156 Oranges and Lemons of India. 



is injurious to the fruit when in bulk. It then soon 

 moulds, and goes bad. This keeping property is im- 

 portant, as far as the Calcutta trade is concerned. So 

 that the finest oranges, with delicate thin skin, are 

 mostly kept for local consumption, as they don't bear 

 transport well. Even of the thicker skinned ones, 

 which are sent to Calcutta, a certain percentage rots as 

 they are sent in heaps in boats. No mode of packing 

 was used to prevent them from spoiling on the way. 



The oranges at the " Phalli " Bazar were of inferior 

 quality (as far as keeping properties were concerned), 

 being thin-skinned and small, but of exquisite 

 sweetness and flavour. They were, therefore, all sold 

 locally and quickly. At the ghat their price was 

 Rs. 6 per sou (3,000), being less than the Shalla 

 oranges, at the groves, and yet in the case of the 

 " Phalli " oranges, Rs. 6 includes the labour of cultiva- 

 tion as well as carriage, at the rate of ten men to a 

 sou. A Khasia reckoned his labour worth 8 annas 

 ' per day, and as only half his day must be reckoned, 

 the remaining half being occupied with victuals, it 

 would appear the oranges might be sold at the 

 poongees at the rate of about 15 for a pice. Mostock 

 is immediately above Shalla, at about 1,000 feet eleva- 

 tion. Mr. Brownlow got very good oranges there at 

 eight for a pice. From some of the poongees, as 

 well as from the Mhowmloo Valley, oranges are carried 

 to Cherrapoongee, where, when in season, they sell at 

 five to eight for a pice, and are of a delicious thin- 

 skinned variety. At Cherra, they may be had a month 

 or more after they are out of season. These late 

 oranges, which are much relished by some, sell some- 

 times at one pice* each. 



From 1869 to date, I have no other information 



* A pice is about one farthing. 



