Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1927-07-03
u. s. May Aid
IN DESTROYING
PESTSSOURCE
Entomologist Who Di-
rected Valley Eradi-
cation Return From
Mexico Inspection

With the AIorelos fruit fly situa-
tion in the Lower Rio Grande VAL
ley well in hand, entomologists or
the federal agricultural department
of this country are conducting a
special investigation in Mexico with
the idea Of helping in the eradica-
tion work there. in order 70 prevent
any possibility Of another infestation
in the future In this section.
DIR. A. c. Baker. who Is in charge
Of tropical and suh-tropical plant
insect investigation for the federal
government at Washington. and
James Zetek, in charge Of investiga-
tion in the Panama Canal Zone, have
Just returned from a trip into the
interior Of Mexico where they in
vestigated the condition " the fruit
there.
Bad In Mexico
Mr.. Baker stated that the fly was
very bad in some places IN that coun-
try and the work of the Mexican
government to rid the citrus of the
fly was slow. due TO the vast fruit
and orchards which supply host fruit
for the fly. Doctor Baker explained
that In the Valley the pest could
easily be exterminated because the
fruit ~ picked as IL ripens thus
cleaning up the source Of food for
the fly. But IN Mexico where sew
eral crops ripen in succession the
fly has constant source az food.
and a place TO deposit its eggs.
IL u hoped that the measures un-
dertaken In the Valley will prove
successful in doing away with the
the work in the Valley. The grow
eTs in the Valley ceonerated in every
detail with the federal and state "
snectorS who. under the direction oi
II. T.. Mcdonald or the state depart
merit Of agriculture. had charge of
the work IN the Valley. The grow
ers throughout the Valley organized
themselves into groups and picked
all the rinening fruit which might
serve "a hosts for the pest. THIS
fruit was burned and buried and it
u believed that nearly every trace
Of the fly has been destroyed. ac-
cording 10 Mr.. Baker
Expects Quarantine
There " little likelihood ~ an en-
barge being placed on the citrus
fruit to H. shipped out of the Valley
Dr. Bake declared. although there
N n possibility Of "a quarantine amt
It IL the opinion Of Dr. Baker and
Mr.. Zetek that there are many points
in REGARD ~ the life Of the frui-
flv which have not Vet been diT-
covered. These men believe thHt
any studies looking toward that ir-
formation will he conducted in Mex
leo. where the fiy w prevalent.
1T is not improbable that the fed
eral government will undertake such
Studies in the Mexican territory"
said Dr. Baker
Whiln II Mexico the men met with
whole hearted ronncrati0n on the
part Of the officials and the fruit
growers who arr making n desperate
hut unsuccessful war on the fly. The
fiv In that country has caused many
thousands ~ dollars worth of dan
age 10 the fruit CROP and its nrovinr
70 he serious menace 10 the Valley
crops unless some way can be dis
covered fo destroy the source of 80
flv. the present rron i'm this section
having come from Mcvico.
Results of tho eradication cam
paign IN the Valley were discussed
nj mcetinu nf Inspector at Donna
recently. md nlans made for con-
tirning the work throughout the
VALLEY. in order tn nrcvent any pOssi-
bzlity of future infestation.