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 type of service performed. Since two distinct types of firms are represented, the costs

 for each group are shown separately.

 Most of the items of cost are self explanatory, but a few comments may serve to

 clarify some classifications.

 Labor cost is the amount paid by operators to their own crews for the service

 indicated. Field foremen were sometimes paid a weekly salary, and sometimes a per-box

 rate. Pickers were paid a piece-rate per box, varying with the kind of fruit and the

 difficulty of picking. Most operators paid about 11-12 cents per box for picking grape-

 fruit, 40-50 cents for tangerines, and around 17 cents per box for budded oranges. The

 rate for picking seedling oranges was 20 to 35 cents per box. Any condition which made

 picking more difficult usually required a higher picking rate. Loaders transfer the boxes

 of picked fruit from the ground to the grove truck. The boxes may be set on the truck

 floor, or poured into the truck body, depending upon the disposition intended for the

 fruit. Loaders were paid a piece-rate per box -- usually 2-1/2 to 4 cents per box.

 Several different methods of handling fruit in the grove were in use. Some firms

 used a tractor and 10-box containers to load the fruit directly into the highway truck,

 and one operator used a tractor and carts instead of grove trucks. These innovations

 eliminate the loaders and make the average rates shown for loading less per box than they

 would have been had all used the hand loading method.

 Grove drivers were usually paid on an hour-basis. In a few cases the foreman

drove the grove truck. Highway drivers were paid a weekly wage in most cases. Their

function was to drive the large trucks from the roadside to the citrus packing or

processing plant. Mechanics or shop employees were used by some operators to keep

trucks and other equipment in repair. Other labor includes workers such as testers, cooks,