Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1936-12-23

getting the midseason variety, the
Pineapple, which continues until about
the middle of March. The Valencia Is
the late Florida orange, in season from
early March through May. About the
time its season Is over, the California
Valencias come on the market.
"TExAS also will market more than
100000 boxes this year of the
90-pound size. Arizona grows oranges,
too, and Alabama and Mississippi have
the hardy Satsuma type in the Fall,
all adding to the grand total produced.
So we are assured of our oranges one
way and another throughout the year,
and at prices most Of us consider
moderate in relation to the rest of the
budget.
I'm addition to the nutritionists who
have acquainted people with the great
value of oranges in the diet and the
plant scientists who introduced the
popular Washington navel variety, the
United States Department of Agricul-
ture has other workers who have
played a part in the tremendous
growth Of the orange industry. Plant
scientists have studied the diseases
of orange trees and fruit. They have
helped perfect refrigeration in transit
and methods Of handling oranges at
the orchards. Entomologists have
studied the control of insect pests Of
citrus fruit. Market specialists have
encouraged sorting and grading fruit
for quality and size. The Weather
Bureau furnishes growers with special
frost warnings to enable them to safe
guard their fruit in the groves with
heaters.
Chemists have given attention to
by-products which might be salvaged
from low-grade but wholesome fruit
for example, the marmalades, pectin.
cordias and wines. They have studied
problems incidental to the canned
orange juice industry, working to-
ward improvement Of favor, color and
keeping quality.
WHEN the housewife goes to buy
oranges she has her choice of
smaller or larger ones, running from
126 to PIG to the box. Those that pack
176 to 200 to the box are good family
sizes, but sometimes the small, thin
skinned oranges contain plenty OF
juice and are good bargains. Oranges
sold in colored net bags are usually
marked as to size by the box designa-
- l>-
Of fruit in the bag Is given.
THE best quality oranges are firm
heavy with juice and have a fine-tex-
tured skin for the variety. Florida
and Texas oranges are sometimes
russell in color. This does not affec,
the flavor, nor do surface blemishes
like slight scars or scratches. Soft
wet spots mean decay, which canno,
be cut away as in some fruits. Puffy
spongy, lightweight round oranges
should be avoided. as they are likely to
be deficient in juice and flavor. The
kid-glove types, however, like tango.
rines, Satsumas, King and mandarin
oranges, are exceptions in respect tc
a loose, puffy skin. but the juciest ones
will be fairly heavy for their size.
"One often sees the words color
added stamped on an orange. This
means that the orange has gone
through dye bath to give it more
orange color. When this trade prac-
tice is applied to fully mature oranges
of varieties that may not be as highly
| colored as people seem to demand, it
is permissible. for the present. The
dye is harmless, but the customer
has Q right to know what she is buy
ing. Another permissible treatment
for oranges Is by ethylene gas, which
reveals the natural yellow color Of ripe
| fruit"