98 



OKAKGE CULTURE. 



tiraes as hard usage after drying as when fresh from the tree. 



The operations of sorting and packing are, as we have inti- 

 mated elsewhere, of so vital an importance to the grower, as 

 affecting his profit or loss on his entire crop, that if he is unable 

 to perform them with his own hands, he should at least attend 

 them personally, and keep his eyes wide open. 



Oranges of one kind and one size should go in one box ; 

 not all sizes mixed together, as we have often seen. 



After being assorted, not only with regard to size, but also 

 as to bright or rusty, or half rusty, each orange should be wrap- 

 ped in a square of the manilla paper that comes prepared for 

 the purpose, already cut in graded sizes for wrapping the 

 various grades of oranges. 



This paper can usually be obtained from the nearest store, 

 l)ut always at Jacksonville, as can also the boxes for packing. 

 These last contain tw^o cubic feet, inside measurement, with a 

 middle division. They are delivered to the purchaser unmade, 

 the various j)ieces being put up in bundles, ready for nailing 

 together. 



In making these up, one side, rather than the top, should 

 be left off for greater convenience in packing the fruit, which 

 should be in layers, close together, so they will not shake about. 

 The top layer should project from a half inch to an inch above 

 the box, that when the side is nailed on it will press down 

 firmly, and so tighten the whole box, and prevent jarring, even 

 after the fruit has shrunk, as it will, inevitably, before reaching 

 a distant market. 



Be extremely careful to throw aside every specked or defect- 

 ive orange ; two or three in a box will ruin the whole lot. 



Let the oranges in every box be, as nearly as possible, of 

 uniform size, color and texture. 



The boxes containing large, fair, smooth-skinned fruit, 

 should be marked No. 1, large; coarse fruit, No. 2, large; next 

 size, with smooth, bright skins. No. 2, small. Rusty oranges, 

 or half rusty, should be marked No. 2, large, or No. 2, 

 small, as the case may be, with the word rusty or half rusty, 

 affixed. 



