Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-07-28

AASAANAAS
provide sufficient tonnage of this
kind.
The matter was originally
brought to the attention of MI.
Bell by Roland A. Laird, secretary
of the aviation committee of the
Dallas Chamber Of Commerce.
Since communication has been
carried on direct with Roger j..
Adams, president Of the aerial
transportation company. In re-
spouse to suggestions from Mr..
Adams Mr.. Bell recently made q
survey Of the situation in the VAL
ley, and is forwarding the informa-
ton from the survey to the Cali
fornia aerial transportation COM
pany.
Dallas would probably be the
northern concentration point of the
company in Texas, although most
Of the produce moved out over the
company's lines would go to the
northern and eastern markets.
after talking the matter over
with growers, shippers, county
agents and authorities on various
lines, I find that the Valley could
produce large quantities of certain
more o less rare commodities, If
there were a way to get these COM
modities to the market" Bell said.
AT present there is nc way, but the
air freight promises to offer a Solu-
ton to the problem.
"At present the Valley is not
growing many Of these in large
quantities, the reason being obvious.
But the products are usually rapid
growers, and could be brought into
bearing in comparatively short
time"
Papaya Promising
Bell said that one of the most
promising of products in the Valley
for such a freight traffic is the
papaya. This fruit is native of
Cuba, Central America and the
West Indies. The tree grows rap
idly, fruiting within a year where
properly cared for, and one tree
will bear several hundred pounds of
fruit.
The fruit grows around the main
stalk Of the tree, as usually there
are no branches. 1t ripens at the
bottom, graduating up until there
will be nothing but blooms at the
top. One tree will produce for
months, the fruit being picked off
gradually as the tree gets higher.
The fruit is about the same size
as a cantaloupe, and has many
similiaritieS, except in taste and
chemical content. The papaya is
rich in pepsin, and is considered
one of the most desirable foods for
persons bothered with stomach all
ments.
1t brings a price varying from 81
to $1.50 a pound in New York, and
in other large markets.
But the papaya Of common va
riety is very perishable, and begins
to soften as it ripens, SO that it IS
almost impossible to ship the fruit
Experiments conducted by H. G.
StllWell, Sr., pioneer Valley nur-
Seryman, have recently produced a
hard-sheu papaya, which has been
successfully shipped by express to
Washington, D. c., and other
points. However, it is believed the
air express will prove of benefit
even in handling this fruit, because
OF the high price of the commoditv
and the desirability of getting it to
market with as little risk as pos
Sible.
The papaya is a host fruit for the
mediterranean fruit fly, with which
Florida is infested. But it is not a
host fruit Of the Morelos fruit fly,
which was found in the Valley
some time ago.
This fact" Bell said, promises
to make the papaya an important
industry in the Valley in the fu-
ture."
Bell pointed out that several
hundred growers in this section
could plant papaya seed now, and
have fruit to ship next season. He
mentioned n grower who is now
planning to move 5000 young pa
paya seedlings from Corpus Christi
IN view of the possibility of the
aerial express.
Present indications are that the
papaya will be one Of the most i'm
portant products moved out of the
Valley by air express" he contin-
ued. The fruit can be grown at
a very reasonable cost. In fact
trees are now growing and bearing
prolltlcally in yards all over the
valley, with practically no care"
Avocado Looks Good
The second most important prod
uct the Valley can furnish for such
transportation appears to be the
avocado, Bells survey shows.
Avocados are being grown on a