, 1935-02-17
CITRUS SCHOOL
IS SUCCESSFUL

EDINBURG. Feb. l6.-The Texas
Citrus Institute held this week was
termed BY its sponsors and at
tendants as one OF the most sue
cessful citrus studies staged IN the
Lower Rio Grande Valley thus far.
The institute Is sponsored annually
by Edinburg junior college and Is
directed BY Frank r. Bingham, head
OF the department OF citriculture OF
the college.
The closing sessions, attended by
hundreds OF growers, heard nu-
merous timely and practical sug-
gesticnS made by speakers mtl-
mately acquainted With their SUBJ
lects concerning orchard care, cit
rus marketing and possibilities OF
the Valleys industry.
While several speakers conceded
generally the officially in MAIN
tanning prices for fruit which
would guarantee a fair and profit
able return TO the grower, they Of
fered suggestions which they be-
lieved would ASSIST in relieving the
situation.
Probably the most universally ac-
cepted was that Of GleT.n G.. White,
assistant secretary Of the Rio Grande
Valley Citrus Exchange Of WeSlaco,
largest Valley citrus cooperative
marketing agency White maintain
ed. as have other officials OF his
organization. that the quickest ana,
in all probability the most success
full immediate step that could be
taken would be a national adver-
Using campaign. His only alterna-
tive for continued delay OF the
advertising program Is clrtailment
OF production. considered difficult
If not Impossible.
In an interesting address Oh a
subject which has been widely dis
cuSsed at various times I'm the VAL
ley. Clinton Fraser. ST, general
manager OF the Delta Orchards
Development company OF Raymond
vile. proposed a merger OF the iour
co : operative marketing organlZa-
ton now operating IN the Valley
Rio Grande Valley Citrus Exchange
OIL WNNidAOr lEAA0 OANAA 10 4
Growers Exchange OF Mission. Mis-
sion Citrus association OF Mission
and Rio Grande Valley Citrus Grow
ers' association OF Mercedes. He Sug-
gested that a competent person, not
a Valley resident. be employed by
the co-operatiyeS 70 organize the
new cooperative which he would
have known ~ Texas Citrus EX-
change and arbitrate differences
arising within the industry itself
during the reorganization. he Sus-
Eested use OF reserves built up n
nuallv by the associations IN IL
nancing the new cooperative.
Fraser asked boards OF directors OF
the various ~co-operatives 10 con-
slider the suggestion at an early
cate and requested consideration OF
the proposal by Valley newspapers.
A study OF national and world
consumption Of grapefruit ana
oranges was made and reported by
j. B. Corns. horticulturist at TeAAs
College OF Arts g. Industries IN
Kingsville. Corns told the institute
that grapefruit and orange con-
sumption in both this country and
abroad Is steadily increasing and
that citrus IS taking American
markets formerly occupied almost
exclusively by apples and other
fruits which have long been recog-
rized Us staples or the markets.
j. L. Held. United states chemist
al the Valley Citrus By-Products
Laboratory in Weslaco. explained
the new method OF quick-ireezlng
citrus for preservation and indi-
Gated the possibility OF utilizing this
method Of furthering the sale OF
citrus.
Texas and California citrus x
perts contributed their knowledge
OF certain phases OF citriCulturc TO
the Institute. Dr.. Robt. w. TodgSOn,
Of the University OF California.
Riverside. discussed the essentials
necessary in successful citriculture.
while DR.. j. j. Taubenhaus, plant
pathologiSt at Texas A.. g. NJ. Col
lege. al College Station. revealed
his work in connection with citrus
root rot.
Pending legislation concerning
the Texas green fruit maturity law
was discussed and explained by j.
r. Wood of WeSlaco. horticulturist
o. the Texas Department OF Agri-
culture. o. II. Stugard OF san Juan,
president OF the newly organized
Texas Citrus Growers League. ex-
planned the purposes OF the org
anizatioh and matters affecting the
citrus industry with which II is now
directly concerned.