406 THE MONTHLY BULLETIN. 



The United States Government Board of Food and Drug Inspection 

 has ruled (Decision No. 133) that oranges artificially colored in a 

 manner whereby inferiority is concealed are adulterated and subject to 

 confiscation when found in interstate shipments. 



This decision has accomplished a certain amount of good but it has not 

 put a stop to the shipment of worthless fruit for the reason that it 

 applies only to fruit which has been artifically colored. No matter how 

 sour and inedible an orange may be it may be shipped to market 

 provided it has not been sweated. Then too as long as sweating is 

 recognized as legitimate in certain cases it is very difficult to draw a 

 sharp line of distinction between the legitimate and the illegitimate. 

 "We find, therefore, that this ruling of the National Board of Food and 

 Drug Inspection is entirely too vague and indefinite to put an effective 

 stop to the shipment of green oranges. 



On June 13, 1913, the legislature of the State of Florida passed an 

 immature fruit law which went a good deal farther than the above 

 mentioned ruling and this law was enforced during the last shipping 

 season. This law may have some defects, but its general beneficial effect 

 will be at once apparent to anyone who will take the trouble to compare 

 the prices received for California and Florida oranges during the last 

 Christmas season. 



The Florida Immature Fruit Law. 



Regulation No. 1 provides that from September first till November 

 fifth of each year all oranges or grapefruit that are green in color, 

 while on the tree, or when detached from the tree previous to the time 

 of inspection, shall be considered immature and subject to the "acid 

 test." 



From September first till November fifth of each year, all oranges or 

 grapefruit "showing an average on the trees of one half yellow color, 

 indicating ripeness," or when detached from the tree not more than 

 forty-eight hours previous to the time of inspection, shall be considered 

 mature and not subject to the acid test. 



Provided that any oranges or grapefruit that have been detached 

 from the tree more than forty-eight hours previous to the time of 

 inspection and "which have been artificially colored by holding in a 

 warm moist atmosphere for a short period after removal from the tree 

 are colored in a manner whereby inferiority is concealed and therefore 

 are adulterated" and shall be subject to the "acid test," though one half 

 or more colored yellow. 



Regulation No. 2 prescribes the method by which inspectors are to 

 draw samples for testing. 



Regulation No. 3 describes the acid test and sets the following limits : 

 Oranges whose juice contains more than 1.30 per cent of acid shall be 

 considered immature. Grapefruit whose juice contains more than 1.75 

 per cent of acid shall be considered immature. 



Regulation No. 4 describes the preparation of the samples. 



Regulation No. 5 describes the application of the acid test. 



Regulation No. 6 gives inspectors the right of access to premises for 

 the purpose of taking samples. 



