Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1927-11-27

pANCEu &H EmIAfNu MtVu @hAPfhGAtn
Of nursery stock from either Cali
fornia o. Florida. this embargo 60
ing into effect September 1, 1927,
Prior To that date the department
had maintained a corps Of inspectors
IN the Valley 70 prevent the importa-
tion Of diseased nursery stock. and
II required the utmost vigilance "a
eliminate the menace Of diseases and
pests from Valley orchards.
In 1924 Valley growers appealed ia
the state department TO apply this
embargo, but the appeal was denied
upon the grounds that the Valley
nurseries did not have sufficient
trees 90 supply the demand. After a
careful survey during the summer
the department reached the con.
clusion that Valley nurseries could
meet every demand, and the costly
inspection system was eliminated
Valley growers are now securing
all their trees from Valley nurseries,
and this is expected to have a very
beneficial effect upon future prcduc.
tion. Valley nurserymen have re-
peatsdly demonstrated that Valley
trees are far superior to those grown
In other citrus sectionss that they
are better adapted 10 soil and climat.
ic conditions; produce earlier and
more politically.
During the early days Of the in
dustry thousands OF trees received
from other citrus sections were not
Of the proper root stock or lack the
producing qualities Of the Valley
grown trees. Scores Of Valley grow
ers assert that had they been able
to secure N~allcy-grown trees mt that
time. such highly developed stock as
Is now available In practically all
the leading nurseries Of the Valley,
the development or the industry
would have been much more rapid
and the Valley would now have been
entering upon the era Of heavy pro-
duction.
Establish Modern Packeries
Modern citrus packing plants
been established In several
Valley cities, and additional plants
are now under construction or will
be erected in time TO handle the
crop next year. The largest plants
are those OF the Texas Citrus Fruit
Growers Exchange, located at Shary-
land and Mercedes, the plant or the
Valley Fruit Growers Association,
now nearing completion at Mercedes,
and the plant or the Val Verde Cor
poration at Val Verde between Dom
na and Alamo.
These plants are thoroughly mod
ern in their construction and equip
ment, and are capable of handling
a large volume Of fruit. Smaller
plants have been established In sew
eral cities, and next year will wit
ness the construction Of at least
two more modern packing establish
ments.
The Texas Citrus Fruit Growers
exchange. the first Of the cooperate
ives To organize. has established "a
firm market for its Texasweet
brand. The large plant OF the ex-
change AZ Sharyland was erected I'm
1928, and will this year handle az.
proximately 200 cars
All of the major plants Of the Val
ley maintain N very uniform pack
and grade, carefully culling all fruit.
Through their efforts indiscriminate
shipping Of fruit is being d~isccurar-
ed with the result that q tremendous
demand for the Valley product In
being created and maintained.
New Laws Aid Industry
The green fruit law and the com
pulsory spraying law passed hy the
last session OF the Texas legislature
have proved their value to Valley
growers. Prior to the passage Of the
green fruit law. "a number or the
growers took advantage Of the early
markets and shipped immature
fruits, with the result that many of
the markets were badly demoralixed
when the main crop was ready for
shipment. Efforts to prevent the
shipment of immature fruit proved
in effective until the green fruit Law
was enacted, and all frait now un-
dergoes q rigid inspection during
the early part cf the season 70 as
sure that il IN Tn proper condition
for shipment and marketing.
The compulsory spraying lave,
while II has not vet been necessary
TO enforce its provisions. acts ns q
safeguard against those growers
who are prone 70 neglect their
orchards Constant vigilance Ia
necessary 10 develop an orchard
profitably, and the law delegates "a
the commissioners courts the power
10 compel the spraying or cleaning of
any orchard found TO be- infested
with any disease or pest.
The Valley is fortunate in the fact
that few Of the pests and diseases
which prove 80 expensive To control
In California or Florida have devei-
oped extensively In the Lower Rio
Grande Valley, and the probability Of
the Valley trees becoming infested
has been made remote Nv the err
barge placed upon nursery stock.
and the passage OF the compulsory
spraying law.
Markets to Determine Future
Markets will determine IN n great
extent the future DEVELOPMENT Of
the citrus industry III the Valley.
Many growers contend that the in
custry. like the automobile industry.
will never reach the ~sp-cnlled sat
uration point" The demand for
citrus fruit is increasing each ysar.
especially the demand for grape.
fruit. which IN rapidly becoming
recognized aa a necessity instead Of
q luxury.
There arc countless thousands of
acres in the Valley that viii Be pro-
durinr citrus fruit within Che next
ten years IL the demand for the
fruit continues 10 expaud. Low
water transportation rates. which
uiI1 BE- avaiInhln when the Valleys
port nt Point Isabel ia opened. will
unnuestionnhly BE . very important
factor I'm the development WI this In
dnstry. assuring Valley growers
rnfnu m~s4MF 49, AMnwa 80 F~f4f-.