Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1930-04-15

2. To work with the State Com
missioner Of Agriculture Terrell to
ward a final test In the courts OF
the right Of the official to ban ship
mentS 70 the Valley from Florida
and other sections where the Med
iterranean fruit fly and other in
sectS are said to exist.
8. To s every available resource
through law and by means OF pub
licity. to prevent inferior or pest
threatened stock from entering the
Valley .
4. To obtain legal talent to fight
these battles and TO assist In pre-
paration Of legislation TO be pre-
scnted at the next session OF the
legislature.
Infected Fruit Here
Many rumors were afloat about
Florida shipments already reaching
the Valley but positive proof OF the
size and destinations Of them was
lacking. Members or the Valley
NurSerymen's association, while ad-
hitting they had heard reports that
orders had been placed in Florida
by Valley residents, were positive
none Of them had come from any
member OF their organization.
Nurserymen said. however. that
right now they are hopeful but not
confident that large shipments Of
Florida stock can be prevented from
| being sent into the Valley. They
Geclared that. although thorough
inspection Of Florida stock by Texas
agents Is permitted before it leaves
the state, still there Is danger o.
pests escaping detection by exam
liners.
They were reluctant to accept The
suggestion Of Al Parker, prominenf
land man, that Valley nurserymer
buy all available sour orange roo
stock in Florida The estimated the
available supply at $4,000 trees) anc
either sell or destroy them. Ths
nurserymen thought the latter ides
too expensive They were reluctan'
to tryout the first, since they die
not feel justified in running The
risk OF bringing the Mediterranean
fruit fly into the Valley.
Present at Meet
Mr.. Parker declared he was pres.
ent at the recent sensational hear
ing in Florida, before a COMPRESSION
al committee, at which charges
were made that reports of the pres
ence OF the pest in the Palmetto
state were 'trumped UP" in ordel
TO obtain federal money for waste
full distribution. He said he visiteC
nurseries in ever section Of the
state, that the available supply o
sour orange root stock was com
paratively small but OF rough lemon
stock was unlimited.
The suggestion for cooperative
purchases Of Florida trees, he e.
planned, came after careful con-
sideration and as a result OF hi
belief that under present court rui'
ings, II will be difficult to prcven'
importation Of the Florida stock
into the Valley.
Those who differed with him tool
the the position that 1t was a bar
idea to bring Florida trees here
under any circumstances. They be
lieve the latest ruling on Florid;
shipments Cby District Judge Cal
houn in Austin) is stringent enough
70 enable state inspectors to pre-
vent shipments.
Fly Redlscovered
Emnhasis was laid by one o.
two speakers upon the fact thai
responsible sources have reported
within the last two or three week
the ~rediscovery OF the Mediterran'
can fly in Florida, the pests hav
ing remained dormant, according Il
its custom during the winter months
S. r. Ewing, Harlingen, who acteS
as chairman OF the meeting, re
viewed the fight he and other mem
bers Of the special committee haC
made against importations from
infected citrus areas "All OF u
down here are interested in citru
in some way" he said, land W
should protect 1t for the future b
careful scientific steps. The cover
nor and the legislature are prou'
OF the Valley, its citrus and its sol
and / am sure they will back an,
reasonable legislative proposal W
present"
DR.. A. T. Potts gave a detaile,
report OF the committees activities
He urged the necessity for a perma,
nent organization with a committei
which would be active the yeal
around. He said the injunction sui
viii be carried to the highest cour-
as soon as possible and predicteC
final enactment and enforcement
OF laws which eventually viii enc
for all time danger of importation