Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-12-02
SOURORANCE
TREE Ban IS
LATEST Plan
F e deral Quarantine
Chief Praises 8
Valley Work

4 WASHINGlON, Lee. "A tlOI- =
ough cleanup of all non-conmer-
cial citrus fruit trees in the cities
of Brownsville. Laredo and other
points along the border in close
proximately to the Rio Grande has
been suggested by s. A. Rohwer. IS
sistant chief OF the Federal Plant
Quarantine Control. as means Of
eliminating so far as possible the
menace Of the Mexican fruit worm.
The discovery of three infestations
in the city of Brownsville has been
the cause Of some anxiety on the
part OF the plant quarantine Off
cials. The prompt action Of the Ca
meron county commissioners court
\ in appointing a committee OF ex-
perienced citrus fruit growers 10 deal
with the situation has TO a great
extent aSsuaged this anxiety. Unless
additional infeStations are discover
ed in other sections it is not probable
/ that drastic action will be taken by
the federal board.
Praise Cooperation
Spraying to prevent infestation
has been under way in Brownsville
since early September, officials OF
the board stated. On the Mexican
side of the river. at MatamoroS, cl-
truS fruit and host fruit trees are De
ing sprayed by the federal men WITH
the obect of controlling so far as
possible the menace to the citrus
industry on the American side
The opinion prevails among quar-
antine board officials that the lnfes-
tations discovered in recent months
have been due TO smuggling OF in
tested fruit across the border. The
records of the foreign plant quaran-
tine division disclose that noroer
residents are responsible for over SO
per cent Of the .nterception OF pro-
hibited fruits and plants, and tnat
the amount smuggled across the
Rio Grande by tourists Is almost
negligible. They point out that the
board has received almost perfect
/ cooperation from growers. shippers
! and others interested in the citrus
fruit industry. but that cooperation
is lacking in the part of many bor-
| der residents who persist IN bring
| ing fruit across the Rio Grande. In
this respect only border people have
to extend full cooperation, officials
of the board state.
In both Brownsville and Laredo
| and also at other points in close
proximity to the Rio Grande there
are many sour orange trees, which
have no commercial value. Destruc-
tion of these trees cannot be reQulr-
\ ed by the plant quarantine board as
7 they are claSsed as citrus fruit trees
and are required To be kept free ol
I fruit during the host free period,
K also the regulations prescribe that
All dropped fruit must be picked up
l and destroyed.
Many Sour Orange Trees
Due 10 the fact that this fruit has
no commercial value and Is practi-
cally useless the trees are given little
attention by the owners and are
4 seldom SPRAYED. Inspectors are often
\ called upOn to instruct owners 70
destroy the fallen fruit. The major
mart of these worthless trees are
/ located at points in close proximity
to the border and are considered a
potential menace to the citrus fruit
\ industry.
These trees are for ornamental
purposes only Mr.. Rohwer said.
There are few owners who give
them attention. We cannot require
their destruction. but I am conf
/ dent the situation would be improv-
/ ed very materially if they. were deS-
/ troyed. Owners of commercial or
chards maintain careful watch Of
their groves. dropped fruit Is des-
troyed Immediately, but IL IS often
the case that sour oranges are not
destroyed until our inspectors come
around. Each Of these trees increases
the menace for the commercial or
chard.'
Little Danger Seen
While no accurate check Is avail
able. il Is understood there are a
large number Of sour orange trees IN
Brownsville with smaller number
at Laredo. At various points along
the Rio Grande there are also many
Of these trees. principally along the
military highway in close proximity
to the river A campaign inaugu-
rated in Brownsville last year result
ed in the destruction of many Of the
non-commercial varieties of citrus
fruit trees, but there still are suf-
ficient left to constitute a distinct
menace.
Fortunately the recent infestation
reported by the federal inspectors Is
located almost in the center OF the
city. According TO the report re-
ceived by the plant quarantine board
infested fruit was found in three
Yards and the area of actual infes-
tation comprises little more than q
city block. Due 10 this fact 1t Is be-
lieved that the regulated area will
not extend beyond the city limits,
though that Is a matter TO be de-
termined BY the committee appoint
ed by the commissioners court. In
the event this area is designated no