Lower coast gazette., 1914-12-26
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 26 1914.
The Preparation OF Oranges Tor
Market.

A Note and Comment III tWe hsle"i'"."
News noints out the large degree OF attention
that has been given by agricultural authorities
in South Africa to matters connected Win ''e
shinment of citrus fruit. The Importance OF
standard boxes was strongly emphasized, ana
in order to show the value of good packing, II
WAS stated that careful shippers during 1917
were getting lis. Cd. per box OF oranges, "hhe
careless ones obtained only IS. I'd. to rs. ID. per
hox. The chances CT commercial loss in this d.
rection were, it was pointed out, largely reduc-
cd nv a system of Trade Commissioners in Lon
don and a method of Government Inspection OF
fruit at the seaports of the Union.
II now appears that Rhodesia is Fastening to
devote attention to the same thing. IN .he
Rhodesia Agricultural Journal for August l9l4.
tho citrus advisor to the British South Africa
Company which is largely responsible Tor knoo-
esian interests calls attention to the action on
the bart of the Union of South Africa brleny
outlined above, and gives information as TO the
best methods of preparing oranges for market
confirming these remarks not to the fruit OF a
highly selected kind known as kid glove var
ieties. but to the general average standard OF
fruit produced on the ordinary estate.
After discussing the time to gather fruit,
the writer proceeds to describe the appliances
reouired, The Importance of the careful use OF
~clippers for gathering is indicated, and 1t IS
pointed out that the calyx should be allowed TO
remain on the orange, for it is one OF the hall
marks of properly handled fruit. No protrud-
ing stub, however, must be left, or 1t Will
blncture other fruits coming in contact with 1t.
In connection with picking baskets or bags, it
is stated that a wicker basket made hat on one
side to fit against the back, and padded inside
to prevent the fruit getting bruised is the most
/ satisfactory receptacle. The gathered fruit IS
4 nut into a grove box next; the fruit must be
taken out and put into the groved box by hand
and not poured out. No particular pattern OF
box is necessary, but the boxes should be strong
and measure about 13 inches wide by IA inches
deep by 81 to 80 inches long. The pickers should
be warned not to fill the grove boxes so full that
the fruit lies higher than the top of the sides,
SO that they can be placed on a wagon one on
the other in tiers without injuring the top fruits
while carrying them from the grove to the
packing house. Also, when filled, they should
be moved to the shade of trees while waiting to
lie loaded.
Because the object of present day fruit grow
ers is to cultivate low-headed wide-spreading
trees, the Importance of ladders is not as great
al 1t was. In fact every endeavor should be
made to employ ladders as little as possible be-
cause they tend TO cause injury to the trees.
A simple matter which requires, however,
careful attention is the curing of oranges. When
oranges are first taken from the tree, the cells
on the rind are filled with water and expanded
to their full extent causing the rind to be brittle
and the cells easily broken. In this condition
damage during packing would be likely to occur
50 to remove the moisture from the rind tn
fruit is kept in grove boxes, which are stacked
in tiers around the packing house and the al
permitted to circulate freely round and through
them. Eventually the rind becomes more tougl
and leathery and reduced in thickness; in thi
condition it will stand pressure without brulslni
sor bursting. The length Of time required TO
curing varies according to the humidity OF tn
cliaate. One danger attendant on the packin
Of damp truth is the likelihood that fungi an
bacteria may set to work and cause disease an
fermentation, q
After curing is finished the fruit is graded
The perfect specimens those without blemisl
extra bright, smooth, thin-skinned and Of goo
shape-may be packed separately. and marke
choice or fancy but it is stated that unle'
the percentage Of perfect specimens is fair
high it is best to leave them with the mass, r
lying upon the higher price the better appea
ance will command. The work of grading
followed by the operation Of sizing. This
done by passing the fruit through a machil
which mechanically places the fruits Of the va
ious sizes into separate bins provided for Il
purpose. By a good sizer is meant one that W
size fruit whether round or oblong) accurate
according to its diameter, and which will pa
the oranges on freely, not allowing them to sti
and choke up any of its parts. 1t must not da
age the fruit. IT, noted in the article unc
consideration that although grading and sizi
are here regarded as two separate operate
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