture and horticulturists
who have interested themselves IN
citrus culture. No plant family OF
GERS a greater field for research and
Experimentation, and no fruit fam
INV offers greater material rewards
for those who achieve practical re-
suits.
Even the "squirtless" grapefruit,
which has been a never-failing source
~ inspiration for hunorists, j. now
considered a commercial possibility
~ scientists who assert they have
ALREADY eliminated the squirt" but
have failed 10 retain the flavor. In
axmuch "a the Lower Rio Grande
Valley has established the flavor
for grauefruit. and as the average
e~ricure is more interested in the
flavor than in the elimination Of
TIE Squirting" propensities, u -
now the problem OF the scientists 70
combine the Rio Grande flavor with
the "souirtless" fruit, thereby Gre
atinv a variety that will receive a
rcyal welcome throughout the grape
fruit eating world.
Spanish Introduce Citrus Fruit
Early Spanish settlers introduced
citrus fruit into the Lower Rio
Grande Valley, California ard Flor
ida. and when the United States ae-
ouired Florida the fruit was found
growing wild in great p~rofusion
Throughout the southern part Of the
state. War and banditry had wiped
out practically all vestiges or the
early paintings in the Lower kio
Grande Valley when the United
States took possession Of this terri
tory, but in California many OF the
early groves we've found producing.
The oranges OF that period we're
far inferior TO the fruit Of the pres
ent day. Scientific cross breeding
produced new and better varieties.
The discovery Of the Bahia orange
in Brazil led to the evolution Of the
seedless navel variety, which is now
the staple fruit Of California. The
pineapple, Valencia, Lu Gin Gong,
Parson Brown, the almost number
less varieties, have practically all
been evolved by crcss b~reeding-and
are the fruit Of scientific expert
mentation.
Grapefruit From West Indies
Grapefruit, SO far as the records
show, originated in the West Indies,
Lur~ 49, wn-~wIxI Aa nAtLla
fruit until the scientists Of the u. =.
Department Of Agriculture began to
carefully select the best varieties. A
few Of the trees were planted in
Florida IN the early SOS, and the
evolution Of the fruit began.
The demand for the fruit until q
few years ago was almost negligible.
Then the public a~scertained that IL
was a delightful breakfast fruit;
that II possessed qualities which
made II superior TO other citrus
fruits IN many respects. From that
time the demand for the fruit in
creased. Growers and scientists re-
doubled their efforts 70 improve IL,
and eventually evolved the Marsh
aeedlesS, which now forms the ma
Jor part OF the paintings in the
Lower Rio Grande Valley.
The Duncan, Walters, Foster. and
ether seed varieties are also planted
TO ONE extent in both the Valley
and Florida. They are an earlier ma
turing fruit, well favored, and as a
rule are marketed at a good profit,
owning 10 the fact they catch the
earliest market. The Marsh Seedless.
however, has come to be recognized
as a standard variety.
The Marsh pink. which has a white
rag and pink juice. and the Fos-
ter pink, which hiss a pink rag" and
white juice. have been evolved from
sports" Of tire Marsh and Foster
varieties. They have all the qualities
or the parent tree. and are consid-
cred a novelty fruit.
Evolution of the Tangelo
Another fruit recently evolved b.
growers and scientists Is the tanrelo
q cross between the grapefruit or
romelo". and the taagerine. The
pomelo IS a member Of the Ameri-
can citrus family. and the tangerinc
n distinctly Of Oriental p~arentart
Scientists observed that many rrr-
sons objected TO the bitter tang 8.
the segment walls Of the grapefruit.
p the thick skin Of the grapefruit
was also considered an Objectionable
feature. They considered the posi-
biiity OF eliminating these features.
and a cross with the tangerine was
the conclusion.
The taRgerine is extremely sweet
It's interior segments come apar.
almost Of themselves. and II is
member Of the Oriental group OF
oranges that had easily peelabla
skins.
The pollen OF the tangerine VA
carefully shaken into the blossI
OF the grapefruit. The resultirr
seeds we're planted, and the hundrel
o. little trees brought 20 maturit
~ took q dozen years for all az ther
70 come into bearing and the fruit Z
no Two were alike. The best wefs
selected and n second generation
grown. IN the end u very a~cceptabls
ffuit-the tangelo-was produced.
n tangelo Is somewhat large
than the ordinary grapefruit. II rip-
ems IN the thin skin Of a ~tarrerine
When thoroughly ripe il Is a DELIGHT
ful cross between the sweetness AZ
the ~tangerire and the tarness 81 4
grapefruit. The flesh Of lis segmen.s'
comes ont easily. and scientists as
assert that IL also lacks the squirt
ing ~prcpensities on the grapefruit.
While the tangelo Il probably des-
tined to become one Of the most
familiar fruits Of the citrus family
commercial production is hamperc5
BY the fact that II Is what the trade
terms "a poor shipper" The thin
skin is not sufficient 20 protect II
IN long shipments without special
ana expensive packing. For this rea-
son II will probably never BE a 80