"Klara" wrote in message
...

Came across an article about fruit trees in Hungary. Apparently in the
first half of the last century fruit trees were planted along many roads
in Hungary, on the principle that if there were to be trees anyway, they
might as well bring some refreshment to the (at the time) foot-weary
traveller.

Someone was asking: what happened to the trees? Seems that those that
survived were grubbed up, for three sad reasons: First, because even
though at the time they bore excellent fruit without much intervention,
they would now need heavy spraying to achieve the same. Second, because
of the exhaust, which would contaminate the fruit. And third, because
were a single caterpillar to fall on the top of a lorry, it would no
longer be allowed across national borders.

So, no more cherries for free (or plums, or peaches, or apples, or,
apparently, mulberries....)


When I was stationed near Osnabruck in northern Germany in the 70s, there
were a couple of roads near us where the cherries were there and everyone
helped themselves to them. We first discovered them when we came round a
bend in the road, and several cars were parked under the trees with people
standing on the car roofs picking the cherries. We joined them, natch. I
almost felt sorry for the people with the newish car who didn't want to
spoil it by standing on the roof.


Almost :-))

Steve