EFFECTS OF FREEZES ON CITRUS IN CALIFORNIA 259 



FRUIT STORED IN WARM ROOM 



After After After 



Initial 4 days 8 days 16 days 



Unfrozen oranges 0.848 0.874 0.920 0.926 (Maximum) 



Frozen oranges 0.842 0.842 0.816 0.729 



Unfrozen lemons 0.943 0.979 1.006 (Maximum) 



Frozen lemons 0.811 0.691 



The absence of change in the first interval in the case of the frozen oranges 

 is due to the fact that a gain in specific gravity in some individuals counter- 

 balanced a corresponding loss in others. After the first four days nearly all 

 individuals showed a decrease. 



By picking separately a quantity of fruit from different parts 

 of an injured grove and different parts of certain trees, and storing 

 it in a warm dry room at a temperature of from 85 to 100 F. within 

 six to ten days the changes have become marked and an examination 

 will enable an accurate estimate to be made of the damage. 



Effect on Quality and Uses of the Fruit. Oranges that were frozen 

 sometimes developed a bitter taste after the freeze. This, however, 

 was by no means universal, and later this bitterness disappeared. 

 Even when no bitterness was produced the flavor was affected, becom- 

 ing gradually less rich. No harmful ingredients developed, however, 

 and the oranges were very generally eaten so long as they remained 

 juicy and palatable. So much was said immediately after the freeze 

 regarding the possible injury to health that might result from the 

 eating of frozen fruit that this point should be strongly emphasized. 

 In California and Florida and indeed in practically every orange 

 country, frozen fruits have from time to time been used in large quan- 

 tities without injury. The evidence on this matter is so extensive 

 that we may conclude, without fear of contradiction, that under all 

 ordinary conditions frozen fruit may be eaten with the same impunity 

 as normal, unfrozen fruit. So long as the frozen oranges remain juicy 

 and palatable they may be considered as a wholesome article of food. 



Effect on Foliage. The fruit of citrus trees is more tender than 

 other parts of the trees with the exception of the tender young growth 

 (fig. 6). Next to the fruit in tenderness are the leaves and then the 

 wood. There were areas during this freeze where all of the fruit on 

 lemon trees was frozen and the trees still retained 50 per cent or more 

 of their foliage. Many acres of orange groves had all of the fruit 

 frozen without any loss of matured foliage. 



Effect on Wood. Young trees, of course, suffered more than older 

 trees, and young parts of trees more than older parts (fig. 6). The 

 parts of the bearing trees that had been of faster growth were injured 



