234 CALIFORNIA VEGETABLES 



of small melons will follow. Under Arizona conditions the six-foot 

 spacing of hills recommended above, with not more than two plants 

 in the "hill, gives best results. 



A dependable supply of irrigating water is essential to success- 

 ful cantaloupe culture in regions of little rain. Early in the season 

 when the plants are small and the irrigating supply is cold, water 

 should be applied sparingly. But between the setting of the crop 

 and the ripening of the first fruits, when both vines and melons are 

 developing rapidly and when the weather is usually hot and dry, fre- 

 quent and copious irrigation is necessary, for if water is stinted at 

 this time a larger percentage of small or pony melons is likely to 

 follow. During the picking season water should again be sparingly 

 applied just enough to prevent the vines from wilting. This also 

 gives quality and solidity to the melons. 



As long as the vines will permit, the middles should be kept 

 free of weeds by means of a one-horse cultivator, and the furrows 

 run through with a small plow after each irrigation. The young 

 plants should also be hoed by hand two or three times. When the 

 ground is once more covered with vines weeds will make but little 

 headway, even Bermuda grass being effectually checked by the 

 dense cover. 



Varieties. The wonderful advancement of the cantaloupe as a 

 commercial product during the last decade has quickened effort for 

 new varieties and given new incentive to sharp selection to secure 

 characters likely to facilitate long shipment or to increase the de- 

 mand. Relatively small size, symmetrical form, thickness of flesh 

 and reduction of the seed-cavity, durability, flavor and color of flesh 

 are among the improvements which have been diligently sought. 

 Each year brings forward something new and worthy of trial to 

 determine local behavior and suitability. Obviously a book which 

 aims to be useful for a number of years after its publication cannot 

 satisfactorily serve as a guide to choice of varieties which are con- 

 stantly changing. Annual catalogues of California seedsmen should 

 be carefully consulted and every grower should try all promising 

 novelties on a small scale. 



Rocky Ford : The variety upon which the Colorado cantaloupe industry 

 is established and it sustains the same relation to the commercial product 

 of California; developed by selection from the old "Netted Gem"; slightly 

 oval, finely netted, average weight l l / 2 pounds; flesh green, thick and very 

 sweet. Continued selection is being practiced upon this variety and "Netted 



