CROPS AND NATIVE VEGETATION. 19 



instance of this disease in Texas, and that from the northern part of 

 the State (34). The die-back appears to be the most serious disease. 



Apricots are grown to some extent where peaches are found, but 

 are rather rare. Plums are not uncommon, but they are grown less 

 than peaches. The crop for 1909 was a failure, and this will explain 

 why the common brown-rot is not reported. The failure of the crop 

 is not, however, the explanation for the absence of " plum pockets," 

 since this disease appears to be absent during normal seasons. Black- 

 knot was not found in any of the localities visited, either on wild 

 or cultivated species. No cherries are grown in this territory, and 

 apparently the only portions of the State where they can be 

 successfully grown are the Panhandle country, the Llano Estacado, 

 and portions of the Red River Valley. 



Persimmons are not uncommon, especially in the eastern half of 

 the territory. The various Japanese varieties do well, but the lim- 

 ited demand has prevented their extensive planting. Figs are grown 

 throughout the eastern and more humid portion of the region, 

 although more favorable conditions are found in the humid coast 

 country extending from Beaumont to Brownsville. In many local- 

 ities visited the fig trees were killed back to the ground by the severe 

 winter, but they generally sprouted up again from the roots. Most 

 of the trees which were not killed failed to produce fruit on account 

 of the abnormally dry season. In many places the half-ripened 

 fruit dried up on the tree. For this reason no information is at 

 hand concerning the prevalence of fig diseases which attack the fruit. 

 Citrus fruits are grown to a limited extent in the extreme south- 

 eastern portion, in Victoria and Bee Counties, while some nurseries 

 farther north are growing large quantities of Citrus trifoliata stock 

 which is used for the propagation of the Satsuma orange, the variety 

 most commonly grown. Most of the plantings of citrus varieties are 

 only a few years old (33). The date palm is planted to some extent 

 in the citrus-fruit territory, but none of the trees are more than a few 

 years old. 



Grapes are quite generally grown throughout most of the territory, 

 and adapted varieties do well when properly cared for. The black- 

 rot is generally prevalent and is apparently responsible for many 

 of the failures which are attributed to drought. Strawberries can 

 be grown in most of the region in sufficient quantity for home con- 

 sumption, but the main strawberry region lies to the east in the more 

 humid section. In much of the drier portion of this area the plants 

 die out during the long dry period of the summer unless specially 

 protected or grown under irrigation. Blackberries are grown to 

 some extent, but they are relatively rare as compared with dew- 

 berries, which are extensively grown throughout the entire area. 



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