34 



CALIFORNIA CITRUS CULTURE. 



PICKING. 



There are three things which must be carefully observed in picking 

 citrus fruit. First in importance is careful handling. This applies to 

 all kinds of citrus fruit. They must not suffer the least bruise, as any 

 wound forms a seed bed for the ever present blue mold spores, which 

 are terribly fatal to successful shipping; no clipper-cut wound; no 

 thorn-puncture, no bruise from rough handling. The uninjured skin 

 of an orange or lemon is resistant to the common process of decay. 

 Mr. C. C. Chapman called attention to this in his admirable lecture at 

 the Long Beach Seaside Institute about 1904. But until Dr. G. Harold 

 Powell demonstrated the importance of this care thousands of dollars 

 were lost, where there is now hardly any loss. 



Again, care as to the size is also important. Picking with a ring 

 makes this sure and easy. The orange box, which is 11 J by 11 1 by 24 

 inches, will hold as follows : 



The lemon box, which is lOf by 13 J by 25, will hold as follows : 



