Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1931-10-05
(By sraff correspondent

WESLACO, Oct. 5.-The disposal
Of citrus wastes Is discussed in q
recent issue OF The Gamer by j. L.
Held, associate chemist, bureau Of
chemistry and soils, u. S. Dept. OF
Agriculture who will be in charge Of
the Valley citrus fruit by-products
laboratory.
His article follows:
The profitable disposal Of citrus
culls and wastes has been the sub
1ect OF extensive investigation. The
Bureau Of Chemistry began studies
In this field about 1912 and 1t has
since published methods for manu-
featuring peel oils, pectin, citric
acid, marmalade, candied peel, etc.
all Of which are now produced COM
mercially in this country.
The University of Maryland, at
the request Of the agricultural COM
mitcee Of the national research
council, undertook a study Of the
effect Of cooked citrus rinds on
hogs. The results Of this work pub
lished in 1919 are probably the
earliest American data on the
feeding value Of orange, lemon and
grapefruit rinds.
The recent increase in grape
fruit canning and in the freezing,
canning and concentrating OF juices
has materially magnified the prob
lem Of diSposing Of the wastes.
Markets for the ~by-products men
toned are limited and could not, Tor
example, furnish an outlet for the
10000 tons Of residue from the
so canneries and three freezing
plants operated in Florida this
year, in addition to the enormous
tonnage of waste produced in Calf
ornia by juicing and ~by-product
plants. and these potentially avail
able in the new Texas citrus area,
all of which must be disposed Of
without creating a nuisance, health
menace or possible breeding medium
for pests.
stock Feed
Other citrus products are being
studied. The production Of pow
dered juice would only increase the
quantity Of waste and the manu-
facture of vitamin concentrates has
at least received consideration. Pos
sibilities in the recovery and utili-
zation Of naringin and hesperadin
are being investigated. But none
Of the uses SO far developed would
dispose Of the bulk OF residueS.
Hauling the residues TO secluded
areas, and lining and burying are
expensive and wasteful methods OF
disposal.
Feeding the wet residue to stock
has been tried. Citrus waste pos
sesses food value and stock usually
find it palatable, instances having
occurred where swine have broken
through barriers and travelled miles
to resume interrupted feeding on
cannery dumps. But this method of
disposal has never met with general
approval as the wet waste decom-
poses quickly and becomes often
sive. At best the product is not
salable except locally and there
fore has never been turned to COM
mercial advantage.
Citrus reSidueS also have demon
strated their value as sources Of
humus when applied to sandy soils
such as are common in citrus areas.
In Florida, attention to the pos
sibilities of the waste for soil en-
richment was attraced by old dumps
OF barren sand which after being
used as dumping ground for citrus
wastes for a year or two bloSsomed
forth with luxuriant weed growth.
Experiments showed that when
properly applied TO humus def
Gent groves, the raw waste provid-
ed a comparable stimulus to the
growth of cover crops and trees.
1t is reported that after reduction
the waste retards teaching and loss
OF soluble fertilizer and contributes
the valuable characteristics OF or
ganic materials TO soil deficient in
these elements. But here again the
fresh material has Objectionable
features which render it unmar
ketable. Florida Gamers who own
groves universally return the waste
to the soil because they have learn
ed its value and can control its ap-
plication. But IL Is excessively
bulky and improperly applied 1t can
occasion added expense and pest
hazards without corresponding con-
tribution to productiveness.
Drying Problems
Any method Of disposal must OF
course offer a profit to the produc-
er or at least prevent a loss to be
attractive. In view of the objec-
tionable characteristics Of fresh
waste. the laboratory Of fruit and
vegetable chemistry has undertaken
an investigation OF methods Of