1 Juxy, 1901.] QUEENSIAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 157 
+ A FEW HINTS ON PICKING AND PACKING. 
A few remarks on the picking and packing of the fruit may perhaps be found 
useful. Many growers donot seem to regard this branch of the industry to be worthy 
of particular attention, but it is certainly a matter that should be taken more notice 
of, if only for their own interests. It is not an uncommon sight to see the fruit being 
knocked off with poles, and the branches shaken, and various other devices are used 
to saye trouble, needless to say much to the detriment of the fruit. Oranges which 
haye been carefully picked will keep in good condition for many weeks, whereas if 
they should happen to be bruised or in any way damaged will last practically no time, 
thus it can be plainly seen that the careless packing is in many instances often the 
cause of unsatisfactory market results. 
The most satisfactory manner of gathering the fruit is to cut them off, but the 
stalk should be cut as near as possible to the orange, otherwise they may be damaged 
in the packing. Where the trees are a fairly good size, it is not always possible to get 
near enough to the fruit on the outer branches to cut them; the picker in such cases 
must resort to plucking, by giving a euane twist they can easily be removed without 
being damaged. A case well and closely packed without injury to the fruit, and in 
new and clean cases, will invariably command a better price than those packed in a 
slovenly fashion and in old and dirty cases, no matter how good the fruit may be. 
Eyery grower should have his own brand, and if the fruit is good, buyers will 
naturally look for that brand; thus a good article recommends itself, and will 
command its price accordingly. 
A practice which unscrupulous persons often resort to is that of placing first 
grade fruit at the top and bottom of a case, and second grade in the centre. ‘This is 
a most pernicious system, and one which cannot be too strenuously condemned, and it 
certainly results in no benefit to themselves, for buyers will remember such a person’s 
brand and cases, and as a well-known fruit salesman sagely remarks, “ They are 
only taken in once.” 
THH WANT OF A STANDARD CASE, PACKING SHEDS AND DEPOTS, AND A. 
SUITABLE CASE FOR EXPORTATION. 
A great want at the present time is a uniform or standard case. Oranges are 
now sent to the markets in all sorts and sizes of cases, and the results of sales are 
ofttimes most unsatisfactory to the sender. So long as it is a case, buyers are 
apparently satisfied, and a fair-sized case invariably realises no more than one which 
contains one or two dozen less. 
The sooner this matter is taken up by fruitgrowers’ associations and others 
concerned the better it will be for all interested in the industry. 
While on the subject of cases, [might remark that a suitable case for exportation 
will shortly be needed, and I trust the Department of Agriculture will not think 
Tam taking a liberty if I should suggest that the difliculty might be overcome by 
the said Department offering a prize at some forthcoming agricultural exhibition for 
a case possessing all the characters required, which will be suitable for the successful 
exportation of oranges. 
A short time ago I was present at a show where a private person offered a special 
prize for a case of oranges specially packed for exportation. There were a good many 
entries, but I donot think there could have been one of the competitors who thoroughly 
grasped the object for which he was competing, for all the cases were heavily made, 
and each piece was nailed closely to the next, so that when the lid was fastened down 
the case would. be practically air-tight. The result of sending oranges away in a case 
of this description would be that, before they had been on the water many weeks, 
the majority of the contents would be absolutely mouldy, owing to there being no 
current of air through them. I have seen many consignments of oranges arrive in 
such a condition when the oranges were first sent from New South Wales, and I might 
add that the same mistake was made. in several instances which came under my 
notice. Not only that. but the cases I speak of only contained about a hundred 
oranges. ‘Thus it will be plainly seen that to export oranges in such a manner would 
be perfectly useless, when it is remembered that many business houses each sell scores 
of fase: of oranges daily, each case containing the regulation 420 or 714 oranges, more 
or less. 
A case which will only answer satisfactorily for exporting must be comprised of 
_ the three principal requisites, viz. :—First, weight must be borne in mind; it should 
be strongly, but lightly, made. Secondly, it must have a thorough current of air; 
and thirdly, space must of all things be considered. ‘The class of case at present used 
on the colonial markets is in every way totally unfit for the purpose of exportation. 
