41 



CHAPTER XII. 



HARVESTING AND PACKING. 



Along the Murray Valley, in normal years, man- 

 darins ripen in June and July, the Washington Navel 

 during June, July, and August, and the Valencia 

 Late during October and November, but the last- 

 mentioned variety will often hang on the trees until 

 the end of the year. 



Oranges should not be picked until they are well 

 colored, as if gathered and placed upon the market 

 while the skin is still partly green the acidity of the 

 fruit has a detrimental effect on both the demand 

 and selling value. 



In picking oranges secateurs are generally used. 

 The fruit is first severed from the tree with a stem 

 of twig about an inch in length adhering to it. This 

 stem is then carefully removed by cutting it off as 

 closely to the skin as possible without injuring the 

 rind, and the orange is then placed in the picking 

 bag or receptacle used for holding the fruit. 



The use of the double cut has been found to result 

 in speedier and neater harvesting operations than 

 if it is attempted to sever the fruit from the tree by 

 cutting quite close to the rind by means of a single 

 cut in among the branches and leaves of the tree. 

 The object of cutting the stem away quite close to 

 the fruit is because if it is left projecting it is apt to 

 injure the other oranges while standing in the picking 

 tins or boxes by piercing or otherwise injuring the 

 rind. 



Oranges are either firstly picked into picking bags, 

 or placed into picking tins or picking boxes direct. 



