64 

 CHAPTER XVII. 



GATHERING, PACKING AND SHIPPING THE ORANGE. 



In Europe these branches of the business belong to the merchant, 

 and are studied as an art. The merchant buys the fruit on the trees 

 either in bulk or by the thousand, counting 1040 as an M. But in this 

 country, and especially thus early in the history of orange growing, it 

 is well for the grower to understand this part of his business so well 

 that he can gather, pack and ship his own fruit without being left to 

 the mercy of speculators, many of whom are concerned only so far as 

 they may get the greater part of the profits. Ignorance of these 

 things has already occasioned large annual loss both to the producer 

 and buyer. The oranges from many groves have generally been 

 pulled off, the rinds of many torn in gathering them from the tree 

 and these oranges piled into a boat or cart and offered in bulk upon 

 the streets or in the markets for sale. They have never been cured nor 

 assorted. They are in no condition to be shipped. They cannot be 

 long kept in such condition. The huckster or buyer sees this, takes 

 advantage of circumstances, sometimes combining with others of his 

 class to put down the price, picks out the most indifferent fruit and 

 offers for the whole a price based upon this inferior sample. So far 

 as the producer is concerned the fruit is sacrificed, and especially if 

 the market be full. The grower should never put himself at the 

 mercy of such men, for even the tender mercies of such men are 

 cruel. If the grower will so gather, assort and pack his fruit that it 

 will keep for weeks or for months, as may be done, he need not be 

 driven to such sacrifices. 



As the fruit of a grove begins to ripen, let the gardener pass 

 through and taking tree by tree take from- it all fruit that shows such 

 defects as will lead him to conclude that it will never come to perfec- 

 tion. Let him gather all specked fruit. This can be done week after 

 week, always sleeting the ripest of such fruit. As such is the first to 

 ripen there is always a market for it, and rightly managed, at a paying 

 price. If such fruit is allowed to remain on the tree it will get no 

 better, and its presence will damage the fruit which should remain 



