Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-01-11
Want FLORIDA
FRUIT Stand
TEXAS tests
Growers Propose In
spection Tax Apply
To All Fruit Brought
Into the State

MERCEDES, Jan. 1l.-fill citrus
fruit shipped into Texas viii be re-
CURED 70 pass the test prescribed
for Texas fruit and also nay a ? IL
cent inspection stamp tax per box
the same a. Texas fruit, III amend
mcnts 70 the green fruit law, recon-
mended b. Valley growers, arc ac-
ccpted by tho Legislature.
The growers also recommended
that q sliding scale test be adopted
for Durcsns and othcr early SEEDED
varieties. and that d hoid-over period.
not 20 exceed - hours be allowed
for fruit % come un % tho test.
The meeting, which was called By
J. NJ. Del Curto. representing the
state department ~ agriculture, for
the purpose OF asccrtalning views Of
Valley growers On proposed amend
mcnts 70 the green fruit law, was at
tended By so representative growers
from al parts Of the Valley.
! One OF the first motions before the
netting provided IN increase in tho
inspection stamp tax from l IL 10
> IL cents per box. This was amend
cd to INCLUDE fruit coming into the
state from Florida or California, and
accepted b. the meeting without q
dissenting vote. Inis motion also
carried a Recommendation that the
state legislature be requested to ar
propriate $4,000 10 finance rigid en-
lorccment Of the green fruit law.
The recommendation of the meet
ing were presented 10 j. NJ. Del Curto
b. G. G. White, acting secretary. ana
will be incorporated in the amend
H4nnfm 20 Lu Araerm $40. Fr fNu mFaHr
department OF agriculture and intro
duced IN the house by Representa-
tive ". i. Montgomery.
Discuss Sw eating
Del Curto stated that his object
IN calling the meeting wag 20 aaccr-
tain the opinion OF growers with re-
spect 70 needed amendments. and
added that the department would en-
deayor 20 secure passage " such
amendment as would prove salts
factory TO growers. lie asserted that
10 - tho objective Of tho department
10 cooperate with the growers Ia the
efort 20 prevent immature and un-
desirable fruit going onto the mar
lets, but that the law must be work
able IN order 10 assure the protection
the Valley industry demands.
Most Of the discussion ccntcrcd
upon the sweating process 70 bring
fruit up 10 test. II was asserted that
during the early part Of the season
fruit was kept IN the sweat rooms 81
some packing plants over a week.
This fruit, " was said, tested low
when brought 10 the plant, but ~as
Ewsated until j. came up 10 the test.
4 motion 70 recommend orchard in
spection instead of the present sys-
iem Cf inspecting ~ the packing
plant, was rejected, when represent
atives Of the state department assert
"a u would require an army Of in
Spectors and would be impraCtIcable,
Every grower, u was sttaed, IS eN-
pected u make his own orchard tests
before picking the fruit and the rec
ords OF the past season indicate that
where this was done there were few
reflections.
A motion was offered that fruit
he required 10 pass the test within "a
hours after picking, but this lost
upon the argument that the orchard
test Is not infallibie. and II a 24-houT
rule were adopted II would Mean that
shy fruit brought TO the packing
plant. which failed 10 pass the test.
yr5ald bs dumped Al once. whercz
such fruit could he brought UP 70
isst without inlurlne It's quality b.
placing ID IN the sweat room a fcw
hours. After considerable discussion
the 72-hour period was agreed upon.
This, however. does not prevent ad-
! ditional sweating IN order 20 bring
I'D the color. IL vas stated.
b. The Sliding Scale
! Proponents of the sliding scale for
Duncan and other early varieties Of
seeded fruit pointed cut that Florida
had adopted the scale and that il had
proved very satisfactory. ~ was
stated bv packers that the 2 % j
acid test should be made more IleA-
lille for the early varieties, aud that
adoption Of the sliding scale would
prove valuable to Duncan growers.
IL the amendment IS included IN the
green fruit Law the scale will be e.
tablished by the state department Of
agriculture, 90 "a IN effect after o.
taber II or each vcsr.
To the assertion that tho Wales
should he very careful not 70 lower
the standard Of the fruit, prepayment,
az the sliding scale for Duncan paint
"a out that this fruit, though vel
natured. often fails to reach the III
ratio, though ITS soluble solid content
- far above the average. y. M- Pc
curto stated that the test is not AZ
infali.hle test of quality. and that
while il is q fair test for Marsh fruit
prime Duncan often fails 90 ONE ul
90 the ratio prescribed.
Urge Valley Cleanup
Or. +. NJ. Todd % Mercedes urged
the y 20 extend all possible
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