The Bulletin. 15 



The longer they are to be in transportation the less mature must they 

 be picked. Also the temperature at which they are kept while in transit 

 must be taken into account. If they are kept cool after picking and 

 shipped under refrigeration, they may be allowed to remain longer on 

 the vines ; consequently they will have a better flavor. 



It can be readily seen, therefore, that it is very essential that they 

 should be kept as cool as possible after picking, and not allowed to 

 remain in the hot sun. 



Melons picked in hot weather will ripen much faster than those picked 

 in cool weather. The condition of the vine should also be taken into 

 account. When the vine is young and vigorous ripening proceeds slowly, 

 but as the vine gets older the fruits will ripen very rapidly. For this 

 reason, in the early season the melons may be allowed to reach a greater 

 stage of maturity than in the later season. If for any reason the vines 

 should become weakened through drought, disease, or other causes, the 

 melons must be picked at an earlier stage of maturity, because a weakened 

 vine is almost always premature in ripening its fruit. The condition of 

 the weather, the distance from the market, and the kind of cars used in 

 transportation must all be taken into consideration. If the distance is 

 great, the weather warm, and shipment to be made in ventilated cars, 

 the fruit should be picked in an early stage of maturity. If, on the other 

 hand, the weather be cool and refrigerator cars used, then the fruit may 

 be picked when almost ripe. If the above conditions are all taken into 

 consideration by the picker, there is no reason why the fruit should not 

 reach market in good condition. 



There is no set rule that can be given for picking which will apply to 

 all conditions. The grower must exercise care and judgment Avith each 

 day's picking, with the idea of getting the fruit to the market in the best 

 possible condition. The best stage of maturity at which to pick is when 

 the melon will slip easily from the stem. Most growers, unfortunately, 

 have a tendency to pick their crop too green in order that the fruit will 

 not become soft while in transportation. 



The stage of maturity at which a melon is fit for picking is denoted 

 chiefly by the color of the netting and the condition of the stem. The 

 netting should be a grayish-brown, with the color spreading down into 

 the rind until the whole assumes a grayish-brown cast. The underside 

 will show a change of color which is slightly yellowish ; but if this color 

 is very pronounced, then the melon is too ripe for distant shipment. 

 The stem will have a shriveled appearance and a slight crack will gen- 

 erally be in evidence at the junction of stem and fruit. Sometimes the 

 stem will not show this crack ; then if the melon shows the color already 

 mentioned, it should be cut from the vine. Some growers make a prac- 

 tice of picking before any change of color is noted even on the underside 

 of the fruit. The grower who practices this not only injures himself, 

 but also his neighbors, since all shipments from his station will be given 



