Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-09-22
VALLEY TREES
PRODUCE HUGE
CROP FRUIT
Snavely Orchard Gives
Proof of Bearing
Quality of Citrus
Orchards In Section

citrus fruit trees when they have
attained the age Of 7 to 8 years was
demonstrated last season at the l..
Z. Snavely orchard northwest Of
Harrington where approximately 5o,-
600 boxes were picked from 65 acres
Of Z and e-year-old trees.
The average was 8 boxes to the
tree, and as the trees are planted
90 to the acre the production was in
excess of TOO boxes to the acre, this
record being established by both
grapefruit and oranges, the plant
ings being about evenly divided.
One block Of 9-year-old grapefruit.
comprising 164 trees. picked a total
Of 1922 boxes, or an average Of III
boxes per tree.
The Snavely orchard. which for
three years has been one Of the
heaviest producers in the VALLEY,
contains l35 acres. the trees on 65
acres ranging from z to 9 years.
The remaining acreage consists Of
young trees ranging from 2 to 4
years, part Of which viii come into
bearing this season.
Production this year Is expected
to set q new high record. Grape
fruit and orange trees are carrying
heavy loads. the fruit having set
heavier than last year and due to
the more favorable season is much
larger. The production in the older
orchard is very uniform, every tree
being loaded with fruit.
Holds S. r. Loading Record
The Snavely loading station on
the Southern Pacific lines between
Harrington and Primera holds the
Valley fruit loading record on that
railroad. OF the 299 straight cars Of
citrus fruit shipped out last season
over the Southern Pacific, 166 were
loaded ct Snavely. express and mix
ed shipments bringing the total
loadings to approximately 200 cars.
This included the fruit of the
Snavely orchard as well as con-
siderable quantities packed and sold
for other Valley growers. Loadings
at the same point the previous sea-
son totaled 125 cars.
The Snavely packing plant, which
was operated to capacity during the
past season, is equipped to turn out
w cars per day. Work Of enlarg-
ing the plant and installing ad-
ditional equipment is now under
way, the plant TO have a capacity OF
four cars per day. which is expected
to be required to meet the heavier
production of the Snavely orchard
and the orchards Of those growers
the plant serves.
Last season proved one Of the
most profitable in my experience"
MI. Snavely said. Our sales recoros
show that our Duncan grapefruit.
the seeded variety. averaged SI.g3
per box delivered at the packing
plant. The Marsh seedleSS averaged
$1S2 per box, and oranges $500.
These figures are exclusive Of pack
ing and brokerage. which averages
S1.15 on grapefruit and SIPS on
oranges"
Has Many Varieties
While the major part Of the
5navely acreage consists Of the
standard varieties, practically every
variety of citrus fruit can be found
In his orchard. The Prolific seeded
grapefruit is his earliest variety, but
Marsh seedless comprises the ma
Jor part Of his acreage. Four acres
of Foster Pinks. which are disposed
OF to the hotel and dining car trade,
are returning huge profits, produc-
ton being insufficient to meet the
heavy demand. Pineapple, Lu Gin
Gong. Washington navel. and the
Ramona seedlesS. a variety MI.
&AA0HN&r KA1kAE4NlAs AQA4AA tA4C AAAuIOl
part OF his orange paintings. In
addition to these standard varieties
he has sufficient Temple oranges.
t~angerines. kumquats. mandarins
and other novelty fruits TO sue
ply the demand for Christmas and
gift boxes, which he ships in large
quantities.
The Ramona seedless. a variety
Mr.. Snavely propagated from a
sport" discovered in his orchard
several years ago. is proving very
popular with the northern trade.
Straight carloads Of this fruit were
moved out last year for the first
time, and the demand was in excess
OF the supply. The fruit. which is
practically seedleSs. has much the
appearance Of the pineapple orange
and the flavor Is delicious.
Operates Large Nursery
Mr. Snavely was one Of the pi-
oneer nurserymen Of the Valley
coming to this section over 20 years
ago and was one Of the first to en-
ter the citrus fruit industry upon a
commercial scale. Though he now
Is one Of the largest growers and
shippers in South Texas he still
maintains his nursery. budding
from the proved trees Of his own Or
chard. Last season his nursery pro-
danced $500 trees. insufficient to
meet the demand. and this year he
increased his stock to 10000, incluo-
ing practically every variety. Con-
tracts for the major part of this
stock already have been closed.
Hundreds Of trees throughout the
Snavely orchard are tagged" the
tags carrying the record for each
wear since they came into produc-