Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-11-08
Orange Picking and Packing.

The orange picking season is an inter-
esting one in Florida, especially to those
towbom its scenes are not familiar. Those
who have Witnessed Oran2e picking in
Mediterranean countries speak OF it in
enthusiastic terms. The American Grocer
saws that in those countries the gathering
Of the orange is done by men and boys,
who are provided with light ladders, the
fruit being placed in baskets lined with
cloth, held by strap attached TO them
and passed over the shoulders. The fruit,
being picked from the trees, is left with
the stem on the orange, which is after
wards cut quite short with sharp knife
Or shears. hence the name "stem cut"
The object in leaving a short portion of
The stem on the orange is to prevent the
air from reaching the nine to ten COM
partments that all centre at point I'M
natures seal, excluding the air, which
would cause rapid decay.
From the groves the oranges are carried
TO the packing house or magazine, where
they are placed in trays to cure or swt at
out las it is called for few days. This
Is found necessary to insure transporta-
ton, as an orange when removed from the
tree will soon become moist, small drops
oi water appearing on the skin, ana if
wrapped In paper at once would soon de.
cay, but if allowed to dry off thoroughly
Will keep for months. The asserting and
wrapping is done mostly by young girls
ana women, WHO get on an average a
salary from to Is cents per day, and on
mat plttance live and enjoy life better
Than some OF our milliOnaires do in this
country.
Atthe packing houses or magazines the
'ruit Is assorted with the greatest care by
experienced Italian girls, who will take
l"oor three oranges in their left hand
'Fom box or tray, make a rapid move
ueht with their fingers, that will reyolVe
Tue orange IN their hands with almost
nsolnlng rapidity. examining them on
81 Sues one or two may be thrown into
'le basket Of nelghbor on the right and
0oe mo the basket OF one opposite. Were
'ou 10 lake an orange from each of those
UasHe's you would probably observe no
"nerence IN them and wonder WHY the
separation was made, but ii you were to
asa Inc orlght-eyed Italian girl she would
'HO" you a small spot on one or the alb
'euce Of stem on another, sufficient to
'@Idntthe fruit being rejected or packed
"a second grade, the lmperfection in both
.S'es causing rapid decay. The oranges
VIC 'nen sized, wrapped and packe d in
'Aes 10 suit size of fruit, the smallest
"'s oelng designated "0O," meaning the
'-'ueSt, usually numbering 800 TO $50 to
VIC Oo1. The next grade being a lIttle
| g0,a are called 80" and packed about
'ne same size box, while the largest
r-s - termed "lmperials," and pack 100
h.. 1 usual way to determine the num-
oranges in box without counting
4s~ al IS, If they are packed straight
| onelayer Of one end OF the box: If
49, packed in rows OF five and five IL
',u make twenty-five to a LAYER. and
num- ie aIe Tour layers TO side. Won
nd 1 ,p tne Ell. BIT layers by tweutv-fve
n.y., yVu nave 200, the number in the box:
vim A. ~ De a box OF large Imperials YOU
l,". 4Uu II 70 count four and i've. making
,oe ' ,eo 70 The layer, and eight layers gives
.s NV Nv u anges TO box. This rule is a
Pr ne 70 apply to all fruit packed in
htIs , .l VI sicily; but IN Catania, where
,n,, s'iu is paid 10 the sizing of the
Lana may nave the appearance Of being
Il, 90 ra. "a SIZE Gu top but 100" below. AZ
h,o 'FaI' Of experience the buyer becomes
rsT,s,''' WIN the brand on the boxes OF
WIZ packers and can feel cor Gdeut Of
raasn. WIZ 'oAsS without examl-