Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-12-02
SOURORANCE
Tree BAN IS
LATESTPLAN
F. deral Quarantine
Chief Praises
Valley Work

WASHINGTON, Dec. "a thor
ough cleanup Of all non-ccmmer-
ciaI 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 $. a. Rohwer. as
sistant chief OF the Federal Plant
Quarantine Control. as a 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 to deal
with the situation has to q great
extent assuaged this anxiety. Unless
additional infestations are discover
ed In other sections 1t Is not probable
that drastic action will be taken by
the federal board.
Praise Cooperation
Spraying to prevent intestation
has been under way in Brownsville
since early September, officials OF
the board stated. On the Mexican
side of the river, at Matamoros, ci-
trus fruit and host fruit trees are Pc
ing sprayed by the federal men WIN
the objact Of controlling so lar as
possible the menace 70 the citrus
industry on the American side
The opinion prevails among quar-
antine board officials that the infes"
tations discovered in recent months
have been due TO smuggling OF IN
tested fruit across the border. The
records Of the foreign plant quarar-
tine division disclose that border
residents are responsible for over 6O
uer cent Of the interception OF pro-
hibited fruits and plants, and that
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 Dor
der residents who persist in bring
inc fruit across the Rio Grande. In
this respect only border people nave
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, wnlcn
have no commercial value. Destruc-
ton OF these trees cannot be requir-
ed by the plant quarantine board as
they are classed as citrus fruit trees
and are required to be kept free OF
fruit during the host free period;
also the regulations prescribe tnat
All dropped fruit must be picked up
and destroyed.
Many Sour Orange Trees
Due to the fact that this fruit has
no commercial value and Is practl-
cally useless the trees are given little
attention by the owners and are
seldom sprayed, Inspectors are often
called upon to instruct owners 70
destroy the fallen fruit. The major
part or these worthless trees are
located at points In close proximity
10 the border and are considered 4
potential menace to the citrus fr1it
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 II they were des-
troyed. Owners Of commercial or
chards maintain careful watch OK
their groves, dropped fruit Is des-
troyed Immediately, but 1t 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 q
large number Of sour orange trees In
Brownsville with O 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 n-commercial varieties OF citrus
fruit trees, but there still are SUI
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 to this fact it is be-
lieved that the regulated area VIII
not extend beyond the city limits,
though that Is q matter 10 be de-
termined by the committee appoint
ed by the commissioners court. In
the event this area Is DESIGNATED no