THE LEMON IN CALIFORNIA — TREATMENT. 205 



" The lemons are picked frequently, if there are any suitable 

 to pick, so as to prevent having over-large and over-ripe fruit. 

 I generally use a ring two and one quarter inches in diameter, 

 and take all that will not pass through it. 



" The lemons are cut close to the fruit, handled very care- 

 fully, hauled from the orchard in a truck on springs, washed 

 immediately if smutty or dusty, then placed on trays, and from 

 one to ten days afterward piled away for keeping, if they are 

 to be kept or need the darkness to color. If already colored 

 and needed for immediate consumption, the trays are cross 

 piled, so as to give them all the air possible. If for remote 

 shipment, the lemons should be shipped quite hard, and even 

 a little green, for they will cure in transit or in the hands of 

 the jobber and retailer.'' 



T. J. Ashby, Secretary of the Pasadena Lemon-Growers' 

 Association, in a report to the association, says: 



"The stems must be cut close, but care must be taken not to 

 cut, scratch, or bruise the fruit. It is found that many culls 

 are made by careless clipping and long finger-nails. 



"The desirable sizes are the 360's in summer and the 300's 

 in winter. These measure 2-|- and 2i to 2| inches. Lemons 

 above and below are graded, subject to the discretion of the 

 manager. 



" Lemon groves should be picked over once a month. Use 

 padded baskets or pails, into which the fruit should be laid, 

 not dropped or thrown, then carefully transfer to boxes placed 

 in the shade. 



"Pick before irrigation or wait several days. Never pick 

 lemons moist from fog or dew, or leave them unprotected after 

 gathering. 



"Haul to the warehouse on easy springs; drive carefully and 

 have the lemons covered to protect from dust and sun. We 

 advise delivering or placing in barn or shed as soon as possible 

 after picking. 



"Smutty fruit received will be washed or sponged at the 

 expense of the grower. Members have the option of doing this 

 for themselves, but it is well to remember that spraying or 

 fumigating is much less of an expense. 



"It will pay the grower to cull his own fruit and not be 

 forced to haul it both ways. Experience will soon show a 

 novice what to reject. 



