Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-06-26

NOpcCldl 10 Inc deIdAO)
BERKLEY, Calf, June 2&-An
immediate and drastic reduction in
the acreage in lemon orchards is the
only permanent solution to the
problem OF an existing huge over
production. according to r. II. Well
man and E. w. Braun. writers OF a
booklet on the subject just issued
BY the A. a. M. College of California.
The only alternative Is an in
creased demand or curtailed i'm
ports, the writers say.
The summary Of the bulletin reads
rs follows:
The lemon industry of the United
States Is practically confined TO Cali
fornia. In this state there has been
a pronounced upward trend III pro-
duction during the past two decades.
The average production In 1903 as
measured by the line OF trend
amounted TO 100000 boxes; BY 1927
IL had risen to 6.5c0.000 boxes, an
increase Of 260 per cent. During the
first part Of this 20-year period
the increase in production was
offset by a decrease in imports, SO
that the total supply Of lemons
available for consumption was not
materially larger. But during re-
cent years imports have declined
only slightly. while domestic produc-
ton has increased as rapidly as be-
fore. Although exports have also
increased they have provided an
outlet for only a small part Of the
increase in domestic production.
Consequently there has been a very
substantial increase in the total
Mpply Of lemons available for con-
sumption in this country.
Demand Gains Slightly
The demand for lemons has not
kept pace with the rapid increase in
the supply. The p~er-capita con
sumption Of lemons during the past
seven years has averaged only 2.6
lemons. or 10 per cent. higher than
before the war. Probably the great
est part Of this small increase In per-
capita consumption has been the re-
suit Of improvement in the quality
and pack. wider distribution, extern
sive advertising. and the recommen-
dation by nutrition experts OF the
wider use Of lemons in the diet. The
relatively low prices Of lemons as
compared with the prices OF COM
modities in general have had but a
minor effect in increasing conSump-
ton. This is because the demand
for lemons tends to be inelastic.
People do not buy many more
lemons when prices are low. nor do
they greatly reduce their purchases
when prices are high. Consequently
a relatively small shortage in the
supply causes prices to rise rapidly,
while a relatively small surplus
causes them to drop rapidly.
Because Of the large increase in
California production there has been
a surplus during recent years when
ever the crop has been average or
above. This situation has resulted in
unurofitably low prices 10 growers.
and would have resulted in still low
err prices had all Of the lemons been
shipped that were produced. Not
only would the price per box have
been very much lower. but the total
return to the growers would also
have been materially reduced. The
experience during the past 20 years
has been that a small crop bring q
larger total return than a large crop,
other things such as imports and
temperatures being equal. This Is
the chief justification for limitation
Of shipments.
Summer Price Best
Although lemons are shipped ev-
cry month in the year. the heaviest
yupplies reach the consuming mar
kets during the summer months.
This Is also the period OF greatest
demand. People not only consume
three times as many lemons in the
summer as they do in the winter but
on the average they pay o for
them as well. The chief factor af-
fecting the demand for lemons in
the summer Is temperature. Hot
weather stimulates the demand. cool
weather retarcS 1t.
Temperatures. however. change
rapidly. and up to the present time
IL has seldom been possible 70 fore