Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-09-25

AREAREPORTS
HEAVYLOSSES
Production Cut About
100000 Boxes Is
Report; Porto Rico
Crop Destroyed

NEW YORK, Sept. 25.-The trop-
ical hurricane which swept the West
Indian islands and part Of Florida
last week, destroyed approximately
one-sixth Of the Florida citrus crop
and the entire grape fruit crop OF
Porto Rico, according to estimates
received by dealers here.
Florida loss viii total 1.750,00O to
100000 boxes, according 20 an esti-
nate BY the Florida Citrus Exchange
Of Tampa, and the Porto Rico loss
comprises the entire crop Of approx
nately 100000 boxes.
Advices from the Florida Citrus
Exchange. Tampa, to Enrol VI. Zorn.
New York manager, indicated that
the loss Of citrus fruit in Polk coun-
~ was ~variously estimated at from
q "a so per cent. Figuring on the
conservative estimate OF so per cent
nth details 20 figure on it indicates
q loss Of about 10 to 20 per cent in
oranges. and the balance in grape
fruit. The Exchange estimates the
loss Of the state at about IS per cent
in grapefruit and 6 per cent in
oranges. Since the storm damage
of last month which hit the Indian
river section, the state crop has been
estimated az $500, 900 boxes Of grape
fruit and II, 900, 900 boxes Of oranges,
Taking these figures as a basis, the
loss would amount 10 about 1,750,00O
boxes all told. as against the govern
ment's estimate of . 100000 box
loss.
Porto Rico Hit Hard
The grapefruit crop Of Porto Rico.
the shipping season Of which was just
beginning, was so far as a be
learned. entirely wiped out.
The United States department OF
agriculture at Washington issued a
bulletin estimating the losses Of the
citrus fruit crop Of Florida at about
100000 boxes. Other estimates
placed the loss at about 1,750.000
boxes. The Lake Okeechobee region,
perhaps the heaviest shipping early
vegetable point Of Florida, was en-
tirely devastated, and the loss Of life
was hevier in that section than in
any other part of the state.
Starting with Porto Rico, the early
crop Of grepfruit which was TO have
been harvested up TO about Novem-
Der ] was estimated at from 10000
boxes 70 a little less than 100000.
The late crop vas one Of the heaviest
Porto Rico has ever had and was
fine fruit. II was estimated az from
100000 70 $4,000 boxes. So far as
can be learned here on the most re-
liable information coming from Porto
Rico, the crop is entirely gone.
Large Area Storm Swept
The storm, sweeping over Porto
Rico, came over the Bahama Islands
and entered Florida in the Palm
Beach section, and the damage ex-
tends on the coast from New Smyrna,
about 100 miles above Fort Pierce,
don as far as Miami. This takes in
the Indian river section, where the
finest citrus fruit is grown. The
damage there. so far as ca nbe learn
ed now, is inestimable. but il is
heavy. Cutting into the state at
this point, the storm circled around
and went practically up the center Of
the state, taking in such shipping
points as Sebring. Fort Meade. Bar
tow. Lakeland. Dade City. Delray,
Webster. Ocala. Gainesville. Lees
burg. Lake City and crossed up into
Georgia by way Of Columbia and
Baker counties. Many Of these sec
tions are vegetable shipping sections
and are vegetable Shipping sections
and were not harmed SO much except
as to fal crops, but a great deal dam
age was done to buildings.