CHAPTER XXII. 



GATHERING, PACKING, AND SHIPPING THE ORANGE. 



N Europe these branches of the business belong 

 to the merchant, and are studied as an art. The 

 merchant buys the fruit on the trees either in bulk 

 or by the thousand, counting 1040 as an M. But 

 in this country, and especially thus early in the his- 

 tory of orange growing, it is well for the grower to 

 understand this part of his business so well that he 

 can gather, pack, and ship his own fruit without be- 

 ing left to the mercy of speculators, many of whom 

 are concerned only so far as they may get the great- 

 er part of the profits. Ignorance of these things 

 has already occasioned large annual loss both to 

 the producer and buyer. The oranges from many 

 groves have generally been pulled off, the rinds of 

 many torn in gathering them from the tree, and 

 these oranges piled into a boat or cart and offered 

 in bulk upon the streets or in the markets for sale. 

 They have never been cured nor assorted. They 

 are in no condition to be shipped. They cannot 

 be long kept in such a condition. The huckster or 

 buyer sees this, takes advantage of circumstances, 

 sometimes combining with others of his class to 

 put down the price, picks out the most indifferent 



