, 1935-06-06

1t does not take a citrus expert or the son Of a cit
rus expert TO know that one reason for poor prices
paid for Valley citrus fruit during the past season
has been the undenable fact that our Valley fruit
was unable to meet the strict requirements for u. s.
No. ! grade. The eating quality was there. all right.
but the outside appearance Of the fruit was not so
good.
And the reasons for this are as plain as plain can
be. Our citrus groves had not yet recovered from the
devastating effects OF the 1888 storms when they were
hit by two spells OF cold weather. Much Of this natural
damage could not have been avoided. but on the other
hand there can be no doubt but that had growers been
able financially to give their groves the proper care
and the proper rehabilitation following the hurricanes,
the groves would have been in better physical condi-
ton TO stand the cold spells.
We recall that a strenuous effort was made TO Sc
cure federal loans for the rehabilitation Of our citrus
groves, loans on longer terms than those granted
through the r. A. c.. c.. and other crop loaning agen-
cies. but 50 far as we have heard. no efforts along these
lines have been uniformly successful. We do know
that some citrus loans have been made. but no definite
and uniform policy for securing federal loans for the
rehabilitation Of Valley citrus groves has been worked
out.
That Il is possible to work out a procedure for the
benefit OF citrus owners is proven by the experience
OF Florida. which now has q federal Set-up for the
making Of long term loans to grove owners to enable
them to repair the ravages Of the December freeze.
VIC Ahblt III PdA6 ~ III dANACAC dppNdLhlk III "a t.
cent issue Of the Citrus Industry. published at
Tampa. Florida.
WASHINGTON. May Is. CSpeciaD Following
weeks of almost daily conferences by Congressman J.
Hardin Peterson with officials Of the farm credit ad-
ministration. a plan for assisting citrus growers to
rehabilitate their groves by the December freeze has
been worked out and goes into effect Immediately.
The plan as finally adopted was
after conferences with Florida growers and prominent
citrus factors headed by G. w. Lyons OF Tampa who
made numerous trips to Washington in behalf OF the
measure and to whom much credit Is due for its &C
ceptance by the administration
The loans viii be made for fertilizing, spraying.
busting or pruning citrus trees. The loans must be
made prior to June 30. however, and because OF this
restriction in time. Congressman Peterson literally
parked on the doorstep" OF the farm credit admin
istration here in an effort to expedite compilation Of
the necessary rules and regulations. He was noti-
fled within five minutes after they had been signed
by W. l. Myers, governor Of the farm administration,
and the regulations were Immediately sent by airmail
70 the Memphis regional office Of the emergency crop
loan division from where the necessary mortgage
forms, applications and other papers will be distri-
buted.
These arc strictly emergency" loans. however,
and If a grower can obtain assistance elsewhere. he
will not be eligible. One Of the requirements OF
eligibility Is that the farmer try TO get his loan through
n production credit association, and he must have a
written refusal from that organization in order to be-
come eligible for the emergency loan.
These loans will be diSburSed through county
agents or county loan committee in counties where
there are no county agents. The necessary forms