396 THE MONTHLY BULLETIN. 



Handling. 



There are few growers but know how to do better work than is gen- 

 erally done. This is applicable to the handling of the fruit, as well as 

 doing orchard work. 



After a fine orange is grown it must be properly handled, and wise 

 and prudent business methods used in marketing it. Growers in gen- 

 eral have learned many valuable lessons along these lines during the 

 ]")ast few years, and yet there are problems to be solved if we are to 

 enjoy the degree of success I believe we are entitled to. A grower 

 should be so familiar with his orchard that he knows just where the 

 weakest fruit is grown, and then see that this is the first put on the 

 market. By giving some attention to this feature, the entire crop 

 may be marketed profitably. 



While we grow a hardy orange in California, in this respect as in all 

 others, and better than any other orange grown in the world, yet care 

 in handling all along the line must be observed. To begin with, it must 

 be properly picked. This demands great care. Since Mr. Powell's 

 investigation into the damage done by clippers, there has been marked 

 improvement in picking, there being at present but little clipper-cut 

 fruit brought into the packing-houses. The genius of the inventor 

 has given us a greatly improved clipper, but in the use of any kind, a 

 certain amount of intelligence must be brought into play and the clipper 

 itself must be kept in condition. 



The same observation may be made of ladders. Some growers have 

 the impression that any old thing upon which a person can climb will 

 answer. A good ladder, however, is essential. It should be light, well 

 balanced, and with comfortable steps, and should be long enough to 

 reach above the trees, so that it will not break through the top. 



Only picking bags of proper size and in good condition should ever 

 be used and a regularly prepared picking box should be used in the 

 field. Oranges cannot be handled with the necessary care in an ordi- 

 nary packing box. In hauling from the orchard to the packing-house, 

 wagons suitable and provided with springs should be used. 



The whole process of the handling of the orange demands intelligent 

 care and the grower or packer who would be successful must always 

 bear in mind that a cut, puncture or bruise is an irreparable damage 

 to the orange. No orange so injured should ever be put into a box for 

 shipment. It is much cheaper to throw it away here, than to pay for 

 packing and freight to some distant eastern market, only to have it 

 thrown out there by some disgusted buyer. 



After the fruit is brought into the packing-house, it should be kept 

 for a time before packing. The length of time will depend upon the 

 variety, its condition and the weather, both as to humidity and tem- 

 perature. The fruit, however, should be properly cured before pack- 

 ing. This is imperative with the Valencia, and will prove a great aid 

 in putting up a good pack. In this way also we are better enabled 

 to eliminate injured fruit. 



