IN THE CITRUS INDUSTRY 39 



would unquestionably have to be increased several fold to 

 correspond with the facts, as the use of devices for frost 

 protection has tremendously increased since this investiga- 

 tion was made. 



Lemons cost considerably more to produce, averaging 

 $197.15 an acre, distributed $108.71 to materials and 

 $92.51 to labor.^' Other costs in the processes of putting 

 citrus fruits before the consumer are, by the box : 



Oranges Lemons 



Picking $ .077 $ .253 



Hauling 028 .039 



Packing 324 .596 



Freight 828 .840 



Refrigeration , 079 .026 



Selling 070 .070 



Total $1,406 $1,824 



On account of these heavy costs of producing citrus fruits 

 and placing them on the market a large yield is necessary 

 if the investment is to be profitable. An average of the 

 five year period 1906-07 to 1910-11 shows a yield of 157.6 

 packed boxes to the acre for oranges, and 196.2 boxes for 

 lemons. Thus the cultural cost for oranges is $.863 a box 

 and for lemons practically $1, and the total cost of oranges 

 when sold to the first distributor is $2.27 or, estimating 150 

 oranges to the box, is $.181 a dozen. For lemons the total 

 cost on the market is $2.82, or, estimating 300 lemons to 

 the box, is $.ioj4 a dozen. If these figures are accurate, 

 any boxes of oranges or lemons that sell for less than $2.27 

 or $2.82 respectively entail an actual pecuniary loss on the 

 California grower, in addition to returning no interest on 

 his investment. 



^* Citrus Protective League : Bulletin No. p, pp. 43-47. There is 

 an apparent discrepancy in the cost of producing lemons, the sum of 

 $108.71 and $92.51 being $201.22. However, $197.15 is the figure given 

 by the League. 



