The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1911-08-11
A GOOD MAN AND
GREEN ORANGES.
Law Prohibiting Shipment oi
Unripe Citrus Fruit Meets
Opposition.
Some of Which Comes From Unlocked
for Quarters.

The Florida Produce News has been
giving voice TO complaints OF certain
growers OF citrus fruit against the recent
" enacted law of The Legislature OF
Florida, and which prohibits the ship
ment of immature fruit, their contention
being that the business will be injured,
"This law, in conjunction with the
now famous circular No. 1888, sent out
by the pure food department, declaring
artificially colored citrus fruit was adult
Grated" says the Florida Produce News
sis likely 10 cause heavy losses 10 grow
erS of early oranges in the State.
In an effort 10 learn something OF the
sentiment of the leading growers OF the
State, the Florida Produce News recent
ly sent inquiries TO various sections OF
the State, and the following reply from
B. +. Tillinghast, of Crescent City,
which is reproduced in part, is a fair
sample of the replies:
"To the Editor:
"Sir-Some of The wise men at Wash
ington and in Florida may know, or
think they do, what decision No. 1873 OF
the United States pure food and drug in
spection means. | do not pretend to
know. An intelligent Interpretation has
not been made though repeatedly asked
for in good faith by different growers.
"The Department OF Agriculture lays
down rules for the killing of hogs and
the curing of meats, but it does not stop
there, leaving packers 10 judge for them
selves. The department puts its inSpec-
tors in the field and passes upon the pur-
ity of the food. But il tells the citrus
fruit grower that if he ships green or i'm
mature fruit that il will be confiscated.
Some persons cannot tell by looking at
the outside of watermelon what the
color is inside.
''They can give no better guess at the
interior of an orange by seeing. the out.
side In the early winter and late fall
there is a craving for acid fruit, Just as
there is at other seasons for pickles,
which are supposed TO be green and i'm
mature cucumbers. This makes the de-
mand for grapefruit before il yellowS on
the peel and dries at the heart. The
quality of citrus fruit can be judged by
eating it. Some of the early varieties
are not deep yellow TO look at, though
they may be sweet and edible when cut
and served on the table.
"Decision No. 1873 represents the board
of food and drug inspection, though 1t is
known that the members do not agree.
The immature fruit law of the Florida
| Legislature is supposed 10 stand for the
best Judgment of those who made it..
Those, so il would seem, who are en-.
trusted with enforcing this ruling and
this law should cooperate. But no steps
have been taken in that direction.
"The edibility of citrus fruit depends
upon the soil in which the tree grows;
the fertilizer used, and the methods oi
cultivation quite as much as upon the
weather, though that has much to dc
with the time of ripening. Two sgroves
standing side by side with only fence
between them will vary materially ac
cording TO the care given them. One ol
these growers ships his fruit and finds a
good market for it, The other, with
Just as much care in sorting and packing
learns that his lot has been seized and
destroyed. If inspectors were placed in
the field they would disagree quite often
One looks at the letter of the law, the
other at the spirit. One is an autocra
with little brief authority; the other is
reasonable. According to the United
States Supreme Court, reason is to bt
sometimes exercised.
"But why compel the fruit grower
who oftener than otherwise has beer
through year of struggle with the scale
white fly, rust mite, gumoSia, wither tip
drouth, stem end rot and numerous
other Affections, 10 imperil the fruit hi
has saved2 This can be averted by plac
ing duly authorized and competent in
spectors in the fields at the time of pick
ing or in the packing house. But th'
certificate of such an inspector ought tt
be final. 1t should not be within tht
power of inspector No. or No. 20 tC
open the car and order the content
, destroyed"
The News confcsses surprise that 81
intelligent a man as Mr. Tillinghasl
himself grower and deeply intereste,
in the advancement of the Florida OF
ange in the markets OF the north, should
through a most readable communicate
in the public press, attempt to beclou
, the real issue and throw cold water I'll
{ on such a wise and beneficent law q
: that passed by the recent Florida legi
e lature, prohibiting the shipment of III
ripe citrus fruits from this state; or upo
S the decision of the United States PuI
Food Commission to the effect that sue
!. shipments will be seized in transit an
n thrown to the garbage heap.
The question at issue is not the vagu
ness of Decision No. 1873, but the effe
y of its Interpretation on business OF sue
:, vast importance TO large class of Il
! citizens of Florida.
That decision as interpreted by the
S. Commission will work in harmon
IS with the recent enactment of the Florit
y legislature.
d The question at issue is: Is the la
and the ruling just and in the best inte
ests of the citrus fruit growers
Florida.
II These growers are not philanthropiS
d they are not concerned about the bel
II aches and heartaches that may follow
IS the wake of green fruit shipmeI
e What they want 10 know is what effC
lr will the law and the ruling have upt
Y, the growing and marketing OF Flori
C oranges.
" MIR. Tillinghast knows, or ought
y know that thousands of boxes of gree
e fruit was shipped from his own tov
" last fall. Some of this Qhe Parson Brow
e variety fruit was sweet, but many 9th
al varieties were shipped under the ParS'
rs Brown label and was absolutely sour
unripe. This fruit is artificially COLOR
N by the commission man, or buyer, /
n fore being placed on the market. Pc
G. pie buy the fruit and, well, they pro
ably wish they had followed the pl
laid down in Daniel Frohma ms reel
IN for cooking and eating German carp.
er "Catch a German carp, says Frohma
Sin a stagnant and muddy stream. Gle
h, il Immediately and hang il in the S
~ three days TO dry. After it is thoroue
ly dried, nail il TO a spruce board a
cover il with paste of salt and uir
d. Let il stand two days longer. Now ba
an il forty eight hours. Remove the mai
- scrnne off The snIi and mud nasle ca