434 CITRUS FRUITS AND THEIR CULTURE. 



the length of the sides and the thickness of the heads and 

 partitions should be so adjusted relatively as to give two 

 equal compartments in the box, each 12x12x12 inches. 



The Florida standard half box for sweet oranges and 

 pomelos is generally made by reducing the length of the 

 ordinary box so as to make it 14 inches long outside with 

 one-inch heads, or 13 3-4 inches outside with seven-eighths 

 inch heads. 



The mandarin oranges must be regarded as fancy 

 fruit and should therefore be placed on the markets in 

 smaller packages. For oranges of this group, the best 

 package is the strap, consisting of two half-boxes, packed 

 separately and strapped together with the tops inward. 

 When they have reached their market the half-boxes can 

 be taken apart and sold separately while the two together 

 can be shipped at the same rate as an ordinary sweet 

 orange box. 



It is conceded that the length and thickness of the 

 heads and partitions should be the same as the sweet 

 orange and pomelo box. Opinions differ, however, as to 

 the depth. Some hold that the inside measurement should 

 be six inches for each half, while others believe that it 

 should be 5 3-4 inches inside, so that when strapped together 

 they measure 12 1-2 inches outside, the same as the standard 

 sweet orange box. No rule can be laid down which should 

 govern in this matter, but the latter size is preferable, 

 particularly when mixed shipments of sweet oranges or 

 pomelos and mandarin oranges are made in carload lots. 

 If boxes of different outside measurements are used, it 

 complicates the loading of the car. 



In Louisiana, the China mandarin is a favorite va- 

 riety, and it is frequently shipped to the New Orleans 

 market in ordinary sweet orange boxes. The fruit is cut 



