The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1884-12-31
The Golden Fruit.
TIE REMEDY MIR. BEAN PROPOSES FOR THE
GLUT IN THE MARKET.


Yesterday reporter for the Times
Union called on Mr.. +. Bean, of this
city, who is, perhaps, the largest ship
per in the State, and asked him some
questions in regard to the present diff
culties in the orange trade. In response
to an inquiry, Mr.. Bean called the atten-
ton of the reporter to printed address
of his delivered before the Florida Fruit
Growers Association last summer. in
which he made these points:
l. That the orange crop and kindred
products, being perishable, must be put
into the hands of the consumers ais
quickly as possible after being gathered.
,. That it was absurd to ship fruit to
any other than regular dealers in fruit,
as many orange growers in Florida
were in the habit of doing.
,. That oranges should only be ship
ped to known, responsible parties, who
know how to place the goods they have
| bought SO as not to glut one market and
q E 1nat oranges Should be sold at
home and the grower thus relieved from
any care or bother about the fruit after
it leaves the grove.
3. That this can only be brought about
by establishing at strong central points
like Jacksonville something like an or
ange exchange, which should be compe-
tent to handle and distribute the fruit.
Such system," said Mr.. Bean,
would not only do away with the pres
ent competition of fruit with itself, but
would be the inevitable means of bring
ing about the sale of large proportion
OF the products at home. Reputable
houses, finding that they could no longer
obtain the fruit from the growers on CON
signment, would come here and pur-
erase their supplies rather than buv /
from the agents of the Exchange at their
several points, and in a little time the
bulk of these products would be sold at
the offices here, only the remaining sur
plus would have to be forwarded for
SALE"
In addition to the points from the pa
per above alluded to, Mr.. Bean added,
II would like to say that such an organi-
1atlon would to great extent, control
the gathering and shipment of fruit,
which would correct the greatest evils
with which we have to contend Firstly,
hat OF the shipment of unripe fruit, and
secondly, the rushing forward of half the
'rop during the months of November
md December. Having control, it would I
llrect the early shipment from the
Northern portion of the State, where the
ruit natures earlier and where it is
more likely to be injured by the cold, I
folding back those localities that are t
exempt from the frost. t
hereby distributing the marketing of the I
'roduct over a space of five or six
months. Again, it would prevent the
of unclassified, unevenly and
oorly packed fruit. Having the facili-
les, such an organization would repack
nd put in merchantable shape all fruit
hat was not properly prepared for mar
ct. 1t would also be able to correct c
lany of the evils of transportation and a
andling that at present exist" il
"How does the packing and prepara- D
on for market compare with former sea b
1ns?" a
81 do not think there has been any.I D
Improvement. A very large portion Of b
le product goes to market without clas- ot
tication, unevenly sized, and of course "
nevenly packed, and therefore cannot "
the price of well prepared IL
uit." il
How long can Florida oranges be al
if properly taken from the tt
ee and carefully prepared for ship c.
ent?" fl,
ga good deal would depend on. the ii
Gather. Oranges start to decay rapidly nj
our warm, moist atmosphere. l it
Ould say, however, that if cut from the te
ee when perfectly dry, handled as care is
lily as you would handle eggs, allowed st
lie without bruising until the rind re
ftens, so that they can be closely OF
cked without injury, they would, if ql