Free The Case of the Russian Diplomat: A Masao Masuto Mystery (Book Three) by Howard Fast Page B

apologies. A half hour at the most. Is the subject so complicated?”
    â€œMore than you might imagine. The history of the orange alone could consume hours of pleasant instruction.”
    â€œI recognize the value of such instruction, and I have no desire to be disrespectful, and at another time I shall be honored to listen. For the moment, I seek only to know why the Soviet Union should send five agronomists to Southern California and to Florida to seek instruction in the art of growing oranges. Incidentally, the leader of the group is a Nobel Prize winner, by the name of Ilya Moskvich.”
    â€œThe answer is simple.”
    â€œOh?”
    â€œThe Russians do not know how to grow oranges.”
    â€œThey have sent spaceships to the moon.”
    â€œAh, so. Truly. They still do not know how to grow oranges.”
    â€œI find that difficult to believe,” Masuto said respectfully.
    â€œNaturally. You consider the growing of oranges to be a simple matter. You go into the supermarket, you select your fruit, and you buy it. Simple, no? No. In fact, there are only four places in the world where they understand oranges. Actually three. I include Spain, because they are very good at the Seville orange, which goes by the technical name of aurentium . That is the sour orange, which the English are so fond of for their marmalade. But we must also credit the Spanish for rootstock, excellent rootstock, and that is important. Because you see, nephew, all of the finest oranges are budded. This is a process which you might think of as grafting. We select the most excellent strains and bud them onto proper rootstock. But actually the art of growing fine table oranges is confined to three countries—Japan, the United States, and Israel. In Japan they favor the mandarin orange, which they can for export. That, of course, is a generic name. There are many varieties. In Israel, they grow a fine large fruit, which is a variation of sorts on our navel orange, the unique table orange which is distinguished by the small fruit within the fruit. In Israel, as in America, they specialize in the sweet orange, Valencia, navel, pineapple, Washington, Hamlin, juice oranges in Florida, table oranges here in Southern California—those are our favorite varieties, excluding of course the native mandarins—”
    Masuto and Beckman exchanged glances hopelessly, and now Masuto seized his opportunity, “Of course, Uncle.”
    â€œAh, so. A new note of respect?”
    â€œYes. Oh, yes,” Masuto admitted.
    â€œIf I were to hold forth on rootstock alone, we could be here until midnight—for instance, the miracle whereby the rootstock of the sour orange increases the sugar content of the sweet orange that is budded upon it.”
    â€œI am certain.”
    â€œOr the means by which the Japanese raise oranges in a climate hardly suited to them.”
    â€œI look forward to that, but not today. I am interested in the Russians.”
    â€œAh, so, I forget that you are a policeman. Well, what I said to you is a fact. I have spoken to growers who have been to the Soviet Union, invited there, as a matter of fact. The Russians are desperately eager to grow good oranges in the Crimea. They used to import oranges from Israel, but now they are very angry at each other. Why the Russians do not have a talent for this, I don’t know. I have met few Russians. I know that it is difficult to say anything kind about the Russians, but in one way they are superior to us.”
    â€œAnd what is that way, Uncle?”
    â€œThey treasure their agronomists. They are among their most honored citizens. So if they sent five agronomists here, headed by this Nobel Prize man, then they are very serious about oranges.”
    Mrs. Masuto, who had sat quietly, replenishing teacups throughout the recitation, now smiled with pleasure and informed them that they must stay for dinner.
    â€œI am so sorry,” Masuto said.