SHIPMENT OF OEANGES FROM FLORIDA. 



43 



SEASONAL INFLUENCES ON THE OCCURRENCE OF DECAY. 



It has been tlie general experience that bhie-mold decay is more prevalent in Florida 

 during the early months of the shipping season than it is later. Losses are most severe 

 in December and January, the former month as a rule having the highest percentage 

 of decay. So characteristic has this early deterioration been in the past that growers 

 have become convinced that the underlying causes are not confined to improper 

 methods of handling, and that the loss is due to some disease other than blue mold. 

 Careful observation on the part of the bureau workers has shown this impression to 

 be incorrect. An analysis of the circumstances under which fruit is handled during 

 December shows that at that time of the year the conditions for the development of 

 blue mold are particularly favorable. Rains are more or less prevalent and the hu- 

 midity is generally high. It follows, therefore, that the type of handling which might 

 suffice under favorable weather conditions will not then prove satisfactory. 



In addition to bad weather conditions, the character of work done during the early 

 part of the season is undoubtedly less careful than what is practiced later on. Shippers 

 are in a hurry to get their fruit on the market in time for the holiday trade, and most 

 of the workmen have not had sufficient experience. It seems impracticable, in 

 Florida at least, to hold field and packing-house labor together throughout the year 

 and to maintain a permanent organization. New pickers must therefore be trained 

 each season, the same being true in the case of the packing-house labor, although 

 probably to a less extent. These factors tend to lower the standard of early handling 

 operations. 



All the experiments made by the Bureau of Plant Industry emphasize the impor- 

 tance of systematic organization of the labor forces and careful handling of the fruit 

 in every stage of its preparation for shipment. Every effort should be directed toward 

 maintaining the fruit in sound condition from the time it is picked until it is unloaded 

 at its final destination and placed in the hands of the consumer. During unfavorable 

 seasons, 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. 



In Tables XXI and XXII and figures 25 and 26, the percentages of decay occurring 

 during the months of December, January, and February in 1910-11 and 1911-12 are 

 presented. Table XXI and figure 25 show the decay in the carefully handled and 

 commercially handled experimental shipments on arrival in Washington during 

 December, January, February, and March, for both seasons. During December, 

 1910, the average percentage of decay in commercial shipments, on arrival at Wash- 

 ington, was 13.9 per cent. During December, 1911, the corresponding lots showed 

 9.4 per cent on arrival. The careful shipments during these months had 2.3 per cent 

 in 1910 and 1.3 per cent in 1911, respectively. 



Table XXI. — Blue-mold decay of oranges on arrival in Washington and after holding 

 for three weeks, by months, in 1910-11 and 1911-12. 





Careful pick 



Commercial ' 





Careful pick 



Commercial 



Time of exami- 

 nation. 



and pack. 



pick and pack. 



Time of exami- 

 nation. 



and pack. 



pick and pack. 



1910-11 1 



1911-122 



1910-111 



1911-122 



1910-111 



1911-122 



1910-111 



1911-122 



On arrival: 



Per ct. 



Per ct. 



Per ct. 



Per ct. 



After 2 weeks: 



Per ct. 



Per a. 



Per ct. 



Per ct. 



December... 



2.3 



1.3 



13.9 



9.4 



December... 



4.3 



2.1 



21.6 



14.1 



January 



.5 



.6 



6.8 



4.0 



January 



1.6 



1.4 



14.5 



10.1 



February 



.5 



.2 



6.2 



1.6 



February 



1.4 



1.0 



12.4 



9.6 



March 



.3 





5.0 





March 



1.0 





8.5 





After 1 week: 











After 3 weeks: 











December... 



3.4 



1.7 



19.1 



12.2 



December. . . 



4.4 



2.8 



22.2 



17.2 



January 



1.1 



.9 



11.4 



6.8 



January 



1.9 



2.2 



15.8 



13.5 



February 



.9 



.4 



10.2 



4.5 



February 



1.7 



2.0 



13.3 



14.2 



March 



.6 





7.3 





March 



1.2 





9.6 





1 The figures for 1910-11 Include 7 comparable shipments for December, 28 for January, 28 for February, 

 and 16 for March. 



2 The figures for 1911-12 include 8 comparable shipments for December, 39 for January, and 18 for 

 February. 



