Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-09-22
TOP HIPMENT
OF CITRUS TO
Be REQUIRED
Green Fruit Law En-
forcers Want First
Lot To Recommend
Valley Crop

U1tes ana every effort ID 10 DC put
forth by state green fruit inspec-
tors to see that the first 10 cars
are a recommendation TO people Of
the nation to buy Valley citrus fruit.
This was the statement OF both
j. M. Del Curto. state plant path
ologist, and j. G. Powell. in charge
of the work of enforcing the green
fruit law in the Valley.
The first half DOZEN carloads Of
citrus fruit shipped out Of the VAL
ley last year did more to hurt the
market for Valley fruit than any
thing else during the season. both
the state men said.
The echoes of those carloads OF
fruit, which passed the maturity
law, but which was OF poor quality,
still can be heard from buyers"
Powell said.
Cooperation Necessary
Del Curto. in outlining the plans
for the work this year. said that
the cooperation and help Of every
shipper and grower Is necessary II
the Valley is to create a favorable
market for its fruit.
I'VE have emphasized the fact
that the maturity test Is not a
panacea for all the ills Of citrus
growing and marketing" Del Curto
continued. The green fruit law
merely provides that the fruit must
pass a certain test of sugar and
acid ratio and content. which test
we have taken as a determination
Of fruit that Is edible.
"It Is well known that fruit, az
the beginning Of the season Is not
as good as it Is later In the sea-
son. For that matter, few products
ere. Watermelons are not as good
"a the opening Of the season as
tNey are later in the year. but we
must ship them early as we'll as
late.
1T Is the game way with the
citrus. It would all be better IL
It remained on the trees until De-
cember IS. but the fruit is ripe and
edible before that. and Is shipped.
What we want to do this season.
and we are bending every effort to-
ward that goal. is to see that the
first dozen cars are Of the best
valley citrus. The fruit is large
this year. and there is no reason
Tor shipping inferior fruit. We are
going 10 be particularly strict in
the enforcement or the green fruit
regulations early in the season. as
we consider that the important pc
Rod In the application OF this law"
Care in Selection Urged
Del Curto urged that the peo-
pie OF the Valley use extreme care
IN the selection OF fruit for the
first few carloads, in order to Gre
ate q good impression Of Valley
fruit These first few ears are
the most important, because upon
them depends the impression of
Valley fruit which will be formed
over the nation. he said.
Del Curto said the department is
going 70 be more strict in the ap-
plication OF the tests this year. The
law was amended some, to permi.
q sliding scale on Duncan fruit. but
this does not go into effect until
october Is, and was designed 10
take care OF fruit which may "go
back" or pass the test early In the
season, but faif to pass IL later. be-
cause Of changing weather condi-
tons.
Last year there was some discus
sion as TO when the test should be
made, many claiming that 1t should
be made before the fruit was sweat
ed and otherwise treated.
This year the tests will be made
before the fruit Is sweated or CO.
lored. II the fruit lacks only a
small amount passing, it will be
permitted to 60 into the sweat room
Tor a period Of approximately as
hours, and If it does not then pass
she test. 1t will be condemned.
Inspection Charge More
The charge for inspection has
been increased from / l-2 cents
per box to 2 1-2 cents a box 10
take care Of expenses Of inspection.
An appropriation for the work was
vetoed by Gov. Dan Moody.
A force Of men for the work Is
now being assembled and the size
OF 1t will be determined BY the
amount of work necessary. Mr.. Del
Curto said that at best only a
scattering coverage OF the Valley
could be achieved, and that VALLEY
people would have TO Cooperate
with the enforcement officers in
order to secure efficient enforce
ment Of the laws.
Most Of the efforts Of the green
fruit men will be concentrated dur
ing the first few weeks OF the sea-
son, as the problem becomes much
sim plier after the fruit ripens gen.
orally.
The work also IS expected to be
helped considerably by the fact
that Valley fruit this year is about
80 days ahead OF what 1t was at
this time last year, shippers and
grower declare. The fruit also is
considerably larger than 1t was at
this time last season.
Concerning the shipping OF infer
for and Gull fruit. Del Curto said
this Is something that does not
come under the scope OF the law.
and must be handled by the ship
pers. Eventually increasing pro-
duction viii take care OF this, he
said. As the supply increases,
there will be sufficient good fruit
for the packers TO select. and the
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