44 
FLORIDA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 
boxes being nailed together by a nailing 
machine operated by a boy. This machine 
has been one of our most satisfactory 
economies. 
The placing of fruit in boxes is done 
under the watchful eye of a packing fore¬ 
man and any attempt to “slip bad work¬ 
manship over on him” would be a thing 
of short duration to say the least. 
No detail of the work is more carefully 
performed than the making out of load¬ 
ing manifest, in order that each mani¬ 
fest may be a true exhibit of the various 
brands and sizes contained in the car. A 
duplicate manifest is placed in all cars for 
the convenience and information of re¬ 
ceiver at destination. 
All cars are skilfully loaded and stayed 
to insure the best possible delivery. 
This completes our preparation of the 
fruit for the market, experts having di¬ 
rected and watched every step of its 
progress from tree to the car. We now 
turn it over to expert salesmen to get the 
most they can for it. 
Dr. O. W. Sadler, Mt. Dora, Fla. 
Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen : 
Regarding many of the points in the 
packing and shipping of citrus fruits, it 
is now unnecessary to dwell upon details. 
After five years of experimentation by 
government experts, and enthusiastic 
practical experience instigated by the Flo¬ 
rida Citrus Exchange, there is no longer 
need of detailed argument that all fruit 
should be gathered with the gloved hand, 
and cut by a clipper that insures short 
stems and no clipper cuts. Each fruit 
should be removed from the limb to 1 a 
thick canvas bag, by the hand, the bag not 
to hold over one-half box. The bag should 
open at the bottom, so that the fruit may 
be placed in the box without appreciable 
dropping. 
The size of field boxes still varies in 
practice—some using those holding one- 
half box, two to count as one, others a 
full box, both intended to average a 
packed box. 
The average class of pickers we are 
compelled to employ, prefer the full sized 
box. When using any other size, one 
would think they all “came from Mis¬ 
souri,” as it takes a great deal of “show¬ 
ing” to make them believe they are not 
picking too much, when using two smaller 
boxes for one box. 
HAULING. 
When two men are employed loading 
in the field, there is one point in favor 
of the “whole box” standard, there is 
but half as many chances of bruising the 
fruit from over filling. And another, that 
the large box gives a smaller bulk on the 
wagon than the smaller boxes. The same 
careful handling to avoid bruising fruit, 
is necessary in either case. 
IN THE PACKING HOUSE. 
All “Exchange idea” packing houses 
are fitted up with machinery for handling 
the fruit with the least possible injury, 
and should be carefully watched, that no 
loose parts, slivers, or projecting nails 
shall bruise any part of the rind, and that 
it all be arranged so that fruit can not 
“drop,” but must “roll” from start to 
finish. 
