LOCALLY-GROWN LEMONS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 3, Issue 282, 12 March 1941, Page 4

LOCALLY-GROWN LEMONS

Sir,—l notice in the daily press that there is much ado over the importation of Americart I hope none of these lemorfijffl^" their way into the semi-tropical district inhabited by readers of THE BAY of PLENTY BEACON.

Every householder who is intelligent enough to read the BEACON; should also have lemon trees in his or her garden or orchard—whetlier in town or country. You, Mr Editor, have visiljd my place and sampled the lemons as big as your fist growing on the 20 year old trees not many miles from the BEACON Office. What a pity every settler did not also plant lemon trees. We have lemons- going to waste. Correct me, if I am wrong, Mr Editor, but I believe that we eannot sell our lemons, owing to the Government regulations which seem to be a doubtful benefit to the commercial lemon growers and the lemon-consuming public. But why buy lemons at 2d each when every reader of the Beacon can grow lemons ? Ail over the district people have ieraon trees, which are both useful and ornamental. Unfortunately so many householders and farmers lack the knowledge or energy to buy legion trees (costing a few shillings each) and to get a shade and plant the said trees. . Have you a lemon tree in your garden, Mr Editor ? If not, I hope you will make amends next planting season, even if you. are not in .residence there when the tree is bag! enough to bear fruit. Let 'us all grow lemons and be independent of American lemons and/or Govern-ment-controlled lemons! What a fine thing it would be if the newlyrevived Whakatane Chamber b!l? .Commerce started a "Plant-lemons-for Health" campaign, and organised a house to house canvass to encourage every householder to plant at least two lemon trees this winter ! What a great advertisement for Whakatane''s climate. £ How much better the new State houses would be if there were a couple of lemon trees wi'h beautiful evergreen foliage on the lawns! AIB right, gentle reader, laijgh at this if you like, but I will have the last laugh as I picic my home gro>wn lemons all the year round (so it seems) while you pay 2d each for yours when you have a touch of the 'flu. Can you make a rough calculation as to how many Ohope residents have gon,e in for citrus growing in a small way ? Surely there is 110 more ideal location for lemons round the house than Ohope, where the cliffs shut off all cold winds. After all, Mr Editor, your district has a mild climate, and it is up to everyone who occupies even a quarter acre to be a lemon grower (and consumer). Yours etc., U H MONL'