Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-01-07
Brownsville Duty

Citrus fruit growers Of the Lower Rio Grands Val
Ter are looking to Brownsville Tor = prompt cleanup of
all secondary host fruit trees IN the city and contiEu-
Gus TERRITORY. Assurances have been received from tbs
inspector in chief in charge Of the MeAicsn fruit worm
eradication work in the Valley that IN the event a
cleanup If secondary host fruit can be effected BY Jan
nary -. he will present recommendations n the Nh. :.
Department 81 Agriculture that the citrus fruit ship
ping season, which nov, under the terms Of the fed
ersl embargo. c1piros March i. be extended 10 April 4.
A survey BY the federal inspectors reveals that over
80 Per cent n the secondary host fruit trees in the
Valley are located in Brownsville ssd contiguous ter
ritory. All other cities, towns and communities arc nov
engaged in tho final cleanup, and growers assert that
only in Brownsville has there been lack Of cooperation.
To comply with the request cf the growers 1t will
be necessary for Brownsville property owners 70 de-
strcy al peach. guava. mango and similar fruit tres
which have been rated by The Department Of Agricui-
turr "a secondary hosts for the Mexican fruit worm.
None Of these fruits have proved very successful in
the Valley. at lca4t they are not grown upon a COM
mercisl scale. They have little value, and in view Of
the fact they arc considered a menace to the citrus
fruit industry. there should 10 NJ hesitancy IN renew
inS them.
Their. are som. phc d. not agree vith N. Depart.
ment Of Agriculture relative 20 these trees heing sec
cndsry hcst.: others Who assert the Mexican fruit
worm IS not a menace 20 Valley citrus fruit. They
may he correct. hut the fact should nc borne IN mind
that the 4. 5. Department Of Agriculture has estsb-
iished its regulstiens-snd what Is more. those re=als
tions viii be enforced. regardless Of the ideas OF va
ricus citizens. There Is no appeal from thesee rcgula-
tions. Thee only thing for the Valley 70 90 Is to CO.
operate with the department officials in the effort 10
eliminate secondary host fruits and thereby gain an
extension Of the shipping season This is no time for
argument; it is the time 10 shsspen an axe and e
cut and destroy every secondary host fruit tree desig-
mated as such b. the department.
Approximately 90 rcr cent Of the Valleys fruit ercF
has been shipped. Unleess the growers are granted an
extension 70 April 1, they will he forced t. dump almost
two-thirds Of the fruit crop. amounting 70 nearly i,Soe
cars, onto the market, accepting any price the northern
dealers are willing TO pay. II they can ge, tho extern
sion. tho crop can be marketed in an orderly manner;
and those who are experienced in fruit marketing know
that the hest markets arc usually offered the Latter
rsrt q February and during March. when the fruit -
in its prime and tho demand heavy.
Brownsville residents almost invariably have taken
the leadership in working for or making saerifiees toF
she interests Of the Valley. There is no logical reason
Why they should he isgrArds in this Nailey-wide clean
mn. n may csl Ter the sacrifice Of = few trees in
which N. owners take considerable pride. bat II viii
mean thoussuds Of dollars Tor the citrus fruit growers
and general strengthening Of the industry.
And While the cleanup is on. hundreds Of the 1eEth-