Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-09-09
PRICES
EXPECTEDFOR
VALLEY FRUIT
Makes Prediction
After Viewing Hi
dalgo and Cameron
Orchards

UfUAAnE1 THIS EtMrWM 10 AMhE -
place among the major crops Of the
Lower Rio Grande Valley, all present
indications point to one Of the carli-
est crops the Valley has ever had,
and 70 the largest fruit that the Sec
tion has produced as a whole IN re-
cent years.
These facts about the crop were
pointed u here By John G. Plott,
who was recently r~e-appointed BY the
Cameron county commissioners court
as county Inspector Of orchards 20
work in cooperation with federal and
state inspectors In keeping the
orchards and the fruit clean.
Mr.. Pi0tt this week travelled over
a number of the orchards in HidaIEo
county. and within the past few
weeks he has been through most OF
those in Cameron county.
Fruit Appears Early
From all appearances the Valley
will have IN considerable amount uf
fruit I'd ship I'm The opening XII The
season. October l,H NIL. Plott said.
The fruit IN Developing rapidly, and
where orchards have been properly
cared for IN promises to NV ready for
market several weeks sooner than i'm
past years
This will mean some money saving
70 the Valley. a. ID will enable this
section TO move more fruit early.
and hence get the advantage Of the
early markets. II also will make the
enforcement Of the green fruit law
easier, as growers viii have a con-
siderable quantity Of ripe fruit to
ship, and there will not be such a
temptation on the part Of some grow
ers TO pick green fruit, il was ex-
planned.
Yield Not Heavy
Mr.. Plott said that the fruit in
general seems 70 be larger. There
is not more than an average crop on
the trees. he said. and indications
point to a crop not much larger than
that Of last year, if any. However,
the fruit " OK betIer quality from
all indications, and larger. This is
accounted for NV the fact that high
winds earlier lin the year blew or a
large part MI what was a record
bloom ON the trees. leaving only "A
moderate crop, which developed into
larger citrus.
Mr. Plott said that while IN did not
hold true in all cases that he found
the crop ia little more spotted in
HidalEo county than in Cameron.
with an indication that Cameron
county would have "A larger yield per
acre from most producing orchards.
The Inspector said that one or the
principal menace now "a the fruit
and to the trees il the red scale.
which has spread considerably in the
past season.
Spray Controls Scale
Il was at the experiment station
at Weslaco this week, and studied
the work that they are doing to find
the best methods of combating this
scale" Mr.. Plott said. 1T is pretty
generally agreed that spraying with
oil emulsion, while not as effective
as the gas treatment. is the only prac-
ticable method at the present time.
and the growers are urged TO waste
no time in spraying their trees and
fruit.
The ga method W very effective.
but il slow and expensive. In this
tratment a tent is placed over the in
dividual tree, and tied down mt the
bottom. The gas IN then entered at
the bottom XII the tent. and III covers
the entire space. killing Mill insects
and germs
The spraying. while not as ef-
f~ective. can he done at m moderate
cost. and AZ has been found that
regular spraying Will cut down the
scale and eventually eliminate it.r
Orchards Cleaner
Mr. Plott said that the orchards
over the Valley are cleaner than they
have ever beer In the past, due large
IN 20 the work of the federal in
spectors in keeping them cleaned in
order 70 prevent possibility Of re-
in<es.ation Of the Morelos fruit fly.
However. the red scale must be check
ed in order 10 allow the orchards 10
develop to their maximum, he de-
clared.
Il nave seen some individual trees
practically killed by this scale" Mr..
Plott said. He explained that the
scale attacks the trunk Of the tree,
the leaves. and the fruit.
Necessity for cooperation Of all
Valley growers. and for the eventual
enforcing OF q compulsory spraying
law were stressed BIZ the inspector.
Everything indicates a favorable
crop In the Valley Mr.. Plott CON
tinued. The Florida crop III not
damaged bv storms to an extent
originally believed. but there will
he less early fruit out MI Florida, and
most 0f III will bc confined W. the
Atlantic seabOard until later in The
season.
Need Better Freight Rate
"lf we can get competitive freight
rates with Florida, as we hope to d0.
the Valley this year should be able ~
meet Florida competition On almost
any of the larger markets. with "a re-
sultinE good income 70 residents VIZ
this section"
The Valley last season shipped an
p~roximately $500 carloads Of citrus
fruit, including freight and express
shipments. and that which moved
out BY truck. Some estimates have
been made earlier this year that the
192S-29 crop would run as high as
$500 carloads. but the statement of
Mr.. Plott indicates that a yield Of
not more than the 1928 yield is
expected. However. the quality and
size Of the fruit. the cut in Florida's
crop. and other circumstances PROM
Use 20 combine 10 bring a muck
larger return TO the Valley from the
192S-29 crop.
Packers in this city are already
grooming their plants in preparation
for the season. while over the entire
Valley NV plants are being built. nnd
old ones being improved. The plant
of the Texas Citrus Fruit Exchange
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