404 CITRUS FRUITS AND THEIR CULTURE. 



first in the market, whether the fruit is ready to ship or 

 not. 



For the early market, early ripening varieties should 

 be planted. If oranges and pomelos are removed from 

 the trees before they are matured, they assume a light 

 yellow color and an exterior appearance which may de- 

 ceive one into believing they are ripe, but they never ac- 

 quire the rich, delicate flavor of the fruit ripened on the 

 trees and, more than that, they generally have a decidedly 

 disagreeable bitter flavor. The taste and flavor of the fruit 

 first eaten, leaves no wish or desire to sample another. 

 The practice of picking and marketing green fruit can- 

 not be too strongly condemned. 



The early varieties of oranges, such as Early Oblong, 

 Parson Brown and Boone, should be picked just as soon 

 as matured. It is a fact that but few of the early oranges 

 ever equal the late varieties in quality and flavor, and 

 they become very flat and insipid if allowed to remain on 

 the trees after they reach maturity. The best rule is to 

 pick them immediately they have acquired their best fla- 

 vor. This, unfortunately, is often a little before they are 

 fully colored. 



In the case of mid-season and late oranges there is 

 a longer period during which they are in good condition 

 and there is much less danger of their deteriorating in 

 quality, because of over-ripeness. The period during which 

 they are in good marketable condition may extend over 

 a number of weeks and the grower has an opportunity 

 to market his fruit to better advantage. Mid-season and 

 late varieties should not, however, be picked until fully 

 ripened. The sugar content and quality gradually in- 

 crease up to the time of full maturity and if removed 

 from the trees before this time, the quality and flavor is 



