22 CIRCULAR NO. 113, BUREAU OF PLANT INDUSTRY. 



ity is not large. Water should be applied often enough to keep a 

 steady growth, which can be hastened by frequent cultivation. 



Too much water in the ripening period tends to retard ripening 

 and reduces the sweetness of the melons. 



Harvesting and marketing. — Development of melon growing depends 

 as much on proper care in picking and packing as upon growing. 

 Only the best product carefully selected and neatly packed will justify 

 shipment. The California product conies on much earlier and only 

 an extra quality will insure sale late in the season when the Nevada 

 crop matures. Watermelons should be ripening freely by August 15, 

 for the late crop sells at low prices or can not be sold at all. Musk- 

 melons can be sold successfully until October if the weather is such 

 that the crop holds up in quality. They should be handled carefully 

 and wrapped in paper in the packing shed, being then packed in 

 crates 1 foot by 1 foot by 2 feet, outside measure. A crate of this 

 size holds about 60 pounds. Watermelons for short shipment are 

 packed in larger crates, but if the market will justify they are shipped 

 loose in car lots. 



[Cir. 113] 



