SHIPMENT OF OKANGES FKOM FLOEIDA. 
19 
INSPECTIONS OF PICKING CREWS AND FOREMEN. 
Careful inspections of the work being done in different parts of the State have been 
made during practically every season since the work has been in progress. Table II 
and its accompanying diagram (fig. 3) show the average percentages of imperfections 
found in the work of a num- 
ber of picking crews in the 
course of the comprehen- 
\/a.3% tiBkz.vfr sive field inspections made 
„ -r.. .„ ^ j.. ., . - . r ,. „_ by the department investi- 
Fig. 3. — Diagram illustrating the percentage of imperfections m the J 1 . 
work of a number of picking crews inspected during 1910-11 and gators during the seasons 
19H-12. of 1910-11 and 1911-12. 
Table II. — Imperfections in the work of a number of picking crews inspected during 
1910-11 and 1911-12. 
Class of imperfections. 
1910-11 1 
1911-12 ! 
Clipper cuts. 
Long stems. 
Pulled 
Per cent. 
4.2 
12.9 
2.8 
Per cent. 
- 3.3 
18.3 
2.7 
Averages of 64 inspections of 51 crews. 
Averages of 35 inspections of 34 crews. 
Since the crews which were inspected were located in different sections of the State, 
the percentages given in the table and graphically shown in figure 3 as the averages 
of all inspections represent very closely the type of work being done throughout Florida; 
they indicate the necessity for more careful attention to the details of picking and to 
the organization of the picking crews. This seems the most difficult reform to bring 
about, yet no permanent improvement in the carrying quality of Florida oranges will 
be reached until the field-handling operations are completely changed. 
It is also necessary to devote more attention to inspecting the work of individual 
pickers. Table III and its accompanying diagram (fig. 4) show the results of the 
CREW PA/D 
CUPPER 
CUTS 
Fig. 4. — Diagram illustrating the percentage of imperfections in the work of different picking crews 
paid by the day and by the box, showing the variation in injury, 1910-11. 
inspections of different picking crews in different parts of the State and are presented 
to show that good work is possible. Crews Nos. 1 and 2 were doing practically perfect 
work, but the work of crews Nos. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 was far from perfect. The percent- 
ages of long stems for which these last crews were responsible ranged from 11.4 to 30.6 
per cent. 
