Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-06-26
Reduction in Crop
WLemons Needed,
. CaLifornians Aver

cast the temperature departures
from the normal very far IN adj
vance. 1t has been extremely diff
ficult, therefore, to so adjust the
shipments Of lemons from this state
as to have a large supply in the
markets as far as 5000 miles away
when the weather was unusually hot
and to have only a small supply
there when the weather was un-
usually cool. This Is the chief rea-
son why prices have fluctuated so
violently during the summer
months, and it is also the reason
why the price fluctuations have sell
dom been the same two years in
succession.
While it is almost impossible to
determine just when prices will be
high or low during a given year, il
is true that over a period Of years
prices are higher on the average in
the summer than in the winter.
Those sections Of the state. there
fore, that have been able to ship a
relatively large part OF their lemons
during the summer months without
undue loss from deterioration III
storage have received higher returns
on the average. In some instances
this price advantage has meant the
difference between a profitable and
an Improbable lemon district.
The available information indicates
that lemon production in Cali
fornia is now at about the peak.
While there may be a further in
crease in the average yield per acre,
due TO to- increased age of trees, 1t
IS not likely to be large. and il will
probably be largely offset by a de-
crease in the bearing acreage. Since
1925 the trend of bearing acreage
has been downward and this down.
ward trend is likely 70 continue.
The present non-bearing acreage OF
lemons in the state is not sufficient
to replace the bearing acreage that
will normally be taken out. If plant
ings ere no heavier during the COM
ing years than they have been in re-
cent years the normal decrease in
bearing acreage will gradually COR
rect the present situation of over
production. Such a remedy. how
ever, must necessarily be slow. And
with the ever present possibility OF
producing more lemons than can be
sold at profitable prices.
To remedy this situation Il is evil
dent that demand must be increased
or supply reduced. Both offer posi-
bilities. Some increases in demand
can probably be effected. but I'M
less some unusual developments oc-
u ii will be slow. Judging from the
experience Of the past 20 years. On
the other hand. the supply or lemons
available for consumption can be
Immediately reduced through linn
itation Of domestic shipments. This
has already been successfully DEM
onst-ated. If limitation Of Ship
ments is extended 70 include the en-
tire industry in the state it will be of
great value in the Temporary solu-
ton OF the problem. 1t should be
recognized. however. that limitation
OF shipments is q temporary and
not a permanent solution Of over
supply. The permanent solution re-
ouires a decrease in imports or a
reduction in acreage.
Would Stop Imports
A decrease in imports at this time
would be of considerable benefit TO
the California lemon industry in
that Il would enable the growers to
market a large proportion Of their
merchantable fruit which Is now
converted to by-products or dumped.
a decrease in imports taken by it
self would not necessarily mean that
growers would receive a higher price
per bcT for those shipped. but IL
would enable them to ship more
boxes at the same price as thev are
now receiving. which would add ma
terially to their total returns.
An mediate reduction in the lem
acreage in the state would be
helpful. There are unquestionably
many lemon trees on marginal land.
trees that will continue 10 bear for
years and thus add to the total sup
ply of lemons, but will probably new
or return the owners a profit ex-
cept in seasons Of unusually high
The sooner these trees are