38 THECUB A REVIEW 



RULES FOR PICKING AND PACKING ORANGES 

 AND GRAPEFRUIT 



VALUABLE COUNSEL FROM EXPERTS 



The United States Department of Agriculture has just published a bulletin entitled "Factors 

 Governing the Successful Shipment of Oranges from Florida." The data contained in this 

 bulletin apply to Cuba, and the suggestions are worth preserving for constant reference. 



Only a small part of the Government's bulletin is given here, which has been printed and 

 issued by the Cities Protection League of California for the instruction of its members. 



Clippers with rounded or blunted points should be supplied. These should be frequently 

 inspected by the foreman to prevent their becoming dull or loose at the joint. 



"Picking sacks of heavy material, which have partially closed mouths, allowing the fruit 

 to be emptied from the bottom, and having a capacity of not more than half of a large standard 

 field box, should be used. 



"Pickers should not pull the fruit from the tree. All oranges should be severed bj^ means 

 of the 'double cut.' 



"Fruit should be placed carefully in the picking sack and not dropped or tossed in. 



"The picking sack should be lowered into the field box and the oranges allowed to roll out 

 gently without appreciable drop. 



"No fruit should be picked up from the ground and placed in the field boxes. 



"Smaller field boxes of lighter materials are recommended. 



"The fruit should not project above the top of the field box, and the latter should be trans- 

 ported to the packing house on a spring wagon. The driver should be given an especially 

 prepared seat and not allowed to sit on the fruit. 



"Each picker and packer should be required to wear gloves. 



"Picking receptacles, field boxes, and packing bins should be kept free of gravel, twigs, 

 splinters, protruding nails, or other foreign matter. 



"The desirable hopper is small, has padded sides, and allows the fruit to be emptied gradually 

 by means of moving belts. The fruit should not fall by gravity at any stage of its journey. 



"Wherever washing is not absolutely necessary in order to render the fruit marketable it 

 should be omitted. 



"Water in the soaking tank should be frequently changed, and sprays of fresh water should 

 be directed against the fruit as it passes through the washing machine. 



"The best type of washing machine has the fruit in plain sight at all times, allows no pressure 

 on the oranges save that afforded by their own weight, does not allow the fruits to tumble 

 over or against each other, and does not allow twigs, thorns, nails, etc., to become lodged in 

 the runway through which the fruit must pass. 



"Fruit should never be packed while moist. An artificial drier in which a warm air 

 blast is circulated around the fruit seems to be a necessity from the standpoint of thorough 

 work and careful handhng. 



"The sawdust method of cleaning gi'apefruit is ineffective as well as highly injurious. 



"Loose packs of fruit are more Uable to be injured in transit than those of medium height 

 with every orange firmly in place. 



"Decayed fruit should not be left in the boxes or allowed to accumulate on the floor or under 

 the packing bins in the packing houses. 



"Curing is unwise, as the delay increases the chance for the infection of bruises or injured 

 spots and facihtates the development of decay before shipment and in transit. 



"When warm and humid weather is prevalent, frequent thorough inspections of the various 

 operations through which the fruit passes are most essential. Instead of lowering the standard 

 at this time, it is extremely important to approach the ideal as closely as possible. 



"Precooling may not safely be depended upon to offset decay following mechanical injuries 

 due to improper methods of handling the fruit when preparing it for shipment, but it is a 

 valuable and legitimate means of insuring arrival on the market in sound condition after each 

 grower, packer, and shipper has done his share in properly handling the fruit." 



EARNINGS OF THE SANTIAGO ELECTRIC Fruit and Vegetable Shippers 



LIGHT AND TRACTION COMPANY It will pay you to allow us to handle your account in 



New York. We make a specialty of Cuban products 



1914 1913 and sell everything at PRIVATE SALE. We da 



, , , „„_ „ „ NOT use the auction. Write for stencil and market 



March, gross $37,928 $37,713 information. 



March, net 17,917 16,652 j. pratt carroll, inc.. 



First 3 months, gross .. . 111,613 114,132 367-369 Washincton street. New York City 



First 3 months, net 54,333 51,470 "The House thai Satisfies" 



