, 1935-03-22

the bill now before the governor IS
that it applies TO all grapefruit alike.
no distinction being made between
the SeedleSs and seeded varieties.
No grapefruit is deemed mature
unless the total soluble solids Is not
less than nine per cent and the
minimum ratio Of total soluble SOL
ids (sugar) TO the anhydrouS citrlc
acid Is 10 to l. This Is compared 70
a ratio of SIS to l with nine per
cent soluble solids In the old law:
The new law calls for a ratio OF
SO to / with total soluble solids OF
II per cent and a ratio OF 65 to /
Of sugar and acids with total solu-
ole solids OF lis per cent.
Under the old law a ratio OF . 70
I Ia provided for fruit with ten per
cent soluble solids. SIS to ] In fruit
with II per cent total soluble solids
and 5 to l in fruit with IL per cent
total soluble solids.
Valley requirements. already high
or than those of Florida, thus be-
come still more stringent as COM
pared to the peninsular producing
area. Where the new law requires
total soluble solids of nine per cent
and a sugar acid ratio OF Z to /.
Florida begins with eight per cent
soluble solids and a ratio OF only
$50 to / and provides a ratio OF
$50 10 / with total soluble solids OF
IL per cent.
Nov TO show how the new law
nave affected the current seasons
eariy movement OF grapefruit. state
inspectors issued releases tor snip
ment of fruit from 562 premises
during the first week OF the season
Sept. "a TO %. They met the require
ments Of the old law but only "a OF
them would have been able 70 show
ten e cent total soluble solids ana
a ratio of seven to one. Thus only
about 1911 per cent OF the orcnaros
receiving clearanceS that week
would have done o under the new
law. The combined average OF ratio
~ fruit passing tests was SOB 70 !
and the combined percentage OF
solids was 1921.
THE second week, October ! 70 o.
saw releases issued TO , premises;
Only DOT per cent or a merl
total OF IS would have been able 70
obtain clearances for shipment OF
fruit under the new Law. The COM
bined average Of ratio climbed TO 900
to one and combined average OF
solids l1.01 per cent.
Records for the third week, Oct.
9 to 10. were not on hand, having
been mislaid but showed a similar
condition.
ONLY 80 OF the 1877 orchards OBJ
tanning releases for shipping fruit
the fourth week Of the season, Oct.
is to 20, would have been able %
move grapefruit under the new law.
This is a percentage OF only 2o4Z.
The combined average of ratio rose
"a 6y69 and the combined average OF
solids was IL per cent. Approximately
5000 tests were made oy mspec-
tors the first few weeks.
No change was made regarding
which cannot pass unless
they have eight per cent soluble
solids.
Not only have the sugar content
requirements been raised but
Valley committee studying revision
of the maturity law recommended
that Juice content be ten cubic
centimeters higher for each size OF
fruit than the present scale. Juice
content requirements are not writ
ten into the law but may be pro-
mulgated by the state commission
er Of agriculture who may change
the regulations in this regard from
time 10 time.
Valley juice requirements, already
slightly higher than those Of Flor
ida In some instances. would be still
higher II recommendations Of the
committee are carried out by the
commissioner. Should the commits
sioner promulgate rulings calling
for the additional 10 cubic cent?
meters for each size the difference
between Texas and Florida require
ments would be as follows: