212 CALIFORNIA VEGETABLES 



melon. If too green, sharp pieces of the stem will remain in the 

 cup. The netting on an unripe melon is flattened, but when it has 

 sugared up and ripened enough the netting will be full rounded 

 clear up to the stem if there is any netting that far. 



Varieties. The wonderful advancement of the cantaloup as a 

 commercial product has quickened effort for new varieties and given 

 new incentive to sharp selection to secure characters likely to facili- 

 tate long shipment or to increase the demand. Relatively small size, 

 symmetrical form, thickness of flesh and reduction of the seed- 

 cavity, durability, flavor and color of flesh are among the improve- 

 ments which have been diligently sought. Each year brings for- 

 ward something new and worthy of trial to determine local be- 

 havior 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 constantly chang- 

 ing. Annual catalogues of California seedsmen should be carefully 

 consulted and promising novelties should be tried on a small scale. 



Rocky Ford: The variety upon which the Colorado cantaloup industry 

 was 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 /2 pounds; flesh green, thick and very 

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

 Rock" has been favored in this state on the claim of heavy bearing and 

 greater average production of standard melons. In the Turlock district 

 "Pollock's 25 Rust Resistant" is chiefly grown. This is also grown in 

 Imperial valley with "Yellow Pink" and "Greenflesh" also in favor, which 

 are standard varieties in the valley. 



Burrell's Gem : Larger than Rocky Ford ; flesh reddish and of different 

 flavor; an improved Paul Rose, which it has largely displaced. 



Hoodoo: slightly flatter than Rocky Ford but otherwise similar; flesh 

 reddish. 



Large Yellow: an old variety, large oblong, slightly ribbed and coarsely 

 netted; flesh light, yellowish green; quality excellent; still popular though 

 very different from modern commercial types. 



California Large Nutmeg: an old variety still popular in local markets 

 and good for shipping; large, rough, netted skin; flesh thick, solid, dark 

 green; flavor delicate. 



Monteral Improved Green Nutmeg: large, slightly flattened at the poles, 

 densely netted skin, flesh thick and of good flavor. 



Early Hackensack: large size, productive, excellent flavor. 



Large Hackensack: large size, roundish, very prolific, thick, juicy flesh, 

 rich in flavor. 



Tip Top: nearly round, lightly ribbed and netted, skin light and flesh 

 deep yellow. 



The small, early varieties, like Jenny Lind, are not largely 

 grown, as the trade prefers the large nutmeg varieties. The small 

 varieties are, however, very desirable for home use. 



CASSABAS OR WINTER CANTALOUPS. 



One of the most interesting and promising phases of melon 

 growing in California is the advancement of the "winter melon," 

 comprising several types, of which the first to reach California was 



