278 CALIFORNIA VEGETABLES. 



dominates all others, commanding nearly all the acreage 

 and constituting almost exclusively the commercial pro- 

 duction except that which is especially grown for local 

 markets. 



The muskmelon has a very wide range in California. It 

 has greater taste for dry heat than its relative, the cucum- 

 ber, but in this respect it is no rival of the watermelon, for 

 it will perish utterly under drought which the watermelon 

 will survive. Where the muskmelon has both heat and 

 moisture, it grown riotously, for a weight of 72 pounds 

 has been reported from Fresno. But the muskmelon will 

 not brook frost, nor will it thrive with low temperatures 

 even if they are considerably above freezing. California 

 has, however, such a long frost-free period and as degrees 

 of favoring heat arrive in different months in different 

 parts of the State, there is wide divergence in dates of 

 planting and of ripening of the crop. The earliest canta- 

 loup district is the Coachella and Imperial valleys in the 

 extreme southeast corner of the State. Planting is done 

 in February and the crop shipment begins in May and 

 reaches the Eastern markets in advance of the product of 

 Colorado and other interior States. In the San Joaquin 

 valley planting may be in April and the product follows 

 the Rocky Ford shipments for the later summer trade of 

 the Atlantic cities. Just what can be profitably done at 

 different dates in the East is not fully determined, but the 

 advantage of the very early cantaloup from California 

 seems unquestioned. It is clear, however, that by choos- 

 ing different parts of the State and different varieties of 

 cantaloups, including the "winter melon" class, Cali- 

 fornia can furnish the fruit from May to December in any 

 quantities the available prices make profitable. 



Garden Culture. The soil requirements of the musk- 

 melon are quite like those already described for the cu- 

 cumber. Most of the commercial crop is produced on 

 deep, rich, warm loams, but heavier soils with good cul- 

 ture may be used. Some varieties seem to enjoy a heavy 

 soil better than others. Preparation of the soil is the same 



