Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1931-10-20
PURCHASERS
NOW CAN GET
NO GUARANTEE

hAhLlNGEN, Oct. 2O.-NuTSery-
men Of the Valley are asking the
state department OF agriculture for
state certification Of citrus fruit
stool, according L a local nursery
man, one Of the many who have
written asking for this service.
The nurserymen have asked that
the department institute some plan
of voluntary registration, perhaps
similar to that recently opened for
pecan nurS-ry stock.
Guarantee Lacking
Under present conditions. pur-
chasers of nursery stock have only
the Integrity OF the retailer or a
dealer 10 guarantee their purchases.
Reputable nurserymen realize that
this is wholly unsatisfactory, TO
them as well as to the growers, and
1t IS these nurserymen who have
suggested the department apply its
certification methods.
The paramount benefit Of certi-
ficatiOn, II is said, would be ID fur
nish a source OF nursery stock with
a performance record behind 1t. AS
a concrete example OF this need 1t
is cited that many Of the orchards
are set out with young tresS when
sold, and the buyer has nc possible
way TO determine whether or not
the trees will bear. or If they are
the kind and quality desired when
they reach maturity.
Success or failure IN citrus orchard
ing. 1t is said. depends on the quality
OF nursery stock more than any
other orcharding industry. Root
stock. production factors. quality OF
fruit and other factors are present
in the nursery stock but not deter
minable by an examination Of the
stock itself.
Care History
The history of citrus stock, 1t Is
explained, shows that buds from
trees with a known performance
record-treeS which have borne
fruit consistently over a period Of
years-will produce trees with equal
ly fertile capacity for bearing fruit.
On the other hand. buds selected
promiscuously without regard for
whether the pare-t tree has a per-
Torrance record. will produce fine
looking trees which may deceive the
inexperienced purchaser OF planted
orchards, but the capacity for bear
Ing Is always problematical.
BY starting a voluntary register,
such as has been asked the depart
ment could build up a case his
tory" on all certified nursery stock.
Within a few years. certified stock
would be recognized as a known
source OF trees with a performance
record. and the same circumstances
would have eliminated a lar ! part
OF the worthless stock.
At the inception OF the program.
pedigree would be determin-i by
the attestation of the nurseryman
His records and stock would be
checked at frequent intervals by a
state nursery Inspector. to deter
mine the quality Of his trees. and
TO record and check their history
or pedigree.
Voluntary Basis
The program, II was stated, might
be worked out on a voluntary basis.
such as is now applied 10 pecan stock.
In the pecan esr~tification. nursery
men pay only the actual cost Of the
tags which attest state certifica-
ton. Inspection Is done BY employees
in the division of edible nuts at
no extra cost TO the nurSeryman
Although but recently started.
the pecan register already has en-
listed a number OF nurserymen
who were enthusiastic about its
possibilities in the unified develop
ment of the states pecan industry.
1t is said that IL the citrus c 2
lister should be established and met
with a similar reception. 1t was pos
sible the nurserymen might ask the
next legislature for legal sanction
of this branch Of state certification
which has already been successfully
applied to cotton. SorghLms and
small grains. Texas pioneered in
certification OF cotton and now has
supervision over one Of the few
recognized sources OF pedigreed
seed.