an Insect destructive to Oranges. 477 



6' 



The quantity of oranges annually imported into England, amounts to 

 about from 90,000 to 100,000 chests, of which the greatest part comes 

 from the Azores. Of the quantity imported, however, only about two- 

 thirds are of use, as the orange-merchants calculate on a total loss of 

 one-third of their average importations ; and indeed it frequently hap- 

 pens that whole cargoes arrive in such a state of decay as not even to sell 

 for the value of their freight, so that the London merchant, if not in- 

 sured, incurs, in addition to this loss, all that of the first cost and ship- 

 pers' charges. As, however, he calculates on the sound cargoes making 

 up the loss, and leaving him a profit on the whole of his importations, 

 it is clear that the real burden falls on the public, who are thus obliged 

 to pay nearly a third more for the oranges they consume, than they would 

 do on the supposition of the cargoes remaining sound. When it is con- 

 sidered that this increase of price affects one of the most esteemed and 

 refreshing of fruits, it becomes a matter of some little interest to inves- 

 tigate the causes of their decay, and if possible to remedy it. A great 

 object will indeed be gained, if we can point out any one of these causes, 

 inasmuch as the first great step towards removing an evil is to understand 

 thoroughly its cause. I believe the prevalent idea on the subject to be, 

 that the arrival of a cargo of oranges in an unsound state results from 

 their being, while on the voyage, necessarily stowed away where there 

 can be no free circulation of air ; and without doubt where decay has 

 once begun, it cannot fail to be hastened by this circumstance. It is, 

 however, easy to perceive, that were this the sole cause in which the de- 

 cay of oranges originates, all cargoes on their arrival would be nearly in 

 the same state, whereas orange-merchants experience not only that some 

 arrive totally destroyed, and others wholly sound, but that the soundness 

 of the cargo varies with the season, and even with the year. Thus the 

 decay of oranges was much greater in 1822 than in 1823, and it was 

 again much more considerable in 1824. Making all due allowance, 

 therefore, for the effect of the heated and confined air in the hold of a 

 vessel, I conceive the mischief to originate chiefly in the oranges being 

 unsound when shipped ; for a general remark made by the orange-mer- 

 chants is, that the St. Michael oranges rot much sooner than those from 

 other parts of the world, and that the average proportion of decayed 



