The St. Lucie County tribune. (Fort Pierce, St. Lucie County, Fla.) 1905-1920, 1911-12-01
P|CK|NGANDPACK|NG.
FLORIDA GROWER PUBLISHES A
BULLETIN OF INTEREST TO
EVERY ORANGE MAN.
CLOSE CULLERS MAKE MONEY
Points In Handling Citrus Fruit That
$Houd Receive Most Careful
Attention.
Picking.

We are now ~ the one most impor'
taal phases VI citrus growing, that OF
plckug and packing ana while there
is Jo( much to tell that is not already
known or learned by experience, yet
there are some points that should re-
ceiye most careful attention.
4 grower about whom the neigh.
bors ieer because he throws away
box after box of perfectly good fruit
is one who is doing good packing. IL is
the packer who culls closely that
makes the money. Citrus fruits are
easily damaged 4 clipper cut, finger
nail abrasion, thorn prick or drop of
six inches will ruin their carrying
qualities.
Clippers--Only clippers of the most
approved pattern should be used.
Those that have sharp edges and so
curved as 10 make il possible to cut
the stem close to the fruit. Professor
Hume recommends clipper Of the
Weiss type; others, careful growers
OF large experience, either the Kyle or
Hart clipper. The picker should, If
possible, be- men OF some experience,
careful, as clipper cuts are the most
prolific source OF decay OF fruit while
in transit. Pickers as well as all who
handle the fruit should be required to
wear white cotton gloves and keep
tbai, 6uuar nails tritn a6
Field Boxes.--Field boxes should be
small enough so that one man can
handle them with ease, to prevent jar
ring when ii is set down. Quite a
number OF different styles are in use
among the growers, but it Is believed
that the one invented by W. 5. Hart
OF Hawks Park. Fla, is the best.
It is 20 SIS inches long on the bottom,
q 5.S inches between heads, Heads
are lXl0xl2 inches and have rabbit
set down inside the head about ]
inch. 1t has two hand holds 1-2
inches down from the upper edge OF
the head These boxes hold about two
thirds of standard box of fruit, and
can be piled one above another as
high as a person can reach without
danger Of crushing the fruit. The
rabbits hold them from slipping when
TERED up for hauling and as there is
free ventilation and no heavy mass
of fruit in any one box, they can be
stacked up in the packing house and
left until the fruit is needed with as
little danger OF injury as though they
were in Slated bins. Cd"
Field Baskets and Bags,-There is
considerable difference of opinion as
10 the use OF bags or baskets The
most common form OF picking recep'
tace is the familiar canvas bag slung
across the shoulder with the mouth
opening on the left.hand side. The
objection TO this is that the fruit may
become TANNED or bruised through
the sack against the sides and rounds
Of the ladder or branches OF the tree.
Further there is always a strong
temptation 20 pour the fruit into the
shoulder This should never be per
II ted, a. results in damage 10 the
Lat, ~hj"n will show up when the
f.,Et reaches it, destination. The
wicker bas!.e, has been highly recon-
needed by Competent authority as OBJ
y.4,iuy the danger Of damaging fruit
wide ou The ladders and while empty.
IT. into he field LoXes, but the prin'
c.r3l objection 10 It Is that IT Is very
L-laudy in aetuug around the tree
s!.G aIlOug tnG branches. 4 new pick
tue haE or coat was tried out last
s..sun by some up todate growers,
ard S said TO have gwen satisfaction.
Il /. made Of bedticking, resembles a
picking shirt and The openings are so
Uia led that he picker can throw the
fruit into the coat. There is hook
underneath the lap Of the coat, and.
when the coat is full, he nnsnaps the
ring and pOurs the fruit out of one
side. then ne unsnaps the ring on
the other side and lets the fruit out
Of that side. Then he buttons it up
and goes back to work.
handling of Iadders.-The greatest
care should be exercised in handling
the ladders among the trees, as the
picker who threshes his ladder about
among the branches to secure a firm
resting place, bruises more, or thorn
L., l,t I,.,sa
IL worth. Suitable ladders should be
provided and the pickers required to
handle them with care.
Field Wagons.--A low spring truck
or wagon should always be used In
hauling the fruit, as a high springless
wagon will do untold damage by jar.
ring the fruit in the field boxes, be.
sides the extra exertion Of having to
lift the boxes from height will tell