56 



when filled emptied into the field boxes, which in turn can be carted 

 to the packing house instead of the fruit being bulked in a cart as 

 is done at present. Citrus fruits should at all times be handled as 

 carefully as eggs ; in picking, if an orange should drop on the 

 ground destroy it at once, do not let that orange get in your pack 

 as it will be sure to rot and contaminate others. If possible clip 

 the oranges directly from the trees as by doing this the buds imme- 

 diately behind the oranges, which will form the growth for 

 the succeeding crop, are not destroyed as is done when a part of the 

 stem is picked from the tree along with the fruit. After pick- 

 ing, oranges should be placed in thin layers in the packinghouse, 

 remaining thus for at least four days before packing and grape 

 fruit at least a week ; by that time the skins have become tough and 

 all bruises are easily recognised. All fruits bearing these marks 

 should be discarded. The fruit is now ready for packing opera- 

 tions. First all fruit should be divided into three classes, brights or 

 fully ripe and clean, secondly, fully ripe but discoloured or russet, 

 and thirdly, greenish fruit ; then each of these grades must be 

 sized and packed separately. Now wrap in tisssue paper, if pos- 

 sible bearing the packer's Trade Mark, then pack in Standard 

 size boxes, each box holding according to the size of orange or 

 grape fruit the following number of fruit. The standard packs for 

 oranges are 96, II2, 126, 150, 176, 200, 216, 225, 250 ; smaller 

 oranges than these are generally classed as unmarketable. Grape 

 fruit are packed in the following sizes. 



The method of placing oranges in the box to get them to hold 

 the exact quantity is illustrated by the following diagrams* : — 



A B 



1 Packing flfi totliebox: four layers, 

 alternating, as in A and B. 



A B 



2 Packing 112 to the box : four 

 laj'ers, alternating, as in A and B. 



A B 



H — Paclcing 126 to the box; firsf, 

 third and fifth layer as in A, and 

 second and fourth layer as in B. 



A B 



4 — Packing 1.50 to the box ; five 

 layers, alternating, as in A and H. 



'See Bulletin of the Botanical Department, December, 1895, page 283. 



