198 STATE BOARD OF HORTICULTURE. 



plenty of fresh air circulating about it, at a temperature 

 between 60 and 70, seems to us to be the essential condition 

 for the best success in holding lemons. Shade will greatly help 

 in keeping down temperature, and is, by some, thought to be 

 equal to a double wall. Means should be provided, by doors, 

 windows, or ventilators, for thoroughly changing the air every 

 night, unless in very damp weather, when it might be advisable 

 to air in daytime. Fruit should not be allowed to wilt before 

 putting away, but the boxes should be left somewhat open for 

 a time, varying according to the conditions of the place in 

 which they are, to allow surplus moisture to pass off. The top 

 boxes should be well covered so that the fruit will not dry out 

 and thus become worthless. It is desirable to retard what is 

 known as the curing process as long as possible, so each grower 

 should study the conditions of his house, and have as little 

 evaporation as possible, without allowing moisture to collect 

 on the fruit. This will also prevent the fruit's getting soft. 

 Stacking fruit in large piles without spaces between should be 

 avoided, although we have known it to keep well for a time in 

 that way, when it was not in a close room. Medium-sized 

 houses seem to be preferable. To be in ideal condition the 

 fruit should come out firm, with stems fast and green. This 

 will not be the case if fruit heats or sweats. The fruit should 

 be placed so that it can be inspected occasionally, that defects 

 may be remedied. 



lt Having said this much, any description of a house will be 

 unnecessary, as such a one as will meet the requirements of 

 each grower will readily suggest itself. I might say. however, 

 that a sloping roof inside with air holes at ridge will give 

 better ventilation than a flat ceiling. We deem it desirable, if 

 not essential, that each grower hold his own fruit. 



"A word as to the fruit. All that has ever been said as to 

 the need of carefully handling the fruit should have full 

 weight. The trees should be kept clean. The fruit cannot be 

 at its best if the trees are infested with scale and the fruit has 

 to be washed; but should that be the case, the lemons should, 

 by all means, be brushed or washed when taken from the trees. 

 The fruit should be looked over carefully and the inferior, 

 dark-colored, and small-sized kept by themselves with a view to 

 earlier marketing. Fruit carefully picked and properly stored 

 under right conditions, if uninjured by frost, will need very 



