THE LEMON IN CALIFORNIA— SIZES, HANDLING, ETC. 203 



"The above applies equally to oranges in their separate 

 treatment. There would be fewer complaints of fruit arriving 

 at its journey's end 'heated,' etc., if growers were more partic- 

 ular with regard to handling. 



"It has been specially noted, for instance, by the exchanges, 

 that during the wet months serious damage has ensued from 

 gathering oranges too early after a heavy rain, and in many 

 districts the 'washing and scrubbing' system has been added to 

 the already soft and soddened fruit conditions." 



LEMON SIZES— STANDARD BOX. 



The sizes of lemons packed for shipment differ from those 

 used in packing the orange for shipment. The sizes are 210, 

 240, 250, 275, 288, 300, 360, and 420. Occasionally larger and 

 smaller sizes are packed, should the market warrant their 

 shipment. Of the sizes named, the 300 and 360 are recognized 

 by the trade as regular sizes, and all others known as off sizes. 



The standard lemon box, and the one now generally used in 

 California is — 



standard Lemon Box, IOJ2" x 14" x 27". 



Ends 3 pieces 14" X lOK" X 14" 



Sides 2 pieces },^" :i. 9%" x 27" 



Tops and bottoms 4 pieces >i"x 6%"x27" 



Cleats _ 2 pieces %" x %"xim" 



COST OF HANDLING LEMONS. 



The cost of handling lemons from the tree to the car, without 

 including the expenses mentioned, was given to the Tariff Com- 

 mittee of Southern California as follows by N. W. Blanchard, 

 of Santa Paula: 



"Actual cost of picking, brushing, sorting, and packing 

 lemons, per box, including paper wrappers and boxes, for the 

 year 1896, as per account kept of same, was 63 cents. The box 

 used for lemons was the orange box. The standard lemon box 

 is fifteen per cent larger than the orange box, the standard 

 box being 104" x 14" x 124", inside measurements for each of 

 the two compartments. Adding fifteen per cent to the above 

 cost of 63 cents would make the cost of the standard lemon 

 box 72 cents. 



