Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-07-29
1900 ACRES
WEREPLANTED
LAST SEASON
New Orchards Repre-
sent Approximately
One Third of the
Valleys Total

broken by the paintings of the 1927
70 season, when a total Of l.204,27O
citrus fruit trees were planted, add
ing approximately l7.lOO acres 10 the
fruit orchards Of the Valley.
Definite statistics on the Valley
citrus fruit industry we're made
available this week by the compile
ton of a citrus census compiled by
federal insectors under the supervi-
sion Of II. "A. Hoidale. The census
clearly indicates that citrus fruit
production will. within four or five
years, become one Of the major in
dustries of the Valley. and will rank
close to cotton and winter vegetable
production IN tonnage produced. but
probably outranking them in value.
The orchards OF Hidalgo, Cameron
n Willacy counties now contain
3,4l9,l57 citrus fruit trees, the CEN
u shows. This census is the most
comprehensive, and is believed the
most accurate, compilation of n major
industry ever attempted in South
Texas. The work was ACCOMPLISHED
by the federal inspectors in connec-
ton with the Mexican fruit fly Grad
ication campaign. the data being Sc
cured direct from the owners Of
orchards.
One OF the most remarkable dis
closures Of the survey IN the fact
that paintings show an increase from
40 TO 80 per cent each year during
the six years included in the survey.
Paintings during the 1929 season
surpassed all previous records and
we're approximately 100 per cent
greater than the previous season.
From 1928 to 1927 the paintings each
season showed an increase of an
proximately 40 per cent over the
paintings of the previous season.
Nearly $4,000 Acres in Fruit
Figuring upon a basis Of 20 trees
70 the acre. which in a fair average.
the Valley has approximately 20. 900
acres planted 10 citrus fruit. or
this l7,10O acres we're planted during
the 1923 season, the paintings Of
the season being over one-third Of
the Valleys total.
The survey shows that l,2O4,27O
! citrus fruit trees were set out i'm
orchards during the season. or thiA
number 916,334 were grapefruit and
2sO,29S were oranges. OF other eft
rus varieties 1888 were planted. The
ratio of 1925, or 75 per cent grape
fruit and % per tent ang and
other varieties. has been maintained
IN practically all large paintings, but
the excess Of oranges in smaller
paintings has made the ratio for the
valley approximately 1880. This
ratio has been maintained in prac-
tlcally all paintings of former wears.
the survey showing 2,403,6 $40 crane
fruit trees as compared with l.0f5.-
oil oranges and other varieties. The
exact number Of orange trees il ESQ.,
SIs. the report shows, and the total
Of other varieties. including lemons,
lines, kumquats, tanRerincs, etc, II
62,133.
Development Uniform
Another feature brought out By the
survey is the uniformity Of citrus
development as between the three
counties which have maintained the
same standing year after year.. Hi
dalgo county has a total OF 2.ISO.94o
trees and Cameron county l.2Il.6O9.
Paintings in Hidalgo county the mast
season totaled s36.ls7, and IN Cam
eron county 344,111, maintaining an
proximately the same ratio of acre
< in both counties. The planting
ratio was 1928, indicating that
oranges and other citrus fruits arp
gaining favor with VII
lacy county paintings totaled 2s.972.
OF which 1871 were grspefruit.
''fVl oranges and 534 other citrus.
approximately 10 per cent Of the
trees IN the Valley orchards were
planted during the 1929 season or
PRIOR 70 that time and have now at
tanned fair bearing rye. The survey
SHOWS that Of the trees five years or
more OF age there are 33s.50s grape
iruit' 1852 oranges, and 23.302
otner varieties. Of trees four years
oId there are l4s.S26 grapefruit, To-
90 DANCES and 6.973 other varieties.
ihese added TO the older trees bring
me total number IN bearing 70 an
SIi grapefruit, 1874 oranges ard
Z9-2I5 other varieties, or a total 81
ioz-333. However. very few Of these
trees have come into maximum pro-
ductlon, the number W = ~ IL wear
old trees IN the Valley being limited
70 n few thousand.
Pharr-Edinburg Leading
For convenience in making the xur-
vey the Valley was districted ara
while the report shows the Pharr-
~Edinburg district, comprising the
acreage under the Pharr-San Juan
Alamo and Edinburg irrigation sys-
tens. leading the Valley in total acre
age and also in last season plant
ings, IL Is probable that paintings
were equal in other districts az
much smaller acreage. The report
shows the Pharr-Edinburg district
has atotal OF 563,l o trees OF III
ages, including 332,514 planted last
season. The Mission district ranks
second with 527.642 Of all ages and
1885 planted last season. The Ne
Allen district, which comprises "A
comparatively small acreage, has
l7s.l03 trees OF all ages and planted
66.93s last season. The Donna dis
trict planted i0s.i5T last season and
has a total of 336.7s6. and the Wes-
laso district with z52.250 % all ares
planted 1l7,470 last season.
In Cameron county three districts.
La Feria. Harrington and San Benito,
ran q close race in the totals, La
Feria leading with S95.461 trees of
all ages. Harlingen second with 1885,
241 and San Benito third with 3f4.-
2a9. However, in 1929 paintings
this order was reversed. San Benito
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