Specific jNIakketinc. Proulkms 41 



rickiiiij starts durini:^ the last week in June and extends throii<T;h 

 July and into the first week of August. Melons from this district 

 reach practically every large market in the United States from Boston 

 to Denver and so compete with late offerings from Imperial Valley, 

 early shipments from the Turlock district and cantaloupes from 

 Georgia and other eastern producing districts. A cold backward 

 vSpring in 191 7 was doubtless responsible for the poor flavor and 

 carrying quality of the crop. Most of the cantaloupes were distin- 

 guished by relatively large seed cavities and a low sugar content. 

 ( )wing to the unusual moisture content and the large seed cavity, 

 many of the melons arrived at market in a greatly deteriorated con- 

 dition and in spite of an active demand, the prices which were received 

 reflected something of the true value of the melons. Ordinarily, how- 

 ever, cantaloupes from the Salt River Valley are of good quality and 

 are well and favorably known on practically every large market in the 

 country. Prices in 191 7 were satisfactory. The delivered value of 

 the melon's ranged from $2.25 to $3.25 per standard crate. Customary 

 yields of from 150 to 160 standard crates to the acre were materially 

 reduced in 1917. The average delivered value of the 1917 crop was 

 about $2.40 to $2.50 per standard crate, which was equivalent to from 

 $1.25 to $1.40 f. o. b. \'alley points. Returns to growers ranged from 

 $0.75 to $2.00 per standard crate and averaged about $1.10 per standard 

 crate. 



The marketing problem for the cantaloupe producer is ordinarily 

 not an acute one. although the speculative nature of the crop some- 

 times causes some fairly heavy losses for the growers in a bad season. 

 About 10 car lot shippers or distributors operated in the Valley in 

 1917. More than three-fourths of the crop, however, was moved by 

 five or six of these shippers. On the whole, this system of marketing 

 has been satisfactory, and it is doubtful whether a farmers' co-operative 

 marketing association could secure a more widespread distribution of 

 melons than was effected by the combined efforts of the distributing 

 concerns who handled the crop in 19 17. The season, however, was 

 marred by the operations of one or two irresponsible concerns who 

 took advantage of the small grower's inability to care for his business 

 interests and failed to make complete returns on all shipments. The 

 Market News Service, conducted by the Bureau of Markets of the 

 United States Department of Agriculture, supplied necessary infor- 

 mation to the growers concerning prices and market conditions. There 

 is need, however, for some agencv to act as advisor to the small grower 



