3IO 



lulu was that difficult} had been experienced in packing it in 

 such a way as to allow it to arrive in the market in good condi- 

 tion. Much of the fruit was allowed to rot on the ground in 

 consequence of this. 



Judge Dole informed the last speaker that in order to insure the 

 arrival of citrus fruit at the market in good condition a process 

 called "sweating" was necessary. This was more or less elaborate 

 according to the fruit, but with oranges it merely consisted in 

 placing them m ordinary orange boxes which are so constructed 

 as to allow free evaporation on each side. The fruit was usually 

 picked from the trees and placed m the boxes Vv'here it remained 

 for about tv>"0 days. During this time the fruit exuded consid- 

 erable moisture, chiefly from the rind which became drier. After 

 two days the fruit was removed, allowed to dry and repacked. 

 The process required for lemons was more difficult to operate 

 successfully. The speaker suggested that in view of the very 

 general interest in the subject it would be well if the Hawaii 

 E'xperimient Station should make known the method of sweating 

 citrus fruit for market. 



Mr. Webster related that while in Florida he had visited the 

 orange packing establishments. The fruit was placed upon large 

 tables down which it rolled. /\t the bottom were holes of dif- 

 ferent sizes. The small ones were encountered by the fruit first, 

 and through these the smaller fruit passed. In this way the fruit 

 was graded into various sizes. Before packing each separate fruit 

 was wrapped in paper. The boxes were filled until about one 

 layer projected above the sides, when the lid was nailed down. 

 In this w^ay the oranges remained firmly held together and after 

 undergoing certain shrinking did not shake in the box. In north- 

 ern States, apples were subjected to much the same process, being 

 packed in barrels until well above the sides when slow pressure 

 was imposed until the top could be fastened down. 



Mr. Weinrich informed the meeting that he had frequently seen 

 citrus fruit in large quantities going to waste in orchards little 

 removed from the market. He regarded it as a reproach that 

 such a state of affairs should exist and instanced the case of a 

 large sugar plantation which, after going to considerable expense 

 in planting fruit trees, lost interest and allowed them to perish 

 from neglect. 



