SHIPMENT OF ORANGES FROM FLORIDA. 15 
require heat and moisture, and when these are present growth proceeds at a very rapid 
rate. The blue-mold fungus has not the power to penetrate the sound living tissue of 
a well-grown fruit; hence, there must be a break or an abrasion of some kind in the skin, 
through which the disease may find an entrance. When growth has once started, even 
in a small way, the fungus is capable of killing the surrounding tissues and thus produc- 
ing material on which to grow. This process continues until the entire fruit is de- 
stroyed. If, therefore, a fungous spore is present and lodges in an injured spot, the 
initial step toward decay has been taken, and if the temperature and moisture condi- 
tions during the next few days are favorable, the development of the fungus proceeds 
rapidly and the orange is almost sure to rot. Many experiments have been made in 
California and Florida packing houses in placing spores on fresh injuries, and, without 
exception, the characteristic decay has resulted. On the other hand, large quantities 
of fruit have been held under weather conditions most favorable to the development of 
decay, and the results prove that fruit which has been so carefully handled as to pre- 
serve the skin in an uninjured condition shows practically no decay even when the 
surface has been purposely covered with spores. The development of decay is most 
rapid during warm, moist weather, fruit packed during a cool, dry period frequently 
reaching the market without much waste even though injuries are present. Under 
changed atmospheric conditions, the same fruit may arrive in a badly decayed condi- 
tion. During an average Florida winter there are usually periodical warm spells. 
Reports of general heavy decay at the market end can almost without exception be 
traced to fruit packed and shipped during these warm periods. 
With this understanding of the nature and cause of the most common form of decay, 
it becomes easy to see how the harvesting and handling methods may have an impor- 
tant bearing on the keeping quality of the fruit. If these are such as to break the skin 
or injure the orange, even slightly, favorable conditions for the development of blue- 
mold decay exist and such decay is almost certain to result, as observation has shown 
that the spores of the blue mold are present practically everywhere. It is safe to say 
that most of the decay occurring in Florida oranges while in transit is due to blue mold. 
There is some loss in transit from decay due to other forms of rot, but this is usually 
very slight as compared with the loss from blue mold. 
CAUSES OF BLUE-MOLD DECAY. 
Since the principal means of securing oranges of good keeping quality is by elimi- 
nating mechanical injuries to the fruit, the occurrence of decay is therefore closely 
connected with the handling methods in use in the grove and packing house. 
Thorn punctures, which are made while the fruit is still on the tree, are among 
the first injuries to which citrus fruits are subjected. These are generally unavoidable, 
as during every wind storm a certain percentage of the fruit is injured by being blown 
against thorns. The puncturing which occurs when the fruit is being picked may be 
prevented, however, although it is frequently difficult to handle the oranges with 
sufficient care to avoid pressure against thorns or dried twigs when these are present 
in large numbers. Fruit is often bruised when the ladder is placed carelessly in the 
tree or when the sack is allowed to strike or is pressed against the branches or ladder. 
(PI. IX, figs. 1 and 2.) Moreover, filling the field boxes so high that the fruit pro- 
jects above the top will result in crushing the oranges when the boxes are stacked 
one on top of another. The oranges may be bruised on their way from the grove to 
the packing house by being jolted over rough roads in springless wagons. The driver 
of each wagon should be given a specially prepared seat and not allowed to sit upon 
the fruit. 
Among the most common forms of injury may be mentioned scratches made by the 
finger nails of the pickers and packers, each of whom should be required to wear 
gloves. It is comparatively easy for packers, especially if their finger nails are long, 
