The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1922-03-03

Agricultural ErpO''s ~
The Department OF Commerce states
-, The total volume of exports OF
.ns principal agricultural products
ar the year 1921 amount to over TO-
aao 400 tons compared with 16.50O,oOO
.ons in 1920. and 10000 tons in 1913.
!. ,act we exported the largest total
.o,ume OF such products of any year
!. our history. The principal COM
modify Is grain. including grain pro-
auc,s. which alone amounted to 16,-
eoo 900 tons in 1921 as compared with
:, 600 and 100000 in 1920 and
,s,s respectively. The exports OF cot
-, sxceed those OF 1920. which is also
,rue Of meat products, sugar, oil cake
and meal and tobacco.
There was a slight decline in the
s,norts of dairy products and vege-
..ais oils. When we come to consid-
:, the price paid for the exports to
ruroue. we find that the United States
received a little less than s2.0OO,OOO,-
ooo for agricultural products the past
vsar as compared with a little over
a 400 0O0. 900 in 1920, and little over
Z, ooo. 600 900 in 1913. In money value,
therefore, we have received only about
,wothirds as much for our total ex-
ports in 1921 as for the previous year,
although Europe paid twice as much
A in 1913 and received therefor about
twice as much goods. Considering
The economic condition in Europe, it
NAV be recorded as rather remarkable
that they have been able actually to
huv from us twice as much of these
principal products as they did in 1913.
These purchases have been financed
BY the European countries without
any apparent difficulties.
ersuefruit Flavor Improved by PIac-
lnu In Cold Storage
Contrary to the prevalent opinion
thai citrus fruit will not ripen off the
tree. the United States Department
oi Agriculture has found that, like
pears and apples, grapefruit will de-
velop a superior eating quality after
period of to months in cold stor-
-. IL ..t&okf., o,,rad hofOro cf0rsrC
One reason for this is that, while the
sugar content remains about the same,
the acid content decreases markedly
during storage, and apparently the bit
Ter principle is broken down, which
also enhances the sweetness Of the
fruit. The fruit stores better when
picked about midseason.
These conclusions were reached by
the Bureau of Plant Industry follow
ing series of experiments begun in
1917. 1t was thought to be an advan-
tage to the grapefruit market to de-
termine whether the fruit could be
kept without deterioration until after
the peak Of the harvest season in Jan.
nary, February, and March. In the
seed.producing varieties the seeds are
likely to sprout while the fruit is still
On the trees, which Injuries the deli.
cate flavor of the fruits. Both pro-
Queer and consumer are therefore
/ benefited by the growers knowing
mat this fruit may be picked before
the seeds sprout and retained in stor.
age in good condition for several
months.
| In the work on grapefruit storage
the most serious difficulty encounter
60 was the tendency of the grapefruit
70 pit in cold storage; that is, to de
selop sunken spots in the skin. These
'pots did not affect the flavor of the
Fuit, but the appearance was less at
uactlye and made the fruit unmarked
aole IN competition with smooth. vel
"v iruit Pitting can be largely con
aVnea' II has been found through