Sorry for not being here and assisting Basil'nDave lately, but my help was required in the Riverland. An elderly citrus block owner (chap has 2 artificial knees) was at a crisis stage due to the water restrictions etc; so me and another bloke spent a swag of days up there hedge trimming his trees (Navels), this trimming reduces the foliage area and thus reduces transpiration from too many leaves. This will possibly allow him a water saving and also reduce summer stress on the trees. What a sorrowful sight of the district with hundreds of dying Valencia orange trees. Others laden heavy with fruit and with non profitable markets the fruit is allowed to just drop and rot. And here we are, allowing the import of fruit & pulp juice from California & Sth America. Paul Keating was correct in his statement of Australia becoming a 'Banana Republic'........ Please excuse my anger, but I wish the media would expose this to the consumers to then protest to the authorities for allowing such importing.
Anyway...I'm back on board now..tired, but feel chuffed seeing the old blokes joy of the work we did for him.
dave06 said
10:53 AM Sep 6, 2008
Ahhhhh!!! another ole mate rejoins, we missed you griz, I agree wholeheartedly, I have been and still am a "murray river wanderer" and it breaks my heart to see the devastation that is being wrought upon the growers and the towns as well as the river simply so that multinational corporations can grow cotton and rice, good to see the old adage of help a mate is still well and truly alive, anyway good to have you back and well, I was a bit concerened about your well being also.
Basil Faulty said
05:10 PM Sep 7, 2008
It's Ok Grizzly to take a breather once in a while.... Dave & I have broad shoulders and can handle all the stick they hand out here..... I too grow citrus her in Canberra, last season I had 4 mandarins and 1 navel orange on my trees, mind you they are bonsai....
An elderly citrus block owner (chap has 2 artificial knees) was at a crisis stage due to the water restrictions etc; so me and another bloke spent a swag of days up there hedge trimming his trees (Navels), this trimming reduces the foliage area and thus reduces transpiration from too many leaves. This will possibly allow him a water saving and also reduce summer stress on the trees.
What a sorrowful sight of the district with hundreds of dying Valencia orange trees. Others laden heavy with fruit and with non profitable markets the fruit is allowed to just drop and rot. And here we are, allowing the import of fruit & pulp juice from California & Sth America.
Paul Keating was correct in his statement of Australia becoming a 'Banana Republic'........
Please excuse my anger, but I wish the media would expose this to the consumers to then protest to the authorities for allowing such importing.
Anyway...I'm back on board now..tired, but feel chuffed seeing the old blokes joy of the work we did for him.
I too grow citrus her in Canberra, last season I had 4 mandarins and 1 navel orange on my trees, mind you they are bonsai....