Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-08-14
Special to The Herald.

tSpeclal 10 Inc f1eIaAll-
MISSION. Aug. 14.-Growers OF
citrus fruit in the Rio Grande VAL
ley arc confronted with the propo-
Sition Of having to thoroughly or
ganize their selling agencies within
the next five years If they are to
succeed financially in the produc-
ton Of this crop. according to Ho-
mer Smith, vice president Of the
First National Bank OF Mission who
has returned from a trip TO Califor-
mia.
For six weeks Mr.. Smith studied
the conditions IN California with
the assistance OF bankers, marketing
experts. growers and those familiar
with all details Of the early strug-
giles or California To accomplish
their cooperative marketing organi-
cations.
1T IS hoped that the growers or
the Rio Grande Valley will not
have TO learn a. did those OF Cali
| fornia, through the agency OF fl
nancial failure, said MIR. Smith. lt
was only when faced with finan-
cial failure that organization was
perfected there. he said.
Uniformity cf Pack
Uniformity OF pack - another
matter that must soon demand the
attention. Of Valley growers. he sand
"A Sunkist pack Is standard
throughout California he contln-
usu, and the world markets know
what TO expect when they buy
oranges ana grapefruit OF any
stipulated California grade.
Compare this with the hundreds
of different brands, packs and
qualities that are going Jul OF the
Rio Grandc Valley.
He tuched also upon the success
Of organized marketing effort and
the thorough confidence that al
growers had in these agencies. Ac-
cording TO Mr.. Smith, Calilorn.a
growers put their crops in the hands
Of the agencies ana they sell the
fruit as the market demands. When
the price is low they stop picking
and packing and wait until II goes
up before they resume, he said
~fhe history OF cold storage Of cit
rus in California has been The same
as ii is here ne said. so they allow
their fruit 10 remain IN storage Oh
their trees
The Valley Ii in its infancy in It's
troubles with citrus pests and dis
eases, Mr.. Smith stated, and re-
lated the constant effort that u
made throughout California 10 curb
these troubles. He told Of the III
spectors who visit orchards ana o.
Ger spraying or fumigaJion and Of
the experts whose services are avail
able at a moments notice TO so into
any orchard for diagnosis ana pre-
scription CT spraying or Immigration
or whatever need be done.
Cultivate the Crop
The tendency OF many - irlig6te
when cultivation would serve tine
purpose equally as well, was cited
Dy Mr. Smith IN the fact that many
acres Of land are losJ in the Rio
Grande Valley through the applica-
ton Of water instead Of Jillaga
which would accomplish the immC-
date purpose. he also called at
tentioa to the vast saving that
would be made in water when thc
water situation was assuming great
or propositions in the Rio Grandc
Valley constantly.
AS to fertilizer he also noted tho
large amount that could be used III
California gloves ana was used. for
the effort there II intensive cultlvG-
tion. In rcpianting orange groves
he mentioned that the new trees
were planted In between the rcv-s
in the old orchards 50 that the sci
fertility would not be lost.
That California is rapidly getting
away from its navel orange produc-
ton and turning 10 Valencia was
stressed by Mr.. Smith.
Cleanliness Striking
Weeds either do not grow III
California. or else they arc all kept
out Of the SOIL he said. One nev-
er sees a weed in orchards in Cal.
fornia nor along the highways and