SHIPMENT OF ORANGES FROM FLORIDA. 
35 
fruit. When the fruit is held for 3 or 4 days in the packing house the period elapsing 
between picking and final consumption is unnecessarily and even dangerously length- 
ened. From this standpoint alone curing is unwise, as the delay increases the chance 
for the infection of bruises or injured spots and facilitates the development of decay 
before shipment and in transit. 
^.i+.a 
Fig. 17. — Diagram illustrating the percentage of blue-mold decay of oranges, on arrival in Washington 
and after holding for three weeks, in carefully handled and commercially handled lots and in 
immediate and delayed shipments; average of the two seasons, 1910-11 and 1911-12. 
A comparison of commercially handled immediate and delayed shipments from 
two packing houses, in one of which the work was being done very carefully, while 
in the other the handling was of a rather rough character, emphasizes the relationship 
which exists between delay and the occurrence of decay while in transit. Table XV 
and its accompanying diagram (fig. 18) give the results of commercial shipments from 
these two packing houses during the season of 1910-11. The houses were located in 
the same district and the fruit was similar in character. 
Table XV. — Blue-mold decay of oranges on arrival in Washington and after holding for 
three weeks, the immediate and delayed shipments from two houses, 1910-11. 
House No. 1. 
House No. 2. 
Time of examination. 
Immedi- 
ate. 
Delayed. 
Immedi- 
ate. 
Delayed. 
Per cent. 

1.2 
3.1 
4.0 
Per cent. 

.6 
1.4 
1.4 
Per cent. 
26.1 
40.4 
42.6 
42.8 
Per cent. 
67.3 
After 1 week 
71.3 
After 2 weeks 
71.9 
After 3 weeks 
71.9 
The fruit from house No. 1, which was carrying on the work in a careful manner, 
arrived in Washington with no decay in either immediate or delayed lots, and after 
holding for three weeks the immediate shipments developed 4 per cent of decay, 
while the delayed ones had less than 2 per cent. In house No. 2, where the work 
was being carelessly done, the difference between the percentages of decay was very 
