, 1886-11-23
1HE ORANGE HARVEST. asss


When the latter days OF September
approach, the bizarre splendors of the
rainy afternoon, which, for fou months,
has irrigated the grove, grow the less
frequent, and with the soft, dry days of
our autumn, we begin harvest; the Early
Oblong or Thornton's Bell, the Egg, and
the round Sang pur seeding begin to
ripen, and are ready for gathering.
A grove is not in bearing until its trees
average 500 apples, so the labor of merely
picking a crop OF oranges can be under
stood. Nor is the gatherer permitted to
pluck the fruit. 1t swings its tempting
yellow among the dark-green leaves and
long, steely thorns high among the tops
and low among the bending boughs.
Tall step-ladders and light-weights are
in demand, for care must be taken not
to break the fruitful branches already
symptomatic of another year.
The fruit must be -stem-cut." An
adroit expert learns to clip the fruit,
holding it between the third and fourth
fingers and the shoulder of the thumb,
transferring it lightly. to the pouch sus-
pended at his neck. The musk of the
wind-shaken, crushed, thorn pierced,
and fallen fruit, the pungent, aromatic
odors Of the leaves and oil glands load
the air with fragrance. as the eNhilarat-
ing task proceeds.
A bright, dry day must be chosen. as
moisture on the rind tends to decay;
and there must be caution in handling,
as one bruised orange may infect AN On
tire box or crate.
A brisk hand stem-cutting in a full
crop can average his 300 by the hour or
5000 apples per day; but this is not fire.
quent on account OF the cautious han
ding. The picker transfers his sack or
basket carefully to the drying house,
where the fruit is spread out to dry; this
sweating process occupies three or more
days. A good drying house is arranged
with SLATED shelves, that the air may
penetrate to the interstices of the strips.
A light fire is of advantage, as it pro
notes the drying by which the rind be
comes firmer, taking n crisp, horny
texture. protecting the pulp from bruis-
ing.
The next step is selecting, removing
all bruised, thorn prickcd, or injured
fruit into separate lots. This, which
should proccdo arranging on drying
floors or shelves. to avoid contact, is fol-
lowed by separating the rusty fruit from
the bright yellow. If this is carefully
done, n selection may be made Of rusty
frui. in which the bronze contrasts
prettily with the gold ON the orange,
like the bloom ON a peach. As the rust
in no way impairs flavor or juiciness, IA
well-selected box Of rust fruit compares
with the "brights."
Sorting is putting oranges of the anne
diameter in separate heaps. The next
step is wrapping. A thin tissue paper
is used, cut into squares of twelve or
fourteen inches, the Florida sweet seed
ling averaging ten inches in circumfer-
ence; oblong. egg. mandarin being
smaller. Setting the fruit on the sheet
spread ON the open palm, closing the
hand unites the corners for n twist of
the right hand, and it is wrapped. The
fruit is packed in thin elastic boxes.
l2X12x21 outside measurement-tho
wrapped orange is packed stem down
and, of an average thrcc-inch diameter,
will hold -four rows Of nine to the row,
or 1876. The usual continent of the south
Florida frat, however. is 12s, packed
apple above apple, with paper division
10 each layer.
The packing box is divided in the ends
and partition being of firm half inch
wood. and the sides flexible. by ar
ranging the fruit differently, as is re
quired in sizes exceeding or less thar
average diameter. space is economical
10y altering the. rows To tit the diverse
and rc-enterine curves. a size running
l7G can be SET by alternate threcs and
fours and he SO packed.
The process Is delicate, the packing
must BE- close, fitting with even pressure
without brulsing. to bcar the Earring of
careless stevedorcs and longshorcmen,
who annually cNasperate thecropper. In
lifting the box layer of paper is put at
the bottom and one Tapped above and
below, So that the fold, after the sue
cossivc layers are closely fitted, may
lap over and cover the top. This upper
row should rise not to exceed one quar-
ter OF an inc above the box cdging,
that. on mailing down the elastic top,
the spring of wood fiber in it may have
n firm, constant pressure, TO resist jarr-
ing and displacement viii Wallace
Harvey in southern Bivouac.