FLORIDA ,STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
47 
Four years ago, Tenny stated before 
this society that a conservative estimate 
placed the loss from decay of oranges in 
transit from Florida at from io to 15 
per cent. We do not know what the av¬ 
erage loss was last season. But now we 
do know that by far the greater part of 
any such loss is preventable if care is 
used in the preparation of the fruit for 
market. 
Last season the work of gathering 
picking and handling data was continued. 
This actually became an inspection of the 
work being done in different groves and 
packing houses. In several instances the 
inspection of the work -of particular 
gangs of pickers was continued through¬ 
out The season, the results being used to 
demonstrate the necessity of doing more 
careful work. In this way, also, the 
careful and careless workmen were dis¬ 
covered. 
Last season’s investigations also< in¬ 
cluded a series of washing experiments. 
These were carried on to determine the 
effect of washing Florida oranges. 
A series of shipping experiments was 
also started. These included a compari¬ 
son of sound fruit carefully handled and 
packed with the same fruit handled and 
packed under ordinary commercial con¬ 
ditions. Part of each lot was packed and 
shipped the same day it was picked, and 
parts two and four days after picking. 
PICKING AND HANDLING INVESTIGATIONS 
This work was done at Arcadia, Bar¬ 
tow, Bradentown, Florence Villa, Clear¬ 
water, Largo, Dunedin, Sutherland, Pal¬ 
metto, Wauchula, Winter Haven and 
Winter Park. 
The first year of our work, 1906-7, the 
total average of injuries for all the fruit 
examined was 12.4 per cent., including 
clipper cuts and other types of mechani¬ 
cal injuries (scratches, punctures, etc.), 
and 6.7 per cent, long stems. 
The accompanying table shows the re¬ 
sults of these inspection records during 
the past four years. 
Table 1. 
1906-7 1907-8 1908-9 1909-10 
P. ct. P. ct. P. ct. P. ct. 
5.7 5.5 3.4 3.25 
6.7 8.8 3.3 9.9 
6.7 9.2 9.3 7.3 
Total injured . 12.4 14.3 6.7 13.15 
The averages of clipper cuts are about 
the same for the first two years. There 
was a material reduction of this type 
of injury during the last two years. It 
can be reduced still lower under actual 
commercial conditions. 
There was a material increase in the 
percentage of mechanical injuries other 
than clipper cuts found during 1909-10. 
It is probable that this figure is too high 
to represent average conditions of the 
entire State. Owing to the cold weather 
the data are not as complete as we would 
like to have them. The figures show, 
however, that there is room for much 
improvement before the standard found 
possible under large commercial condi¬ 
tions is reached. 
The table shows a high percentage of 
long stems. It is important that this per¬ 
centage be materially reduced. A 
prominent grower of California has said 
that he fears long stems more than clip¬ 
per cuts. “A clipper cut orange,” said he, 
“is finished and the injury is only to 
itself, but a long stem is like a murderer 
turned loose.” One long stemmed or- 
Clipper cuts . 
All other injuries 
Long- stems . 
