108 Bulletin 78 



temperatures range from 90° to 105°, growth is rapid, the first 

 melons ripening usually at the P^arm during the last week of the 

 latter month, but occasionally as early as June 20. 



If the vines are supplied with sufficient water, the melons pro- 

 duced are of prime quality until about the last of Jul}^ but from 

 then on are apt to deteriorate, the early varieties first, and the 

 later varieties later. By the middle of August the intense heat 

 causes such early varieties as Augusta to be unfit for market, and 

 a little later the Florida Favorite becomes affected by the heat. 

 During the warm weather of August only the latest varieties or late- 

 planted earlier \ arieties produce melons of good quality. If sup- 

 plied with plenty of water the vines continue growth throughout 

 the summ.er, and will produce melons of good quality during Sep- 

 tember and October, especially if they are cut back and the soil 

 between the rows cultivated and refurrowed. 



As seed germinates promptly, and young plants grow thriftily 

 throughout the sum.mer, plantings for the production of fall melons 

 may be made during June and early July. The vines from seed 

 planted at this time grow rapidly through August and vSeptember, 

 producing ripe melons in abundance during the latter month. As 

 the cooler weather of October comes, growth and ripening are 

 very slow, and during November or the early part of December 

 the vines are killed by frosts. In 1899 they were killed December 

 1, the minimum temperatures at the ground being 28°, in the gov- 

 ernment shelter 32°, and on the building of the Phoenix Weather 

 Bureau, 39°. In 1900, with the occurrence of the above temper- 

 atures October 28, they were only partially killed, not being en- 

 tirely killed until December 3, when the mercury fell to 28° at the 

 ground, to 32° in the government shelter, and to 35° at the Weather 

 Bureau. In 1901, they were not injured by frost until December 

 8 and 9, the mercury falling to 25° at the ground upon the latter 

 date. In 1902, they were killed November 26 and 27, the minimum 

 temperature the latter night being 27° at the ground. In 1903, 

 they were not killed until December 4, the minimum temperature 

 being 25° at the ground, 34° in the government shelter, and 40° at 

 the Weather Bureau This last record furnishes an illustration of 

 the fact that plants may be injured or killed when the thermometer 

 in the government Jihrlter, 5 feet from the ground, does not register 

 a freezing temperature, and when the minimum temperature re- 

 corded at the Weatbier Bureau is many degrees above freezing. 



The varieties h^f-> adapted to the southern valleys, as deter- 

 mined by extensive tests at the Station Farm are Augusta, Florida 



