SHIPMENT OF ORANGES PROM FLORIDA. 15 



require heat and moisture, and when these are present growth proceeds at a very rapid 

 rate. The blue-mold fungus has not the power to penetrate the sound living tissue of 

 a well-grown fruit; hence, there must be a break or an abrasion of some kind in the skin, 

 through which the disease may find an entrance. ^\Tien growth has once started, even 

 in. a small way, the fungus is capable of killing the surrounding tissues and thus produc- 

 ing material on which to grow. This process continues until the entire fruit is de- 

 stroyed. If, therefore, a fimgous spore is present and lodges in an injured spot, the 

 initial step toward decay has been taken, and if the temperature and moisture condi- 

 tions during the next few days are favorable, the development of the fungus proceeds 

 rapidly and the orange is almost sure to rot. Many experiments have been made in 

 California and Florida packing houses in placing spores on fresh injuries, and, without 

 exception, the characteristic decay has resulted. On the other hand, large quantities 

 of fruit have been held under weather conditions most favorable to the development of 

 decay, and the results prove that fruit which has been so carefully handled as to pre- 

 serve the skin in an uninjured condition shows practically no decay even when the 

 surface has been purposely covered with spores. The development of decay is most 

 rapid during warm, moist weather, fruit packed during a cool, dry period frequently 

 reaching the market without much waste even though injuries are present. Under 

 changed atmospheric conditions, the same fruit may arrive in a badly decayed condi- 

 tion. During an average Florida winter there are usually periodical warm spells. 

 Reports of general heavy decay at the market end can almost without exception be 

 traced to fruit packed and shipped during these warm periods. 



With this understanding of the nature and cause of the most common form of decay, 

 it becomes easy to see how the harvesting and handling methods may have an impor- 

 tant bearing on the keeping quality of the fruit. If these are such as to break the skin 

 or injure the orange, even slightly, favorable conditions for the development of blue- 

 mold decay exist and such decay is almost certain to result, as observation has shown 

 that the spores of the blue mold are present practically everywhere. It is safe to say 

 that most of the decay occurring in Florida oranges while in transit is due to blue mold. 

 There is some loss in transit from decay due to other forms of rot, but this is usually 

 very slight as compared with the loss from blue mold. 



CAUSES OF BLUE-MOLD DECAY. 



Since the principal means of securing oranges of good keeping quality is by elimi- 

 nating mechanical injuries to the fruit, the occurrence of decay is therefore closely 

 connected with the handling methods in use in the grove and packing house. 



Thorn punctures, which are made while the fruit is still on the tree, are among 

 the first injuries to which citrus fruits are subjected. These are generally unavoidable, 

 as during every wind storm a certain percentage of the fruit is injured by being blown 

 against thorns. The puncturing which occurs when the fruit is being picked may be 

 prevented, however, although it is frequently difficult to handle the oranges with 

 sufficient care to avoid pressure against thorns or dried twigs when these are present 

 in large numbers. Fruit is often bruised when the ladder is placed carelessly in the 

 tree or when the sack is allowed to strike or is pressed against the branches or ladder. 

 (PI. IX, figs. 1 and 2.) Moreover, filling the field boxes so high that the fruit pro- 

 jects above the top will result in crushing the oranges when the boxes are stacked 

 one on top of another. The oranges may be bruised on their way from the grove to 

 the packing house by being jolted over rough roads in springless wagons. The driver 

 of each wagon should be given a specially prepared seat and not allowed to sit upon 

 the fruit. 



Among the most common forms of injury may be mentioned scratches made by the 

 finger nails of the pickers and packers, each of whom should be required to wear 

 gloves. It is comparatively easy for packers, especially if their finger nails are long. 



