434 Journal of the Department of Agriculture. 



EXPORT OF CITRUS FRUITS. 



Investigations into the Cause of Wastage. 



JJiKiMi the past season tlu' Division of Boiany and I'laiil I'al liolo-^v 

 continued its investigations into tlie wastage of fruit, begun at Cape- 

 town in 1919 and which included an examination of the railway 

 trucks, Government cold stores, ships' cool chambers, and the 

 chambers of the Imperial Cold vStorage at Capetown,* the investiga- 

 tions this year covering the handling of the fruit from the orchard 

 to the London maiket. The results of these observations are now 

 jjublislied in Bulletin No. 2, 192.1, t under the title " Further Investi- 

 gations into the Cause of Wastage in Export Citrus Fruits from Soutli 

 Africa." 



The investigations show^ conclusively that, with ordinary care 

 and intelligent handling, it is possible to place South African citrus 

 fruits on the oversea markets with a minimum of waste. The precau- 

 tions necessary to attain this are clearly set out in the bulletin referred 

 to, which should be in the hands of all concerned, and hereunder 

 w^e give in summary form certain of the points brought to light. 



Orchards. — Th? percentage of citrus-rotting organisms shown 

 by the plates exposed was small. To reduce this, growers are advised 

 to remove and destroy all fallen fruits. 



Packing Sheds. — The examination in the packing sheds varied 

 with the condition in which the sheds were kept. In those sheds 

 where mouldy fruits had not been removed, and where returned boxes 

 showing evidence of lotten fruit were stacked, the contamination Avas 

 greatest. Although n certain amount of contamination due to citrus- 

 rotting organisnrs was found, this was by no means great, and with 

 moderate care in the removal of all contaminated fruits and used 

 fruit boxes, it is reasonable to suppose that these organisms could be 

 practically eliminated from the atmosphere of the sheds. The practice 

 of using packing sheds as stores Avhen no packing is going on is to be 

 condemned. It is suggested that the packing sheds be disinfected 

 before packing begins and after packing has stopped. 



Trucks. — In those examined no citrus-rotting organisms were 

 found, although in one case the truck was half filled with sacks of 

 oranges. The trucks could, with advantage, be kept free of kaffir 

 beans, coal, and straws, and be disinfected l>efore loading and after 

 oflt-loading, and used for nothing but fruit traffic. 



Boivirood. — Inoculation experiments showed that of all the fungi 

 obtained from the boxwood only two species produced a loi, and then 

 only when the wound through which inoculation was made was 

 sufficiently deep to allow- the escape of juice from the fruit. These 

 rots Avere never detected naturally in the packs. Xo danger is, there- 

 fore, likely to occur from the use of the new wood, Init a real danger 

 exist? in reusing boxes w^hich have carried any single mouldy fruit. 



* See Bulletin No. 2, 1920, "Wastage in Citrus Fruit shipped for Export," also Report 

 on "Cold Storage Conditions for Export Fruit at Capetown," in February, 1921, .Jotinial. 

 f Obtainable on application to this Office : Price Is. 6d. 



