The Apricot. 105 



ceniber, the second in May or June, and the third just be- 

 fore the fruit matures. 



140. Harvesting and packing. The fruits are commonly 

 €ut from the tree to avoid bruising. They are exposed to 

 the air two or three days for " wilting," after which they 

 are wrapped individually in tissue paper and packed in 

 boxes with moderate pressure. 



In Florida, and the delta region, harvesting of the early 

 varieties may begin in October, but in California the crop 

 is about a month later. The later varieties mature sev- 

 eral weeks after the earlier ones. All varieties may be 

 left on the trees for several weeks after maturity without 

 damage. 



141. Protecting trees from cold. In northern Florida 

 :and the delta region the trunks of orange trees are usually 

 banked from 1 to 4 feet high on the approach of freezes, 

 which are announced by the Weather Bureau some time 

 before their arrival. This saves the budded stem, but the 

 branches are often destroyed. Shoots will, however, grow 

 out rapidly from the protected part of the stem and the 

 trees Avill soon recover. Sheds of slats or canvas are 

 sometimes built over the trees in north Florida, and in 

 severe weather the air within these is heated by fire, or 

 kept from frost by spraying with water. 



142. Harmful parasites. The orange is comparatively 

 little injured by parasites or disease, with the exception of 

 scale insects, of which several species are injurious. For 

 these, various oils or caustic washes are used with more or 

 less success.' 



» Formulae for two of these washes are given in "Principles of Plant Cul- 

 ture." For several others, consult Wickson's " California Fruits." (Dewey & 

 do., San Francisco.; 



